Article VIII. Education ~ Georgia ConstitutionSection I. Public EducationThe provision of an adequate public education for the citizens shall be a primary obligation of the State of Georgia. Public education for the citizens prior to the college or postsecondary level shall be free and shall be provided for by taxation. The expense of other public education shall be provided for in such manner and in such amount as may be provided by law.

An adequate education requires many factors.An adequate education requires many factors.

Even though the absolute amount of State funds for K-12 Even though the absolute amount of State funds for K-12 education has increased in recent years, the increases have not education has increased in recent years, the increases have not kept pace with the growth in enrollment and the effect of kept pace with the growth in enrollment and the effect of inflation, much less the needs of our student.inflation, much less the needs of our student.

The total amount of all funds allotted by the State to local The total amount of all funds allotted by the State to local school systems decreased on a per-student, inflation-adjusted school systems decreased on a per-student, inflation-adjusted basis by 18% between Fiscal Year (“FY’) 2002 and FY 2009basis by 18% between Fiscal Year (“FY’) 2002 and FY 2009

The Georgia Supreme Court has declared that a constitutionally The Georgia Supreme Court has declared that a constitutionally "adequate" education is more than a “minimum” education."adequate" education is more than a “minimum” education.

McDaniel v. Thomas, 248 Ga. 644 (1981)McDaniel v. Thomas, 248 Ga. 644 (1981)

The Georgia Supreme Court defined an “adequate” education as The Georgia Supreme Court defined an “adequate” education as being “designed to produce individuals who can function in being “designed to produce individuals who can function in society” as responsible citizens in our democracy. 4society” as responsible citizens in our democracy. 4 To do so, To do so, these individuals must be able to obtain productive employment these individuals must be able to obtain productive employment and qualify for and advance through higher education.and qualify for and advance through higher education.

In FY 1998, State funds represented 60.9% of the combined In FY 1998, State funds represented 60.9% of the combined total of state and local revenues for school operationstotal of state and local revenues for school operations

By FY 2008 (the last year for which such data are available), the By FY 2008 (the last year for which such data are available), the State’s share of this total had dropped to 55.5%. The magnitude of State’s share of this total had dropped to 55.5%. The magnitude of the shift is shown by the fact that the level of State support would the shift is shown by the fact that the level of State support would have had to be $736 million higher in FY 2008 (with the amount have had to be $736 million higher in FY 2008 (with the amount of local revenues being that much less) to produce the same mix of local revenues being that much less) to produce the same mix of state and local revenues that existed ten years earlier in FY of state and local revenues that existed ten years earlier in FY 1998.1998.

The unfortunate reality is that Georgia’s The unfortunate reality is that Georgia’s schools are being starved financiallyschools are being starved financially

The students in 113 of Georgia’s 180 school systems, The students in 113 of Georgia’s 180 school systems, which serve 536,000 students or one-third of the total which serve 536,000 students or one-third of the total enrollment in Georgia, are receiving an education that is enrollment in Georgia, are receiving an education that is demonstrably less effective than the education offered to demonstrably less effective than the education offered to the other students in Georgia. the other students in Georgia.

Quality Basic Education ActQuality Basic Education Act

In 1985, the State of Georgia adopted the Quality Basic In 1985, the State of Georgia adopted the Quality Basic Education Act (O.C.G.A. § 20-2- 130, et seq.) in recognition of Education Act (O.C.G.A. § 20-2- 130, et seq.) in recognition of the need to provide “an opportunity for a quality basic education the need to provide “an opportunity for a quality basic education to the citizens of the state and to discharge the responsibilities to the citizens of the state and to discharge the responsibilities and obligations of the State to ensure a literate and informed and obligations of the State to ensure a literate and informed society . . .” (1985 Georgia Laws, 1660)society . . .” (1985 Georgia Laws, 1660)

The QBE Act established a formula (“QBE Formula”) that The QBE Act established a formula (“QBE Formula”) that defines a designated cost per student for each of what are now 19 defines a designated cost per student for each of what are now 19 general programs, based on the instructional needs of the students general programs, based on the instructional needs of the students in each programin each program

QBE “Earnings” + Categorical Grants (Federal Government) + Equalization = QBE “Earnings” + Categorical Grants (Federal Government) + Equalization = School FundingSchool Funding

QBE “Earnings”QBE “Earnings” == (Direct & Indirect Instructional Costs) (Direct & Indirect Instructional Costs) – – (5 Mill Share)(5 Mill Share)

Uhhh...?

Millage Rate = local tax revenues / the assessed valuation/ 1000Millage Rate = local tax revenues / the assessed valuation/ 1000

The The “5 Mill Share” “5 Mill Share” in the QBE formula refers to the portion in the QBE formula refers to the portion of the Direct and Indirect Instructional Costs that the state of the Direct and Indirect Instructional Costs that the state expects local systems to pay with locally raised fundsexpects local systems to pay with locally raised funds

““Millage” refers to the rate of the property tax levied. Millage” refers to the rate of the property tax levied. Tax rate applied to property. Each Mill represents $1 Tax rate applied to property. Each Mill represents $1 of tax assessment per $1,000 of assessed property of tax assessment per $1,000 of assessed property value. For example, the millage rate for property value. For example, the millage rate for property taxes in the Bumpton school district is 20 mills. A taxes in the Bumpton school district is 20 mills. A home with assessed value of $100,000 pays $2,000 a home with assessed value of $100,000 pays $2,000 a year in property taxes to the district.year in property taxes to the district.

WHAT THE HE** DOES THIS HAVE TO DO WHAT THE HE** DOES THIS HAVE TO DO WITH BEING A TEACHER!?WITH BEING A TEACHER!?

The reality for many school systems in Georgia is that they lack the The reality for many school systems in Georgia is that they lack the funds necessary to recruit, hire, and retain experienced and effective funds necessary to recruit, hire, and retain experienced and effective educators. educators.

The inability of many Georgia school systems to provide The inability of many Georgia school systems to provide competitive salary supplements or other attractive benefits prevents competitive salary supplements or other attractive benefits prevents these systems from obtaining the highly effective teachers and the these systems from obtaining the highly effective teachers and the other staff they need to provide an adequate education for all of other staff they need to provide an adequate education for all of their students.their students.

Uhhh.. what about the students?Uhhh.. what about the students?

Many high schools in Georgia do not offer Advanced Many high schools in Georgia do not offer Advanced Placement and honors coursesPlacement and honors courses

Foreign language and advanced math and science Foreign language and advanced math and science courses are scarce in many of Georgia’s high schoolscourses are scarce in many of Georgia’s high schools

Music, art, and physical education are limited in many Music, art, and physical education are limited in many elementary and middle schoolselementary and middle schools

After-school programming, including teacher tutoring, has been After-school programming, including teacher tutoring, has been eliminated or cut to the bare minimum in many school systemseliminated or cut to the bare minimum in many school systems

Solution?Solution?

It is of vital importance of having a capable teacher for every It is of vital importance of having a capable teacher for every class, schools will have to redouble their efforts in attracting class, schools will have to redouble their efforts in attracting and retaining capable teachers, especially in view of the large and retaining capable teachers, especially in view of the large number of teachers approaching retirement. It is critical to number of teachers approaching retirement. It is critical to enhance the teaching profession.enhance the teaching profession.