School takeover. College credit. High school diplomas.
Georgia lawmakers didn’t pass a lot of bills related to education this session, but those that did pass could have a big impact on Georgians.
Here’s a look at some of the biggest education-related laws passed this year:
House Bill 91: Georgians who could not pass the state's now-defunct high school graduation test can now petition local school boards for a waiver to earn their diploma rather than having to go through the state. This new law is expected to help about 9,000 Georgians who couldn't pass the multi-part test, which was established in 1994 and eliminated as a graduation requirement in 2011.
Senate Bill 133 and Senate Resolution 287: Haven't heard about Gov. Nathan Deal's plans to create a special state-run district to takeover failing schools? You will. In 2016, voters will be asked to approve a change to the state constitution to create a statewide school district, which is modeled after one used in New Orleans. Until then, expect plenty of debate from both sides as to whether this enabling legislation is a needed rescue or a drastic government overreach.
Senate Bill 132: Known as the "Move on when Ready" act, this revises current state law to make it easier for high school students to attend college and take dual-credit courses.
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