Purpose 4:  Initiate, endorse and support desirable legislation
​

DKG Under the Gold Dome

To keep us informed so that we can endorse and support desirable legislation, the GSO Education Law & Policy Committee is producing and distributing weekly newsletters with up-to-date information about what is going on under Georgia's gold dome while our legislature is in session.

DKG Under the Gold Dome is sent to every GSO member with a valid email address with DKG International using a bulk email platform. The GSO Corresponding Secretary also sends each chapter president a PDF copy of the newsletter to distribute to members without email.

If you are not receiving DKG Under the Gold Dome weekly during the months of January through March and you have email, then you are missing out on a lot of information, not only in this publication, but also in other newsletters sent out by the state organization. Use your personal email account with DKG to avoid organizational filters. Check your spam folder and accept correspondence from GSO.

Recap of 
2020 DKG Day at the Capitol
February 26, 2020

Under the Gold Dome

​Legislative Priorities
  • Reduce overreliance on standardized tests by limiting assessment to the minimum number required by federal law.
  • Eliminate A-F grading of schools.
  • Review TKES and LKES to provide constructive support for instructional improvement.
  • Increase access to students’ mental health supports inside and outside school to promote funding school counselors, psychologist, and social workers at recommended levels; increasing funding to deliver mental health training to classroom educators; and enhance access to external mental health supports. 
  • Ensure TRS stays strong and effective educators’ recruitment and retention tools are being used.
  • Oppose private school vouchers and invest public resources effectively to advance learning for public schools.

Teacher Retirement System
  • Change the calculation in determining “average final compensation” to the five highest consecutive years of an educator’s salary. For current members, the calculation is based on the two highest years of salary.
  • Lower the maximum earnable compensation that can be used in the determination of retirement benefits to $200,000 with an escalator for inflation. The limit for current TRS members is $280,000.
  • Set a new range of 5 - 8.5 percent for mandatory employee contributions to TRS. The percentage would be determined annually by the TRS board and would reflect “needs of the fiscal state of the retirement system.” The employee contribution range for current members is 5 - 6 percent.
  • Implement a "rule of 85," meaning that years of experience and age must total 85 years in order to retire. 
  • Eliminate the opportunity for educators to use unused sick leave toward retirement credit.
  • Eliminate the right for teachers to retire in advance of the start of the school year when they achieve their 30 years of service by Dec. 31 of that school year.
  • Limit the salary increases used to determine TRS benefits from the highest five years of compensation to the highest two years of compensation.
Pending legislation related to TRS
  • HB 292 is a fiscal bill that would eliminate certain remittances required to be made by the University System of Georgia to TRS. 
  • HB 320 is a fiscal bill that would allow certain public employers to employ TRS beneficiaries in certain capacities and under limited conditions; to require such employers to make employer and employee contributions on behalf of such employed beneficiaries; and to provide for conditions and limitations for beneficiaries who return to service full time as teachers. 
  • HB 336 is a fiscal bill that would require certain public employers to make employer and employee contributions to TRS for beneficiaries employed by such certain public employers; and to permit beneficiaries to return to service full time as teachers without affecting their benefits. 
  • HB 390 is a fiscal bill that would allow certain members of TRS to obtain creditable service for international teaching service by paying the full actuarial cost of obtaining such creditable service. 
  • HB 662 is a fiscal bill that would allow require actuarial investigations for the retirement system to occur at least once in every 3-year period and to provide that the maximum annual assumed rate of return shall not exceed 6.5 percent. 
  • HB 667 is a fiscal bill that would allow require actuarial investigations for the retirement system to occur at least once in every 3-year period; to require the retirement system to use direct rate smoothing for actuarially determined employer contributions to require that certain legacy debt of the retirement system shall be paid by a certain date; and to require that future unfunded accrued liability shall be paid using 15-year amortization periods. 
  • SB 260 would require actuarial investigations for TRS to occur at least once in every three year period and to provide that the maximum annual assumed rate of return shall not exceed 6 percent. An amendment was added that would tie the cost of living adjustment (COLAs) for retirees to the Consumer Price Index rather than providing two 1.5 percent COLAs each year. 
  • HB 109 would modify certain conditions of TRS benefits for those who first become members or who withdraw their accumulated contributions on or after July 1, 2019. This bill would revise the length of time used to calculate the member’s final average salary from the current two consecutive years to five consecutive years, and receive no more than two increases in compensation during the 5 consecutive years; earnable compensation would not exceed $200,000, and annually thereafter by an amount equal or lesser of 3 percent or the prior year’s annualized rate of inflation as determined by the Board; change the employee contribution rate to a range between 6 and 8.5 percent, as determined annually by the Board; require that a member attain the rule of 85: a member’s age plus years of creditable service must add up to 85 in order to apply for retirement; a member who is at least 62 years of age may retire with at least ten years of creditable service; members would not receive creditable service for unused sick leave; and a post-retirement benefit may only be awarded once per year and not exceed the lesser of 3 percent or the prior year’s annualized rate of inflation as determined by the Board. Again, these modifications would only apply to those who first become members or who withdraw their accumulated contributions on or after July 1, 2019. Withdrawn from General Calendar and recommitted to House Retirement Committee by Rules Committee. 
  • SB 117 (as amended by the House) is a non-fiscal bill that would prohibit any retirement system from enacting any law, rule, regulation, resolution, or ordinance for creditable service unless the individual is required to pay the full actuarial cost of the service granted. This provision would not apply to credit for service in a retirement system that a member accrues while a contributing member of such system. This bill would not apply to or affect the Georgia Municipal Employees Benefit System or any local retirement system that is not a legislatively controlled retirement system. If enacted, the bill would require persons who become members of the Employees’ Retirement System, Teachers Retirement System, Legislative Retirement System and Sheriffs’ Retirement Fund on or after July 1, 2019 to pay full actuarial cost for certain creditable service that is already authorized for members. Persons who are members of such systems prior to July 1, 2019 would still be eligible to purchase such creditable service in accordance with current laws. The proposed amendment would authorize any retirement system to adopt a procedure for accepting payments for creditable service. Such procedures could allow members to make equal payments over a period of time, not to exceed 60 months. 
  • Currently, persons wishing to purchase creditable service must make a one-time lump sum payment to their respective Board. Passed in the Senate, amended by the House and sent back to the Senate, where it currently resides pending action. ​
  • SB 175 is a non-fiscal bill that would require certain public employers to make employer and employee contributions to the Teachers Retirement System for employed beneficiaries. Passed in the Senate, resides in the House Retirement Committee 
  • HB 830 would amend provisions relating to the allowable investments under the Public Retirements Systems Standards Law specifically increasing the percentage of assets that eligible large retirements systems may invest in alternative investments. Currently alternative investments may not in the aggregate exceed five percent of system’s assets at any time; if enacted, allowable investment percentage would increase to 10 percent. Under provision of this legislation, TRS is still prohibited from investing in alternative investments. 
  • SB 294 would amend provisions relating to investments under the Public Retirement Systems Standards, specifically changing the definition of "eligible large retirement systems" to remove the exclusion for TRS; if exclusion is removed, TRS would be authorized to invest assets in alternative investments. 

Budget Cuts
Reduce all spending by 6%
  • Pre-K cuts:  $476,920
  • Business & Finance Administration cuts:  $553, 088
  • CTO cuts:  $593,532
  • Curriculum Development cuts:  $221, 968
  • CTAE cuts:  $80,000
  • RESA cuts:  $582,720
  • School Improvement cuts:  $789,283

Private School Vouchers
  • Currently private schools have two bills that provide vouchers. They are Senate Bill 173 and House Bill 301. Legislators are pushing for a third bill for private schools, even though no evaluation of the current voucher program has been conducted.

Dual Enrollment Reduction/Move On When Ready
  • HB 444 would reduce dual enrollment cost by $17 million. There would be a revision of programs, eligibility criteria and the number of credit hours funded by the state. The bill would limit state funded dual enrollment course to core courses, CTAE courses, excluding fine arts, electives and physical education. Students would be allowed to take 30 credit hours. Dual enrollment would only be available for 11th and 12th grade students. Dual enrollment could be paid for at the students’ expense. 

Raising Age of Compulsory Attendance
  • HB 343 would raise the school mandatory attendance age from 16 to 17.

Foster Care IEP: 
  • HB 855 would all the IEP process for students who are in foster care to begin immediately if the students has experienced trauma. 

Coach Safety Act
  • SB 101 would require volunteer coaches with youth athletic associations to undergo annual training to reduce the likelihood of injuries to youth athletes ages 14 and under engaged in high-risk athletics. 

​Homeschooled Students
  • Participate in extracurricular activities in the public schools where they are zoned.

L4GA Grant
  • In order to improve Milestones and National Assessment of Educational Progress scores for students living in poverty 38 districts received the Literacy for Learning, Living and Leading Grant in 2017. The state has also received $179 million for the L4GA Grant that will be awarded in the spring. 

New Regulations on Vaping Proposed
  • SB 298 would increase the age for using tobacco products to 21 with changes in federal law and including vaping products. It would set penalties for individuals under 21 who purchase and use vaping products as well as those who sell these products to minors. It would require local boards to prescribe mandatory instruction on the use of vaping and smoking like current instructions for alcohol and drug use. 

School Safety Plan
  • HB 784 passed.  It requires schools to develop school safety plans.

Student Loan Forgiveness Bill for Teachers
  • HB 736 would allow 1,000 newly hired certified teacher in rural areas could access up to $5,000 in student loan repayment annually. 

High-Stakes Testing: 
  • SB 367 would reduce the number and time spent on state assessments.

Census 2020
  • Georgia’s Children and Family Connections Partnership have efforts underway to make sure every Georgian participates to ensure Georgia receives the full amount of federal funding available in education, health care, transportation, etc. 

TPPEM: Teacher Preparation Program Effective Measure
  • Georgia is still losing new teachers at a rate of 30-40% in the first five years.
  • In 2010-2011, only 12,090 enrolled in teacher preparation programs across the state, and only 6,943 completed the programs.
  • In 2016-2017, enrollment slipped to 10,853 and completion rate dropped to 3,921.
  • The requirements are excessive and the cost is high.

Contact Your Legislators
Make your letters/emails/phone calls brief, to the point, relate personal information in a pleasant tone. 

Scenes and  Interactions
​2019 DKG Day at the Capitol

Kirk Shook
​Executive Director of Post-Secondary Commission

Mr. Shook explained his title and what his office does. Kirk just finished his time as a classroom teacher in January. He and his office oversee and give accreditation to the private college institutes in Georgia. They are working together with these institutes to bridge the gap between high school and career readiness. His office currently has 288 institutions under their umbrella. Mr. Shook stated that he too is worried about TRS and the raise proposal. He has 12 years in TRS and is vested in it staying around. His wife is a media specialist and would like to see all school employees get the raise. Mr. Shook stated he would be lobbying for those things and suggested we do the same by contacting our representatives. [email protected]
​Matthew Gambill
District 15 Legislator, Cartersville

This is Mr. Gambill’s 18th day on the job. Although he is in a new position, he has been in the political and educational arenas for some time serving as a lobbyist for CTAE (Career Technology, Agriculture Education). Mr. Gambill is on the Economic Development Committee but plans to work closely with the Education Committee to oversee bills. Currently, Matthew is interested in the bill that will allow the Hope Eligibility to be extended from 7 to 11 years. House Bill 109 (Please read it if you haven’t!!!) is another concern of Mr. Gambill. He is concerned it will be changed from Defined Benefits to Defined Contributions. Revision for the bill will be made this week. It is proposed that new employees would contribute at a higher rate in a Defined Contributions account. Mr. Gambill discussed the QBE formula and feels that it needs to be updated and more money needs to be contributed to each student. The pay raise is a concern of his. He feels teachers deserve the raise and does not agree with the fact that school counselors, principals, media specialist, superintendents, etc. will not benefit from the raise. [email protected]
Valencia Stovall
District 74 Legislator, Conyers

Mrs. Stovall is on the Education Committee. She stated they would be addressing issues with the pay raise this week. School counselors and media specialist are being considered for the raise. Last year the QBE was fully funded, however, the formula has not been updated since 1985. Three models have been proposed by the ESSA, but the state has not decided on one. The Georgia Public Foundation has proposed a bill that would provide individuals and businesses with tax cuts if they donate and support the Wrap-Around School Model in their area. Currently, Marietta High School has a successful Wrap-Around Program. [email protected]
Martha Zollar
Director of State Field Office

Martha represented Governor Kemp’s office since he was unable to attend. She said the Governor is excited to start with a $3000 raise for teachers but will continue to push for the full $5000 he had originally wanted. The new app for Mental Health is up and running. House Bill 109 will be studied and revised this week. School systems around the state are seeing growth. Therefore, money is being set aside to enlarge schools and repair schools in Southwest Georgia after Hurricane Michael. State Superintendent Woods has put a school nurse back into every school. In rural areas, school nurses will provide Tela-Doctors services. Martha stated she would be happy to come out and speak to any groups regarding political issues on the forefront.  [email protected]
Sandra Scott
Mrs. Scott was an educator herself. She believes elementary schools fail students, because they do not have the money and/or skills to solve student problems (mental, social, economic, nor academic). She believes the Wrap-Around Program would benefit students and would like to see parents be held accountable. Mrs. Scott has proposed House Bill 40. It would provide local systems with test materials to conduct screening for dyslexia students in grades Kindergarten through Second instead of waiting until they are older. [email protected]
Eddie Lumsden
District 12, Rome

Mr. Lumsden is a retired state trooper. His father and wife were teachers. His wife served on the local school board. Mr. Lumsden stated he supported the Mental Health Bill. This bill will assist in identifying students with mental health disorders and provide them with services and medication, if necessary. There is also the possibility of adding extra counselors in the school districts. He felt like safety is very important, therefore, the Security Grant was a high priority for him. He felt the grant’s use should be left up to the school district in order to meet the cultural needs of the communities. Mr. Lumsden stated that TRS had to change, because there are fewer people putting money in than taking money out. He feels this problem will continue to grow as we move forward. He would like to see more management of TRS to see where the weaknesses are and how to proceed forward. [email protected]
Kate Dempsey
District 13, Rome

Mrs. Dempsey has an Early Childhood Education degree. She is an advocate that wants mental health to be provided to all citizens. She is on the School Safety Commission. As a member of the group, she is working on providing Suicide Prevention Training. She would like to see counselors be the person that connects students to the resources to assist in solving issues. The new app for mental health was rolled out Thursday. It is called My GCAL App. It is available 24/7. It is a touch app where you can call, text, or use resources to solve crisis situations. The commission will be getting statistics on the app as soon as next week. Mrs. Dempsey would like to focus on the younger students’ mental health, because they are being exposed to so much at such a young age and are not cognitively ready to deal with the issues and/or understand. [email protected]
Other Issues and Topics​
  • School calendar being mandated by the state
  • Threat assessment and profile of each student
  • Increasing the retirement age from 60 to 62
  • Taking money from and making adjustments to TRS
  • Not allowing sick days to be used toward retirement
  • Lack of incentives to encourage teachers to stay in the field
  • Lack of applicants in the UGA Education Department and other universities and colleges around the state
  • Demands and costs on student teachers to get accreditation
  • Raise only being $3000 instead of $5000 (When will it be distributed? Will it be the county’s decision?)
  • Raise not including media specialist, school counselors, principals, superintendents, etc.
  • Private school vouchers
  • $69 million Security Grant ($30k for each school)
  • $6 million Audio/Visual and Technology Grant
  • $131 million QBE adjustment

Graphics credits
  • Georgia state capitol image:   Wikimedia
  • Photos:  GSO chapters​

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