Georgia lawmakers approved the funding for Gov. Nathan Deal’s school turnaround mandate.

House Bill 237 creates a $5 million annual tax credit for an "innovation" grant program that prioritizes schools on the target list for turnaround under The First Priority Act. That's the bill lawmakers sent to the governor Tuesday to allow the state to intervene in the lowest-performing schools.

HB 237, by Rep. Brooks Coleman, R-Duluth, chairman of the House Education Committee, was originally designed to generate more money, but the Senate cut it to $5 million a year for three years.

The tax credit would work like the tax credit for student scholarships.

The Senate’s 39-8 vote sent the bill to the House, which agreed to the change on a 154-1 vote.

About the Author

Keep Reading

The DeKalb County Board of Education gave Norman Sauce III a one-year contract to serve as its interim superintendent. (Hyosub Shin / AJC)

Credit: HYOSUB SHIN / AJC

Featured

Amber Hicks and Cherokee County firefighter Justin Hicks were found dead from gunshot wounds inside their home in November 2021. (Cobb County Fire and Emergency Services)

Credit: Cobb County Fire and Emergency Services