Georgia lawmakers are taking aim at the use of high-stakes tests in schools, with new legislation that would significantly reduce the use of test results in teacher evaluations.

State law calls for test results to inform at least half of each teacher’s job review, but Senate Bill 355 would roll that back to no more than 10 percent.

The bill, introduced Tuesday as the “Student/Teacher Protection Act,” also would reduce penalties for students who are absent on testing day.

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Students line up after school for school buses at Sequoyah Middle School in Doraville on Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2025. The school’s principal told teachers not to talk to students about ICE, and teachers and activists are pushing back. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)

Credit: arvin.temkar@ajc.com

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Waymo autonomous vehicles operate across 65 square miles inside I-285 and have been involved in six incidents with Atlanta Public School buses since May. Waymo issued a recall because of their cars briefly stopping or slowing down before continuing forward while a bus was stopped and flashing its lights. (Courtesy of Atlanta Public Schools)

Credit: Courtesy of Atlanta Public Schools