Dyslexia Day at the Capitol 2020

Yesterday, Ms. Kim & Ms. Tammy went to the capitol for Dyslexia Day 2020 and this year they took two students, Will & Krissy. Both students were able to see how the legislative process works, as well as interact with advocates and lobbyists for dyslexia and other special needs students.

In addition to speaking with the leaders at other dyslexia schools, we spoke with other advocates for dyslexia including groups such as Decoding Dyslexia-Georgia and International Dyslexia Association-Georgia Chapter, and Meredith Pope, Mrs. Georgia US Continental, who volunteered her time to read to our students on Dr. Seuss Day last year.

We were also able to speak to Representative Ed Setzler (House District 35) and Senator Lindsey Tippens (Senate District 37), both of whom represent the school’s district and are very supportive of our mission. Senator Tippens is Will’s grandfather! 🙂

There are currently 2 new bills being introduced this legislative term, as well as the possibility of reconsideration of one that did not pass last term. They are briefly summarized here and you can link to our more detailed posts about each of them.

Senate Bill 386 will make it easier to get the Georgia Special needs Scholarship, as well as open up possibility of appeals and more access for those already receiving it or who have been denied a medical waiver.

House Bill 939 will amend HB 217, which raised the cap on the Georgia Tax Credit Scholarship from $58 million, to $100 million. HB 217 has the cap reverting back to $58 million and HB 939 would eliminate that.

Senate Bill 173 is up for reconsideration during this legislative session and would allow parents to use funds earmarked for public education to pay for qualified education expenses, including private school tuition.

Please CONTACT YOUR SENATOR and REPRESENTATIVE and ask them to support these bills so that our families have the financial assistance they need so their children can go to school where they can thrive AND LEARN! Tell them your story if it applies!

You can read Mellie’s Story in our 2018-2019 Annual Report, and Blake’s Story in our 2017-2018 Annual Report, both are compelling, and the statistics for students who do not get appropriate reading instruction are grim, and outlined in the Progress Reports in both stories. You can also see the statistics regarding the success of our programs HERE.

Left to Right: Senator Lindsey Tippens, Will Resh (student), Kim Wigington (Principal), Krissy Nagel (student), Tammy Urban (Director of Development), and Lieutenant Governor Geoff Duncan

Left to Right: Krissy Nagel (student), Mrs. Georgia US Continental – Meredith Pope (Dyslexia Advocate), Kim Wigington (Principal), Will Resh (Student), Representative Ed Setzler.

Senate Bill 173 up for Reconsideration

Senate Bill 173 is up for reconsideration during this legislative session. The bill addresses Education Savings Accounts (ESAs) and was introduced last session and defeated 28-25.

The bill would allow parents to use funds earmarked for public education to pay for qualified education expenses, including private school tuition. This would not be dependent on an IEP or 504, though we are not clear if this could supplement other scholarships or if receiving others, students may not be eligible for this. We will update as we find out.

Bills such as this would greatly benefit so many of our families. Most of our students, 93%, receive some sort of financial assistance, and over 40% receive at least 2 sources of financial assistance. The largest funding source is the Georgia Special Needs Scholarship (SB10) with other sources including: Georgia Tax Credit Scholarship, Easter Seals, and other Foundation Scholarships.

Having an additional option for many families would help students receive the services they desperately need without a financial burden on their families.

Georgia Legislature “Crossover Day” Summary

Thursday, March 7, was the deadline to move bills from the Senate to the House and vice versa. However, legislation that failed to “cross over” may still pass by riding on other education-related bills before the session ends on April 2. Here is a wrap up of what may affect our families.

Senate Bill 48, a mandate that elementary schools screen for dyslexia, crossed to the House. The bill has bipartisan support so far, it passed the Senate 55-0. The mandate would be contingent upon state funding. The bill also seeks to train teachers. The House Education Committee will meet at 1 pm in CLOB 606 to learn more about Dyslexia from Dyslexia advocates such as Decoding Dyslexia-Georgia and International Dyslexia Association-Georgia Chapter. We have already spoken with Ed Setzler, the representative for the school’s district, and a committee member, and he supports the legislation! 🙂 Please come early to sign in for public comment and get a DDGA sticker to wear.You will need an ID to get through security. More information HERE.
This bill is currently in the House Education Committee. #SayDyslexia
Senate Bill 163, the “Tim Tebow Act,” has crossed to the House. Named after the football player, the bill would let “home-schooled” students play on their local school’s athletic teams and participate in other extracurricular activities now restricted to enrolled students. While this would not impact our students as written, there is talk of it “opening the door” for private school students at schools without athletic programs, especially in light of SB173 not passing. Because of this it has been given a low likelihood of passing.
This bill is currently in the House Education Committee.
Senate Bill 173, the proposal to create a bill similar to SB10 scholarship for all students, did not cross to the House. It failed its first full Senate chamber vote. The Senate did not take another vote on the bill before the closing gavel on Crossover Day, but the Senate Finance Committee left a notice to reconsider.
HB 218, a bipartisan proposal to extend the time limit by which students can qualify for the HOPE scholarship, has crossed to the Senate. This bill would extend the time limit from 7 years to 10 years for which a student can use HOPE funds. This is a modification of the unsuccessful HB 928 from 2 years ago, which called to extend the time to 15 years.
This bill is currently in the Senate Higher Education Committee.
House Bill 444, which makes changes to the Dual Enrollment program, also known as MOVE ON WHEN READY, passed the full House and has crossed to the Senate with more debate expected in the Senate as lawmakers seek to address the ballooning cost by reducing funding by $4 million. The proposed 2020 budget includes language to restrict Dual Enrollment to 11th and 12th grades and limiting summer Dual Enrollment courses.
This bill is currently in the Senate Higher Education Committee.

Let your Representatives and Senators know you support these bills, and also contact committee members.

Look up HERE for Senate Bill that has has crossed to the House
Look up HERE for House Bill that has has crossed to the Senate
Also contact committee members linked under each bill.

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