Chapter 11: Georgia
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Published:2019
Marvin L. Dereef, Jr.SFO, Larry O. Jackson, Jr.SFO, 2019. "Georgia", Funding Public Schools in the United States and Indian Country, David C. Thompson, R. Craig Wood, S. Craig Neuenswander, John M. Heim, Randy D. Watson
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In 1985 the Georgia General Assembly1 passed the Quality Basic Education Act2 (QBE) that became effective July 1, 1986. Since that time there have been several attempts to replace the QBE, but those efforts have resulted in only minor revisions.
The main components3 of QBE now consist of weighted funding for 18 programs addressing personnel and non-personnel costs. Allocations are driven by full-time equivalent (FTE) pupil counts conducted in October and March of each year. Dollars are said to be ‘earned’ in the allotment to each school district. Earning of personnel dollars is determined by the state salary schedule. School districts can pay teachers more and can acquire more teachers than the state itself will fund, but local dollars are required to cover the additional costs.
