View as Webpage • February 28, 2023
Georgia Education Policy Alert
Weekly Update

IDRA's weekly email alert includes legislative updates, opportunities for action to make your voice heard, bills to watch and other information through the General Assembly session until it closes.


And please tell your friends!
Legislative Updates
Today! Senate Bill 233 – School Vouchers
This bill would create a voucher that would provide $6,000 for private education expenses for every eligible student. Currently, there is no cap on enrollment or requirements on the type of student (previous voucher attempts try to use students with disabilities or low-income students as sympathetic vehicles for privatization). Get additional information on the danger of vouchers that take public funds and redirect them to unaccountable private schools that are unwilling or unable to educate Georgia’s most vulnerable students.

Attend the Hearing and Testify
Senate Education and Youth Committee – Hearing on Senate Bill 233
Tuesday, February 28 at 2:30 pm
Georgia Capitol - Room 450
You can enter the capitol at the ground level on the southwest side of the building, on the side where the street is closed (Capitol Sq SW).
 
When you get to the meeting, there will be a sign-in sheet to speak to the bill. Sign your name and wait to be called. Prepare 1-2 minutes of testimony, starting with your name and who you are with (if you represent an organization). Please say you are with Fund Georgia’s Future if you are a member or part of a member organization.
 
Contact Your Senator!
Just because you cannot take off to get to the capitol today doesn’t mean you can’t make a difference. Call, email or text your senator (even if they’re not on this committee) and ask them to Vote NO on Senate Bill 233. You can also watch the hearing here.
 
Subscribe to Fund Georgia’s Future email alerts too!
Tomorrow: Senate Bill 88 – “Don’t Say Gay” Bill
This bill will likely limit conversations that students are able to have with educators and supportive school individuals about gender identity and sexual orientation. Bills like these put LGBTQ+ students at further risk of having negative outcomes in school, and they make it harder for schools to fully support LGBTQ+ students. 

Attend the Hearing and Testify
Senate Education and Youth Committee – Hearing on Senate Bill 88
Wednesday, March 1 at 10:00 am
Coverdell Legislative Office Building – Room 307
 
Contact Your Senator!
Call, email or text your senator (even if they’re not on this committee) and ask them to Vote NO on Senate Bill 88. You can also watch the hearing here.
Record Your Unofficial Testimony to Share
With IDRA's SendSpark tool, you can record your testimony that we will share with policymakers and on social media.
Record Your Unofficial Testimony to Share
With IDRA's SendSpark tool, you can record your testimony that we will share with policymakers and on social media. Use the QR to record!

Things happen fast! Watch our Twitter feed for news.
Southern Education Equity Network
Check out IDRA's Southern Education Equity Network online!

Join us at www.idraseen.org to start or join a group and begin the conversation! And as you enter, you can post your group’s events, discuss future meetings, and keep up with our live discussion board that updates you as others are posting. We want you to be SEEN! Be sure to join the Georgia Coalition Against Classroom Censorship group. We will post these notes there and you can share news and resources.

As you’re joining the site, be sure to post about it on social media using the hashtags #StrongCommunities, #StrongSchools or #SEEN.
IDRA is an independent, non-profit organization whose mission is to achieve equal educational opportunity through strong public schools that prepare all students to access and succeed in college.