Education will be on the agenda for lawmakers when they gather under the gold dome in Atlanta this week for the 2025 legislative session. Georgia State Superintendent Richard Woods aims to modernize the education funding program known as the Quality Basic Education (QBE) formula, which was established over forty years ago.
This program considers factors like student numbers, costs based on grade or program, school expenses, and teacher qualifications. The Georgia Department of Education plans to update this formula as part of its legislative priorities for 2025.
A new school voucher program linked to QBE will provide $6,500 annually for private school or homeschooling for students in the lowest-performing public schools starting in the 2025-2026 school year. House Speaker Jon Burns highlighted the significance of education for all children in Georgia during a press conference.
However, critics argue that vouchers take funds from public schools, favor wealthy families, do not improve student performance, increase segregation, violate religious freedom, and may harm the poorest children.
Applications for the voucher program will be accepted from January 21 to February 21, 2025.
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