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ATLANTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) - Georgia public schools receive nearly half of their funding from the state. The state’s funding formula, QBE, has been around for decades.
The Quality Basic Education Act of 1985 dictates that student-teacher ratios determine funding.
Georgia is one of six states that does not have an opportunity weight to for students from low-income families.
On Monday, state Rep. Phil Olaleye and state Sen. Jason Estevez unveiled plans to change the state’s education funding formula. Each sponsored a bill to change the QBE formula to include more funding for schools in low-income districts.
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“Over those four decades, the world has changed dramatically, but our funding formula has barely evolved. When QBE was created, there were no smartphones, no internet in classrooms and mental health for students was not even a conversation. Yet we continue to fund education like time has stood still,” said Estevez.
Said Olaleye: “I’m sure everyone here is not driving a 1986 Camry or a Volvo. I would like to think that as the times change, so do our approaches and policies change to meet our unique needs of teachers and students here today.”
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The sponsors’ bills would add a program to add an opportunity weight for certain students. Olalaye’s bill would add additional funding for students in foster care, in an unstable household, or who receive SNAP and/or TANF benefits.
Olaleye said his bill includes roughly $2,000 per student. He estimates 500,000 students would be eligible.
Cozzie Walker spoke at the press conference. She said her daughter struggled at first because of overcrowded classrooms.
“It is almost like a survival of the fittest and my little girl didn’t do well at first,” said Walker.
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Walker said the bills are needed to help communities like hers where students don’t have what they need to succeed.
Republicans would need to get on board for the bills to .
Atlanta News First asked House Education Chairman Chris Erwin about the bills. He said that QBE changes require time and several hearings. Education is the biggest line item in the state’s budget.
“The first year of the biennial is when it should begin, because a big process like this will take a couple of sessions to be able to get right, and we all know that. Yes, this is a good time to sit down and start talking about any updates or any changes that we need to,” said Erwin.
Erwin suggested looking at other states that have changed their funding formula to see if there is a good model for the state to follow.
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