Legislation has been introduced in the Georgia House to change the complicated formula that gives a majority of the state's school districts a share of more than $400 million.

The intent of equalization grants is to attempt to eliminate the funding disparity between wealthy and poorer school districts.

House Bill 824, sponsored by Rep. Mike Dudgeon, R-Cumming, would require that, when the grant program is not fully funded, the school districts lowest on the wealth-per-child scale get a larger percentage of the reduced amount than more affluent districts.

The bill mirrors a recent unanimous suggestion of the Education Finance Commission, a group of legislators, educators and businesspeople tasked with looking at all aspects of public school financing. It's likely to be fast-tracked through the legislative process since the legislation could be effective for fiscal 2013, which starts July 1.

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Derrick Byrd (left) and Joseph Roundtree load food into a car during a giveaway at New Birth Missionary Baptist Church on Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025, in Stonecrest. Gospel music played while volunteers sang, smiled and greeted each vehicle. (Ben Gray for the AJC)

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