Bill > HB796

This bill revises the Quality Basic Education (QBE) program weights based on recommendations from the 2015 Education Reform Commission. The bill fundamentally changes how student categories are weighted for state education funding, reducing the complexity of the previous system and adjusting the financial weights assigned to different student groups. The new weights cover categories such as pre-kindergarten through third grade students (0.2954 weight), students in grades four and five (0.0813 weight), high school students (0.0845 weight), career and technical education students (0.0496 weight), and various categories of students with disabilities (ranging from 0.4263 to 5.1056 weight). Additionally, the bill introduces weights for intellectually gifted students (0.3377), economically disadvantaged students (0.0997), and English language learners (0.2035). The bill maintains a provision requiring the Governor to appoint a task force every three years to review the effectiveness of program weights and recommend potential changes to the General Assembly. This modification aims to create a more nuanced and responsive funding model that better reflects the diverse needs of students across different educational contexts.

Education

https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/71421