In an expansion of his education platform, state Sen. Jason Carter will file legislation Wednesday that he said would help him, as governor, put more dollars toward top teachers and the popular HOPE Scholarship.

The bills — which, among other things, would reinstate state scholarship programs for college students who want to be teachers or teaching aides — come as the Senate takes up next year’s state budget in committee.

The proposals from Carter, an Atlanta Democrat who is running for governor, are geared toward reordering some of the state’s financial priorities and hit on an issue — education — that will lead his gubernatorial campaign.

“I do know that, for me, this is obviously a personal issue,” Carter said. “I have children that are in the public schools. My wife is a public school teacher. I have traveled the state as part of an education task force and looked and seen and heard from educators all over this state about the way they are being treated and the way they feel left behind and forgotten.”

The new legislation also would push the Georgia Lottery to increase how much money it provides to fund HOPE.

About the Author

Keep Reading

Chairman Jason Shaw presides over a meeting of the Georgia Public Service Commission in Atlanta on Tuesday, July 15, 2025. (Ben Gray for the AJC)

Credit: Ben Gray for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Featured

Prosecutor Skandalakis has previously suggested that pursuing criminal charges against President Donald Trump may not be feasible until after he leaves office in 2029. (Craig Hudson/Politico/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Credit: Bloomberg via Getty Images