On Monday, Governor Brian P. Kemp, along with Lieutenant Governor Burt Jones, Speaker Jon Burns, and members of the Georgia General Assembly, announced a legislative plan to improve K-12 education and strengthen classrooms in Georgia. This package includes funding from the AFY’25 and FY’26 budgets, ensuring full funding for K-12 formula earnings, increasing school safety grants, and enhancing mental health support and crisis counseling. It also includes additional funds for technical education and transportation and aims to improve teacher benefits while modernizing school facilities.

Governor Kemp emphasized that this is the highest spending on K-12 education in Georgia’s history, highlighting promises made to prioritize children’s education. He noted significant achievements, such as raising teacher pay and directing funds towards mental health resources in schools. Since 2019, Georgia has committed an additional $3. 7 billion to K-12 education and allocated $294 million for school safety grants.

Lt. Governor Burt Jones praised the focus on school safety and announced support for proposed measures including a $50 million budget allocation for safety. He plans to prioritize “Alyssa’s Law,” aimed at enhancing student security. Speaker Jon Burns echoed the commitment to improving educational opportunities, emphasizing safety, literacy initiatives, and mental health resources.

The governor’s proposals further include $120. 8 million for K-12 education in FY 2025, additional funding for pupil transportation, and grants for technical education labs. For teachers and faculty, there will be increased indemnification benefits and enhancements to health insurance contributions. The plan also allocates $50 million for school safety grants and $212. 4 million for capital improvements, including facility earnings and equipment for vocational education.