Georgia
- Georgia
priorities and pressing state issues affecting p-12/higher education
Recently, congress passed the $2 trillion federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act which included an allocation of $14.2 billion for higher education. It has been reported that the 26 University System of Georgia's (USG) colleges and university are collectively projected to receive an estimated total of $378 million to address COVID-19 relief. The Department of Education is expected to disperse funding to colleges and universities on the basis of their full-time equivalent student enrollment and the total number of Pell Grant eligible students.1 Considering colleges and universities are in the process of refunding students for COVID-19 mandated campus closures, relief funding can assist in maintaining some financial stability at higher education institutions during this perilous time.
In terms of P-12 schools, the financial impact of COVID-19 is unclear at the moment; however, due to school closings, equity and access issues pertaining to online instruction in certain parts of Georgia has been a trending item within the media.2 The concern is the availability of high-speed internet (typically a paid-for commodity) in high-needs areas. For schools relying on online instruction, which require students to have access to highspeed internet, requiring students to have high-speed internet may violate a student's constitutional right to a free, public education. With roughly 8.2 percent of Georgian's with no viable internet options and incapable of participating in online instruction, if schools remain closed, state funds may need to be reallocated to ensure all students have the necessary instructional support to accommodate the new mode of delivery.
changes to the funding formula for p-12/higher education3
Highlighted in the governor's 2021 budget, for P-12 schooling, there is a recommended increase of $143,510,881 to address a 0.3 percent increase in enrollment in the Quality Basic Education QBE) program. Additionally, there is a recommended increase of [End Page 266] $50,458,558 to attend to a 7.89 percent increase in state charter school enrollment. In terms of higher education, the University System of Georgia is expected to receive $78,091,017 to accommodate student instructional needs due to a 1.18 percent increase in credit hour enrollment. Georgia Military College is recommended to receive $194,903 increase for 10.15 percent increase in enrollment. For financing student college, the budget indicated a recommended adjustment of $55,923,577 to HOPE lottery funds, of which $775,077 are recommended to accommodate growth in private school programs.
To accommodate salary increases for K-12 educators, (i.e., $2,000 for certified personnel and $1,000 for non-certified personnel with salaries less than $40,000) $362,202,591 is recommended to be expended to the Department of Education. The following budgetary adjustments are recommended to address increases in other education personnel salaries: $235,384 (Georgia Military College); $14,129,378 (Department of Early Care and Learning); $4,255,519 (University System of Georgia); $1,587,621 (Technical College System of Georgia); and $40,662,873 (State Employees).
trends in state funding for public institutions
Teacher Raises4
If approved by the general assembly, the inclusion of $362 million allocated for teacher and personnel pay raises in addition to funds allocated for the same purpose in last year's budget5 will have resulted in over $896 million in additional funding in two years for public education. In sum, the teacher raises equate to an addition of $506 per student in state funding year-over-year. In general, when funds are provided to local education agencies (LEA) for salaries, it is the prerogative of the LEA to use the funds for teacher pay or other school needs.
Lottery Funding 6
The 2021 budget for lottery-funded programs increased by five percent (i.e., $67 million). Additionally, all proposed spending for the various HOPE Scholarship programs also grew by 6.5 percent (i.e., $888 million) since last year. It is important to note that for the first time in many years, there was not an increase in the number of HOPE...
