Sen. Billy Hickman Appointed to Lead Senate Study Committee on the Preservation of Georgia’s Farmlands

ATLANTA (May 29, 2024) – Last week, Sen. Billy Hickman (R–Statesboro) was appointed to serve as Chairman of the Senate Study Committee on the Preservation of Georgia’s Farmlands by Lt. Governor Burt Jones. Additional Senate members appointed to serve on the study committee include Sen. Jason Anavitarte (R–Dallas), Sen. Brandon Beach (R–Alpharetta), Sen. Jason Esteves (D–Atlanta), Sen. Russ Goodman (R–Cogdell), Sen. Freddie Powell Sims (D–Dawson) and Sen. Sam Watson (R–Moultrie).

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Georgia Legislators and RESA Executive Directors Hold Meeting on Literacy Coaches

ATLANTA (May 9, 2024) – Members of the Georgia General Assembly convened this week to welcome the executive directors from all sixteen of Georgia’s Regional Education Service Agencies (RESAs). During the meeting, legislators and the executive directors proposed a plan to execute the literacy expectations established in House Bill 538 and House Bill 916, the Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 Budget. The proposed plan includes drafting job descriptions for regional literacy coaches, creating a hiring process, initiating an Advisory Design team for training literacy coaches and implementing an evaluation tool for coaches.

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Governor Kemp Signs Legislation to Establish School Supplies for Educators Program

ATLANTA (April 24, 2024) – Yesterday, Governor Brian P. Kemp signed Senate Bill 464, sponsored by Chairman of the Senate Committee on Education and Youth Sen. Clint Dixon (R–Gwinnett), into law. This measure mandates the State Board of Education to establish a program for the Department of Education to allocate funds for eligible teachers to purchase school supplies online. It also provides for universal reading screeners to be adopted, used and administrated in every Georgia public school and local school system. 

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Senators Billy Hickman and Clint Dixon Address the “Schools Supplies for Teachers Act”

ATLANTA (March 11, 2024) –Last week, Senators Billy Hickman (R–Statesboro) and Clint Dixon (R–Gwinnett) held a press conference alongside Rep. Bethany Ballard (R–Warner Robins) and Chairman of the Georgia Council Literacy, Scott Johnson, to discuss Senate Bill 464, the “School Supplies for Teachers Act.” This measure mandates the State Board of Education to establish a program for the Department of Education to allocate funds for eligible teachers to purchase school supplies online. Additionally, the amendment to SB 464 would specify a universal reading screener that each public school and local school system must adopt and administer.

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Senators Billy Hickman and Clint Dixon to Hold Press Conference on the “School Supplies for Teachers Act”

ATLANTA (March 6, 2024) — Tomorrow, March 7, Chairman of the Senate Committee of Higher Education Sen. Billy Hickman (R–Statesboro) will be holding a press conference alongside Chairman of the Senate Committee on Education and Youth Sen. Clint Dixon (R–Gwinnett), Rep. Bethany Ballard (R–Warner Robbins) and Chairman of the Georgia Council on Literacy Scott Johnson, to discuss Senate Bill 464, the “School Supplies for Teachers Act.”

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