Latest news with #FloydGriffin
Yahoo
19-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Should Georgia Promise Scholarship Act be repealed, expanded? Democrats, Republicans clash
The Brief Rep. Floyd Griffin (D-Milledgeville) is sponsoring House Bill 436, which would repeal the Georgia Promise Scholarship Act. More than 400 public schools statewide are eligible for the school voucher program, which provides a scholarship of $6,500 to pay for private school tuition or home school expenses. Critics say it does more harm than good. Senate Republicans have introduced legislation to expand the program. ATLANTA - Some parents of Georgia school children who attend low performing public schools in Georgia will soon begin applying for school vouchers to help them pay for private school. A Democratic state lawmaker wants to repeal the law. Senate Republicans want to expand the program. What we know The Georgia Promise Scholarship is a program that provides a school voucher worth $6,500 to the families of children who attend underperforming public schools in Georgia. State officials released a list of more than 400 eligible schools, including more than 30 Atlanta Public Schools, more than 40 schools in DeKalb County, 22 in Clayton County, 16 in Gwinnett County, 9 in Fulton County and 8 in Cobb County. RELATED: School list released for Georgia Promise Scholarship program Big picture view State Rep. Floyd Griffin (D-Milledgeville) is sponsoring House Bill 436. HB 436 would repeal the Georgia Promise Scholarship Act, which was signed into law last year. Critics say the program has been fraught with delays and unforeseen challenges, and disproportionately affects children in rural and urban school districts who can't afford private school, and lack transportation. What they're saying "Why should we be funding private schools? It's only going to help those individuals who can pay the additional funds to go to school," Rep. Griffin told reporters Tuesday. The other side Meanwhile, Lt. Gov. Burt Jones and Republicans in the Senate want to expand the program. State Sen. Greg Dolezal (R-Cumming) has introduced Senate Bill 152, which would expand eligibility for the Georgia Promise Scholarship to biological and adoptive children of foster parents. "We worked very hard to create opportunities for children and parents in this state," Jones told FOX 5. "If you are in a failing public school system you ought to be able to, to be given the opportunity to, take a voucher and find a place that's more suited for your child." The Source FOX 5 Atlanta Deidra Dukes spoke to Rep. Floyd Griffin (D-Milledgeville), Lt. Gov. Burt Jones and Sen. Greg Dolezal (R-Cumming) about the program, House Bill 436 and Senate Bill 152.
Yahoo
18-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Georgia Rep. introduces bill to require an HBCU graduate serve on Board of Regents
A Georgia lawmaker introduced new legislation to require that the University System of Georgia's Board of Regents has an at-large member who is a graduate of a Historically Black College or University. The legislation, put forward by Rep. Floyd Griffin of Milledgeville, would have the state put at least one HBCU graduate on the Board by Jan. 1, 2028 and would increase it to at least two at-large members by 2031. Griffin released a statement on his proposal, saying that the goal was to make the state's university system represent its students more fully. 'Under HB 203, we commit to accurately representing our state's university system by guaranteeing that a position of the Board of Regents is held by a member of a HBCU,' Griffin said. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] TRENDING STORIES: Georgia republishes list of low-performing schools eligible for voucher program South Fulton mayor can get back into his office, but not his car Georgia researchers say Southern accents are changing More specifically, House Bill 203 would require that the at-large member is from an HBCU within the University System of Georgia. Currently, the state has 10 such institutions, seven of which are in the City of Atlanta. Those institutions are: Albany State University Clark Atlanta University Fort Valley State University Interdenominational Theological Center Morehouse College Morehouse School of Medicine Morris Brown College Paine College Savannah State University Spelman College For a college or university to qualify for the purposes of this legislation, the institution must be eligible under the requirements of current federal law as of Jan. 1, 2025. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
