Legislature passes governor's classroom spending requirement

Greg Bluestein
Associated Press

ATLANTA - House lawmakers backed a plan Thursday that requires school systems to spend at least 65 percent of their money in classrooms, joining the Senate in approving a central piece of Gov. Sonny Perdue's education agenda.

The plan, which says the systems must meet the 65-percent standard by 2008, will be sent to the Senate to consider minor changes before it lands on the governor's desk.

Some 64 of the state's 180 school districts already met the threshold in the 2002-03 school year, the most recent for which statistics were available.

Backers say those schools have enjoyed higher SAT scores and boosted student achievement. If every Georgia school system met the requirement, they said $192 million more would be spent on classroom instruction instead of administrative costs.

"In the end, those that are spending and doing the jobs they are supposed to do are succeeding," said state Rep. David Casas, a Lilburn Republican and a high school government teacher. "We have to stop making excuses. This is about efficiency."

Critics of the bill, which passed 102-70, noted that the legislation sets no consequences for districts that don't meet the goals and argued that it robs school districts of the power to control local funds.

"This bill is going to increase the role of the state Board of Education while decreasing the role of your local school boards," said state Rep. Carolyn Hugley, D-Columbus.

Several also expressed concern that classroom spending does not cover bus drivers, counselors, librarians and school nurses, and predicted it could lead to higher property taxes.

State Rep. Alicia Thomas Morgan urged GOP leaders to instead take up a three-page list of proposals that school districts submitted to lawmakers.

"Republicans are always talking about how you can't throw money at the problem," said Morgan, D-Austell. "If this is not throwing money at the problem, I don't know what is."

Twice during the hours-long debate, House Speaker Glenn Richardson angrily banged his gavel to quiet applause for speakers opposed to the proposal.

"I think it's high time that someone stand up and do one of the three things: Lead, follow or get out of the way," he said later in a rare trip to the well of the House to question the motives of Democrats who oppose the bill. "Let's face it folks, it's because Gov. Sonny Perdue has decided to lead."

Under the bill, classroom spending would include salaries for teachers and teacher's aides; the cost of books; field trips; and tuition paid for special-needs students to attend out-of-state schools or private institutions.

School systems that can show high scores on SATs, state graduation tests or other standardized tests would be allowed to apply for an exemption.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Published on: 02/17/06

The Georgia House on Thursday approved Gov. Sonny Perdue's bill to require local school systems to spend at least 65 percent of their money in classrooms, pushing the plan close to final passage.

Senate Bill 390, a key part of the governor's election-year agenda, sparked a heated debate and a rare speech by a visibly angry Speaker Glenn Richardson (R-Hiram).

"The governor of this state has stood up, and I'm going to stand behind him," Richardson said, after admonishing Democratic critics of the bill. "We're going to raise the bar in Georgia ... it's time to lead, follow or get out of the way."

Perdue's bill, which would require school systems to meet the 65 percent standard by 2008, cleared the House 102-70. It previously passed the Senate, but returns to that chamber for approval of some minor changes.

The "65 Cent Solution" is being pushed by conservative education activists in legislatures across the country. Texas has adopted it, and efforts are under way to put the issue on the ballot this year in at least 10 states, according to stateline.org. The national average of school spending in the classroom is 61.5 percent.

Georgia officials have said 64 of the state's 180 school districts were already meeting the new standard in the 2002-2003 school year, the latest term for which statistics are available.

The bill exempts high-achieving school systems from the mandate. It also includes potential hardship exemptions, such as acts of God and skyrocketing fuel prices.

State Rep. Fran Millar (R-Dunwoody), who pushed the bill for Perdue, said the plan is based on national research that shows significantly higher SAT and CRT scores in public schools that spend at least 65 percent of their education budgets in the classroom.

"It's about achievement. It's not about punishing anybody, Millar said. He said officials estimate that, by mandating the 65 percent, a total of $192 million will be shifted from administration to the classroom.

Critics, who include many educators, argue that credible sources have not been able to substantiate any direct connection between academic achievement and a 65-percent requirement.

Democrats said the bill flies in the face of the Republican mantra that schools fare best under local control. They say the measure could force some school systems to raise local property taxes.

"What you're doing with this bill is you're telling local people what they can do with local money," said state Rep. Ellis Black (D-Valdosta), a former chairman of his local school board. "As noble as the purpose of this bill is, it isn't going to get you there."

Most of the state's education groups oppose the bill.

Jocelyn Whitfield, with the Georgia Association of Educators, said the House version of the bill, which allows for possible hardship exceptions, is more palatable than the original version.

"The problem for all of us is it directs how local, federal and state dollars are spent," Whitfield said. "Legally, we're not even sure they can do that."

In his speech, Richardson told House members that school officials and school groups aren't the ones to listen to on this issue.

"Don't ask them," Richardson said. "Ask mamas and daddys."

Several Democrats charged that the mandate is being pushed for political reasons in an election year.

"It's about politics," said state Rep. Alan Powell (D-Hartwell). "I have no problems with this proposition, except this will probably be another nail in the coffin of local school systems."

GEORGIA LEGISLATURE PASSES GOV. PERDUE’S 65% SOLUTION PLAN $200 MILLION FOR GEORGIA CLASSROOMS WITHOUT TAX INCREASE

NEW POLL SHOWS HUGE SUPPORT FOR 65% SOLUTION IN GEORGIA

ATLANTA: Governor Sonny Perdue’s call to place more of Georgia’s education dollars into the classroom today passed the State House of Representatives assuring that a requirement for school districts to spend at least 65% of their budgets in the classroom will become law. Passage in the Georgia House was by a vote of 102 for to 70 against.

Said, Patrick Byrne, National Advisory Chairman of First Class Education,

“Governor Perdue and Leaders in the Georgia Legislature are to be commended for making classrooms, teachers and students the first funding priority in Georgia public education. Passage of the 65% Solution will mean not only an additional $200 million more in Georgia’s classrooms, but a sea change in setting education priorities benefiting teachers and taxpayers, parents and students.”

Yesterday, First Class Education released numbers from an interactive phone survey showing tremendous support among all demographic subsets. The poll showed that 78.60% of registered voters think school districts should be required to spend 65% of funds on classroom instruction. When told of the measure placing an additional $200 million in Georgia’s classrooms without a tax increase support rose to 90.40%. Finally, 80.30% of voters said they were more likely to vote for a candidate that supported the 65% requirement.

Support was strong in every demographic subset and mirrors support found in an earlier national survey by Harris Interactive, that showed 85% support among Southern voters. Numerous state polls conducted by a half dozen different pollsters have shown similar levels of support.

The Georgia poll was conducted by CCA, a national interactive survey research firm that called all 50 states correctly in the 2004 presidential contest.

Georgia now becomes the fourth state to enact a form of 65% in the classroom law, joining Louisiana, Kansas and Texas. Nearly a dozen other states are moving towards a 65% requirement either by legislative action, legislative referral to the ballot or citizen initiative.

First Class Education, founded in March 2005, is a national 501-c-4 organization committed to passing in all 50 state and the District of Columbia what has been dubbed by columnist George Will as “The 65% Solution.” Doing so would provide over $14 billion more for America’s classrooms without a tax increase – enough for a new computer for every student in America or 300,000 new teachers with a starting salary of $40,000 a year.


Georgia Governor Gets Behind New Education Budgeting Bill
Perdue, 'About Results,' Gives 100% Support to Proposed 65% Solution

By Jim Brown
February 13, 2006

(AgapePress) - The governor of Georgia is pushing a proposal aimed at improving student achievement that would require 65 percent of all education dollars to be spent directly in the classroom.

The bill introduced by State Senator Ronnie Chance would require all Georgia school systems receiving state funding to dedicate 65 percent of their total budgets to classroom instruction. The "65% Solution," as the plan is being called, would include spending on teachers, textbooks, computers, and teacher aides, but not on administrative salaries, maintenance, or food services costs.

Georgia's Governor Sonny Perdue says the 65 percent goal is attainable and does not take away local flexibility in spending, as opponents of the legislation claim. In fact, he notes, "We do provide a disclaimer, really a waiver, for those systems that are already achieving."

Perdue says his plan, rather than taking away schools' autonomy, instead "incentivizes" educators in under-performing schools. "I'm a strong believer in local control of schools," he asserts, "and since this is all about student achievement, if those systems are already getting results at average or above average, then this 65 percent wouldn't apply to them."

According to the governor, his plan is based on national research that shows public school test scores are significantly higher in systems where at least 65 percent of the educational budget is spent in the classroom.

"I'm about results and student achievement," Perdue says. "And for any educator, any administrator who wants to say, 'You're telling me how to do my job' ... well, mediocrity is not an option for me. If you want to show that you're doing the job, then let's just be above average in Georgia, and you don't have to worry about me looking down your neck at all."

In pushing the plan proposed in Senator Chance's bill, Purdue says he is merely giving school systems a ramp to get to the 65 percent mark. He says the educational plan is not focused on penalizing schools that fail to reach that goal.

Senate embraces 65 percent solution
02/01/2006

By Dave Williams
Staff Writer
dave.williams @gwinnettdailypost.com

ATLANTA — School systems in Georgia would have to spend 65 percent of their operational funds in the classroom under legislation approved by the Senate on Tuesday.

Voting 32-18 virtually along party lines, the Republican-controlled upper chamber passed the first installment of GOP Gov. Sonny Perdue’s 2006 education agenda and sent it on to the House.

The 65 percent standard came from First Class Education, a Washington-based advocacy group that is pushing the proposal in states across the nation.

A recent study found that students in Georgia school districts that spend 65 percent or more of their money on classroom instruction performed better on the SAT and the state’s Criterion-Referenced Curriculum Test, said Sen. Ronnie Chance, R-Tyrone, who presented the bill to the Senate on the governor’s behalf.

“The figure is not arbitrary,’’ Chance said. “The 65 percent balance is one that produces results.’’

Chance said the legislation would provide some flexibility to school districts lagging below the 65 percent standard. Those systems would not face sanctions if they could bring up their spending on classroom instruction by 2 percent per year, he said.

Also, high-performing districts would receive waivers and, thus, not be subject to the requirement at all, he said.

But Democrats derided the legislation as a gimmick because it would contain no additional funding for Georgia schools but simply force them to reallocate their resources while they continue to suffer from per-pupil formula cuts.

“Here we are a week before the Super Bowl, and we’ve already got the gadget play of the week,’’ said Sen. J.B. Powell, D-Blythe. “This bill does nothing to increase school funding.’’

Specifically, Democrats complained that the bill’s definition of “direct classroom instruction’’ leaves out media specialists and libraries while including athletics.

“Carrying a football, I think, is less important than carrying a book,’’ said Sen. Vincent Fort, D-Atlanta.

Sen. Michael Meyer von Bremen, D-Albany, said school officials in Baker and Mitchell counties, two rural systems in his district, have told him they couldn’t handle a 65-percent requirement because of their high transportation costs.

“Many rural schools are forced to transport students down dirt roads,’’ he said. “If we go with this mandatory 65 percent, it’s going to ... tell them they can’t fund their transportation needs unless they cut other programs.’’

But Sen. Dan Moody, R-Alpharetta, chairman of the Senate Education and Youth Committee, said districts could avoid having to choose between items like media specialists and classroom instruction simply by making more efficient use of the 35 percent of their budgets they still would be allowed to spend outside the classroom.
“Within the 35 percent, one can manage those costs,’’ he said.

Prior to the final vote, majority Republicans defeated four amendments proposed by Democrats, including an effort by Sen. Steve Henson, D-Tucker, to count media specialists and counselors as classroom spending.

School budget writers mull state mandates

By JEFF GILL
The Times

Hall and Gainesville school officials, preparing to work on school system budgets for 2006-07, have cast an eye toward a potential cascade of state mandates.

The state legislature is looking at, among other things, a 4 percent raise for teachers, smaller class sizes and a requirement that districts spend at least 65 percent of their money for classroom instruction.

"It is going to be an interesting budget year," said Angela Adams, Gainesville City Schools' chief financial officer. "It'll all work out ... but it may be that we just meet our needs this year and do fewer wants."

School offi

cials are praising efforts by Gov. Sonny Perdue and others to pump money into education, including picking up the $138 million tab in insurance premium increases.

But there are other areas, such as teacher raises, that will require systems to reach into their pockets. State money for raises doesn't include, for example, the employer's Social Security match in a teacher's paycheck.

Social Security contributions rise as salaries rise, and a 4 percent raise would be the biggest hike for teachers in several years. Plus, fast-growing systems such as Hall and Gainesville add new teacher positions every year.

Also, "we have more teachers than we get (salary) reimbursement for through the (state's funding) formula," said Dennis Fordham, superintendent of the Hall County School System.

Also, the General Assembly is looking at reducing class sizes and eliminating "systemwide averages" as a way for districts to calculate class sizes. In other words, all class sizes would have to fall at or under certain student-teacher ratios.

"Not only is that a money issue, it's a space issue," said Adams, whose district is gearing up to build a 1,500-student middle school and considering the eventual construction of a sixth elementary school. "We may have to buy another (mobile classroom)."

Under the proposal, one student's mid-year enrollment at a particular school could force a school system to hire a new teacher and create new classroom space, if all the classes where that student would have been assigned at that school have reached the maximum allowed class size.

That would mean splitting up classes to create one class.

"That kind of disruption is not good for the students," Fordham said.

The state is looking at setting aside $163 million to help systems with class-size reductions.

Also, the state Senate is expected to take up today Perdue's call for requiring systems to spend at least 65 percent on classroom instruction, including teacher salaries and benefits and classroom supplies, such as textbooks.

The law would exclude other expenses, such as counselors; instructional coaches who work primarily with teachers on curriculum; and media center workers.

Fordham calls such exceptions "extremely ill-advised."

"First and foremost, (these expenses) ought to be a local decision," he said. "One size doesn't fit all. And (the spending threshold) isn't going to improve things. There does need to be meaningful serious reform, however, to the state's funding of education."

In the past few years, the state has imposed "austerity cuts" as part of its school system allocations, as a way to help shore up overall state revenue shortfalls.

Both systems have much work to do before budget numbers start falling in place.

Fordham said the county's preliminary spending plan could be released to the Hall County Board of Education in late March or early April. Adams said the city's first budget could come out in early March.

"We brace every year (for the budget)," said Frank Harben, Gainesville City Board of Education member and the board's legislative liaison. "I believe (this year's budget) is something we'll be able to cope with."

Overall, he believes the legislative proposals this year will benefit systems.

"The legislature and Gov. Perdue all want the same thing, and that's good, quality learning environments for every child in the state," Harben said.

Contacts

For more information about Gainesville City Schools, call (770) 536-5275 or visit www.gcssk12.net. For more information about the Hall County School System, call (770) 534-1080 or visit www.hallco.org.

Contact: jgill@gainesvilletimes. com, (770) 718-3408

Senate passes classroom spending requirement

The Associated Press - ATLANTA

Georgia school systems would be required to spend at least 65 percent of their money in classrooms under a bill approved Tuesday by the state Senate.

The plan, part of Gov. Sonny Perdue's education agenda, authorizes the state school board to sanction any system that does not meet that standard by 2008.

Of Georgia's 180 school districts, 64 already spent 65 percent or more of their budgets on classroom instruction in the 2002-03 school year _ the most recent for which statistics were available.

Forty-seven systems spent between 63 and 65 percent and 69 were below 63 percent.

Sen. Ronnie Chance, R-Tyrone, the plan's sponsor, said statistics show that the systems already meeting the standard are among the state's highest performers on standardized tests.

"This is a proven formula that works," Chance said. "It's working in Georgia now."

Chance said that if every Georgia school system met the 65 percent requirement, $122 million more dollars would be spent on classroom instruction instead of administrative costs.

Critics of the bill, which passed 32-18, called it an empty political gesture, noting that the legislation does not specify any punishment for districts that don't meet the goal.

Several complained that athletics is considered classroom instruction under the bill, but libraries and counselors are not.

"This bill is smoke and mirrors," said Sen. Steve Henson, D-Tucker. "Buying footballs will count as a classroom expenditure, but our media specialists won't."

Salaries for teachers and teacher's aides, costs for books, field trips and tuition paid for special-needs students to attend out-of-state schools or private institutions also would be considered classroom expenses under the bill.

School systems that can show high scores on SATs, the state's graduation test or other standardized testing would be allowed to apply for an exemption.

The bill now goes to the House.

School funding formula OK'd

By BRIDGET GUTIERREZ
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 02/01/06

Georgia is closer to becoming the fourth state to adopt a controversial education measure forcing school systems to spend nearly two-thirds of their budgets "in the classroom."

"This is quality legislation which is needed to improve our student achievement in Georgia, a goal we all should be focused on," said state Sen. Ronnie Chance (R-Tyrone), a sponsor of the bill. "Spending 65 percent — at least 65 percent — can be done."

After lengthy debate in which Democrats charged that the bill was riddled with problems and driven by election-year politics, Senate Republicans on Tuesday pushed through the governor's proposal requiring systems to spend 65 cents of every dollar on teachers, aides, classroom supplies and other "direct classroom expenditures." The measure passed with 32 senators voting yes, 18 no and six senators not voting.

"I don't think we need to play politics with our kids any longer," state Sen. Steve Henson (D-Tucker) said before voting against the measure. "Georgia students are falling behind, and we need to address [the problems] seriously."

Some educators have tried to fight what they say is an arbitrary, one-size-fits-all standard, and some Democrats took up their cause Tuesday. Attempts were made to change the definition of classroom spending in the bill and to allow the State Board of Education to decide the rules. Both amendments failed.

Under the bill, classroom expenditures would include field trips and athletics but not salaries of librarians, nurses, guidance counselors or other support personnel.

"Every one of these individuals plays a critical part in the academic success of students," said Janice Monk Reardon, director of policy development and governmental relations for Atlanta Public Schools. "To leave them out of the instructional equation paints an unrealistic picture of ... today's classroom."

A Republican consultant from Arizona and his organization, First Class Education, are pushing the "65 percent solution" across the country and in Georgia. So far, three states — Texas, Kansas and Louisiana — have adopted similar measures.

Supporters of the bill say moving more money into the classroom will improve student achievement. Since the beginning of the session, the governor's staff has distributed statistics showing that systems in Georgia that spend 65 percent or more have higher SAT and state exam scores than those that spend less.

But that data is based on the 2002-2003 school year, before the brunt of several years of cuts in the state funding formula. State officials have been unable to say how many systems currently spend less than 65 percent and how those systems perform academically.

Senate President Pro Tempore Eric Johnson (R-Savannah) said putting two-thirds of money into the classroom is simply common sense.

"I don't need studies," he said, "to tell me the more money put in the classroom, the better student performance will be."

For governor, magic number is 65 percent
01/22/2006

By Dave Williams
Staff Writer
dave.williams@gwinnettdailypost.com

ATLANTA — From teacher pay raises to reducing class sizes, most of Gov. Sonny Perdue's 2006 education agenda would cost state taxpayers millions of dollars.

But one of the governor's initiatives, at least in theory, wouldn't carry a price tag because it would only force local school districts to redistribute how they're spending the money they already have.

Picking up on an idea growing in popularity in states across the nation, Perdue is pushing legislation that would require districts to spend at least 65 percent of their total budgets in the classrooms.

“We think 65 percent is the gold standard we want to strive for,'' the governor said this month when he unveiled the proposal. “This is a very attainable goal for Georgia.''

But educators and their advocates are worried about details like defining what constitutes a classroom expense and whether there's a correlation between the percentage of funding a school district spends in classrooms and student achievement.

“It's a feel-good thing,'' said Alvin Wilbanks, superintendent of Gwinnett County Public Schools, the state's largest school district. “Why wouldn't you want to direct every penny you could to direct instruction? ... (But) I don't know how you could hold class without light or heat. Why exclude that?''

The “65 percent solution'' is the brainchild of First Class Education, a Washington-based group formed to push for passage of the proposal in as many states as possible.

It has been enacted into law in Louisiana, established as state policy in Kansas and put in place through an executive order by the governor of Texas, said Tim Mooney, the group's executive director.

Sixty-five percent proposals also are under consideration in nine other states across the country, from Florida to Oregon and Washington, he said.

Idea popular
Mooney said the concept is catching on as school budgets climb without an accompanying rise in classroom spending.
“Over the last few years nationally, K-12 education funding has increased at four times the rate of inflation, but the percentage of dollars going to the classroom has declined,'' he said. “It's frustrating teachers, parents, educators and voters.''
Mooney said that frustration lies behind the results of a national Harris poll sponsored by First Class Education. According to the survey, released in November, 79 percent of respondents said they would vote to require public school districts to increase the percentage of their budgets spent in classrooms from the current 61 percent to 65 percent.
Georgia doesn't have quite as far to go to get to the 65-percent level. The state average for classroom spending was 63.6 percent in fiscal 2003, according to statistics compiled by the National Center for Education Statistics.
More than 60 individual school districts across Georgia, large and small, were at or above 65 percent in 2003, according to the figures.
But for those that don't reach the benchmark, the governor's bill would provide a way out.
Noncomplying districts would not be penalized as long as they increase the percentage of their budgets going to classrooms by 2 percent each year.
Also, districts that can demonstrate high student achievement would be granted waivers so they wouldn't have to meet the 65 percent requirement.
“I'm a results person,'' Perdue said. “You show me you're getting the job done, you're OK.''

Benchmark challenging
The tiny Miller County School District in southwest Georgia was among the counties above the 65 percent benchmark in 2003, at 65.96 percent.
Since then, however, the district has added an assistant principal in the elementary school and a social worker, said Superintendent Robert Phillips. Neither counts as classroom spending.
Then there are the district's high transportation costs, which also don't count as direct instruction.
“We have over 400 miles of dirt roads,'' Phillips said. “Our buses take a lot of wear and tear.''
Indeed, while Perdue and other backers of the 65 percent requirement say it's aimed primarily at encouraging districts to cut back on administrative costs, the state Department of Education's own statistics show that “general administration'' only accounts for about 4 percent of total spending statewide.
The rest of the non-classroom money goes to items such as utility bills, school buses and salaries for nurses, counselors and custodians.
“Anybody who went out to visit the small systems in Georgia isn't going to see much administrative overhead,'' said Joe Martin, executive director of a consortium of school districts that is suing over the level of state funding for K-12 education. “I continue to marvel at ... how much they do with so little.''
But state Schools Superintendent Kathy Cox said there are many school systems in Georgia spending only 50 percent to 60 percent of their funding in the classrooms. At those levels, she said, there have to be administrative savings they can find.
Cox said the purpose of the governor's initiative is to help those districts, not punish them.
“These are systems that have a hard time attracting quality teachers,'' she said. “If we can help them operate their systems more efficiently, that frees up (money for teachers).''
But Martin is skeptical. He said the upcoming debate over the 65 percent bill will divert attention from the nearly $1 billion in per-pupil formula cuts Georgia schools have been forced to absorb during the last three years, a figure that goes up another $170 million in Perdue's 2007 budget plan.
“Of course, we want to concentrate resources at the classroom level,'' Martin said.  “But we're solving a problem that doesn't exist.''

Sixty-five Percent of Education Dollars to be Spent in the Classroom 
Source: www.theweekly.com

ATLANTA (Jan. 9) – To further improve student achievement across the state of Georgia, Governor Sonny Perdue today announced legislation requiring 65 percent of all education dollars be spent directly in the classroom. The Governor's legislation, SB390, was filed today in the State Senate by Senator Ronnie Chance (District 16). Co-sponsors for the bill include Senator Joe Carter (District 13), a former Tift County School Board member, Senator Dan Moody (District 56), chairman of the Education and Youth Committee, Senator Cecil Staton (District 18) and Senator Renee Unterman (District 45). 

   "When school districts spend 65 percent or more of their education budget in the classroom, students learn more and perform better," said Governor Sonny Perdue. "Georgia students deserve the chance to reach their fullest potential. Spending education dollars in the classroom where they best belong will help provide our students with the opportunity to excel in the school and in life." 

   The Governor's legislation requires local districts receiving state funds to spend at least 65 percent of their total school budget on classroom expenditures as defined by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). School systems may apply for a waiver from this rule if they demonstrate to the State Board of Education that their use of taxpayer money is leading to higher achievement for their students. 

   According to NCES, the top ten percent of states in terms of academic performance spend at least 65 percent of educating funding in the classroom. DOE estimates that approximately 64 percent of Georgia's school districts (116 out of 180) fail to meet this criterion. Based on 2003 records, Georgia's average classroom spending is approximately 63.3 percent. School systems below 65 percent will be expected to increase two percent per year beginning in 2008 until the 65 percent requirement is met.

Perdue's bill aims to funnel more money into classrooms
01/08/2006

By Dave Williams
Staff Writer
Source: www.gwinnettdailypost.com
dave.williams@gwinnettdailypost.com

ATLANTA — Responding to criticism of his education record, Gov. Sonny Perdue will propose legislation on Monday requiring school districts in Georgia to steer at least 65 percent of their funding to classrooms.
The governor's floor leaders will introduce the bill on opening day of the 2006 legislative session, along with a constitutional amendment limiting the use of Georgia Lottery revenues to HOPE scholarships and the state's pre-kindergarten program.

“Education takes place in the classroom between a teacher and a student,'' Perdue told reporters last week during a briefing on his plans for the session. “That's where we're going to place our focus.''
The two measures come as Perdue prepares to seek a second term as Georgia's first Republican governor since Reconstruction.

Throughout the last three years, he has come under fire from Democrats and education groups for cutting Georgia's K-12 and university system budgets.
Perdue also has been criticized for rolling back class-size reductions enacted by the Legislature six years ago during the administration of former Gov. Roy Barnes, keeping a tight lid on raises for teachers and seeking to limit the HOPE Scholarship program.

In each case, the governor has argued that he was forced to impose fiscal discipline on education spending because of the effects of a sluggish economy on state tax collections.
But Perdue's economic advisers are forecasting that the state will take in $1.2 billion in new revenues during fiscal 2007, which starts on July 1, the second year in a row of strong growth.  
The governor said the budget he will release on Wednesday will dedicate 72 percent of that money to education.

“Education is going to be a big winner in this budget,'' he said. “(But) I don't want to back fill any administration. I want it to go to the classroom.''

Perdue said the 65-percent funding goal for classrooms contained in his bill is realistic, given that Georgia school systems on average already spend 63 percent of their money in the classes.
He said systems that aren't at the 65-percent level won't be found in violation of the standard if they show 2-percent improvement each year.

Systems already sending more than 65 percent of their funds to classrooms will receive waivers, he said.
Tim Callahan, president of the 65,000-member Professional Association of Georgia Educators, said maximizing the education dollars being sent directly into the state's classrooms sounds like a laudable goal.
But he said other vital components that go into operating public schools can't be ignored.
“I also want to have guidance counselors in the schools,'' he said. “Do we need school nurses, bus drivers and custodians? Yes, we do.''

Callahan also criticized the measure as an overly simplistic concept that would simply follow an approach growing in popularity among Republicans and conservative groups in other states.
“It's kind of a bumper-sticker gimmicky thing,'' he said. “I don't call it serious policy making or visionary leadership.''

While the 65-percent standard for classroom spending is new from Perdue, the governor first proposed protecting HOPE scholarships through a constitutional amendment during a speech last June.
In fact, his last three budgets already have put a stop to using lottery money on anything other than HOPE and pre-kindergarten, a practice that diverted more than $1.8 billion from the two programs between 1994 and 2003. He said the constitutional amendment would simply give the policy the effect of law.
While Democrats aren't likely to oppose protecting HOPE scholarships, they bristle at giving Perdue credit for taking the lead on the issue.

House Minority Leader DuBose Porter, D-Dublin, noted that it was the governor who pushed unsuccessfully to link HOPE eligibility to SAT scores and Republican lawmakers who sought to limit the number of hours covered by the scholarships.

“Suddenly, at the last hour, he's become the champion of HOPE,'' Porter said. “People aren't going to fall for that.''