In 2024, GACAN continued to work to create more educational opportunities for students across our state. In 2024, we accomplished the following wins:
GeorgiaCAN expanded educational opportunities so that more families could access the school of their choice by passing SB233, the state’s first ESA, which provides $6,500 for students in low-performing schools.
GeorgiaCAN also improved the regulatory environment and facilities funding for charter schools, by moving charter school oversight to the charter commission and ensuring that districts cannot skim funding from charters or disobey charter laws through regulatory mispractice.
GeorgiaCAN strengthened career pathways by enacting a suite of four career pathways bills that came out of a study commission on dual-enrollment. Collectively, the bills make it easier for companies to hire apprentices, allows more students to fast-track their education through dual-credit courses, improves the alignment of courses with high-demand jobs, and ensures that higher-education credits are transferable between institutions.
The team built on prior years’ passage of bills to ensure students would be taught with science-based reading strategies by passing $10 million for literacy screeners and literacy coaches, while also refining the list of approved screeners for schools.
GeorgiaCAN also ensured the state maintains a high-quality system of assessments and evaluation by requiring the state to produce “single score grading” in its school accountability system, making it easier for parents to interpret scores.
We look forward to making even further progress in the new year. Stay tuned–we’ll be sharing our legislative goals in early 2025.