Georgia bill for low-performing schools passes Senate committee

The legislative response to last year’s defeat of the Opportunity School District referendum is a step closer to becoming law.

A key Senate committee on Monday passed House Bill 338, now named the First Priority Act instead of "plan b," the informal moniker by which it has been known around the Capitol.

Last year, voters rejected Gov. Nathan Deal’s referendum to create a statewide district to take control of “chronically failing” schools. Unlike that measure, the new proposal relies on collaboration with local school districts to improve schools, though districts could suffer financial consequences if they refuse to let the state intervene.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution will again have Georgia’s largest team covering the Legislature. Get complete daily coverage during the legislative session at myAJC.com/georgialegislature.

The bill has been slightly modified since it passed the House of Representatives with bipartisan support, but must return there for ratification of the Senate’s changes. That’s assuming the full Senate approves the measure before the legislative session ends next week. After approval Monday by the Senate Education and Youth Committee, it goes to a committee that schedules Senate floor votes.

See what the bill proposes at myAJC.com.

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