Bold Education Policies Georgia Adopted in 2024: What You Need to Know

In his 2024 State of the State address, Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp emphasized the state’s continued record investment in education. He made a promise to expand education choice for Peach State students, challenging the legislature to work together to empower families. 

“I firmly believe we can take an all-of-the-above approach to education, whether it’s public, private, homeschooling, charter or otherwise,” Gov. Kemp said. “It is time for all parties to get around a table and agree on the best path forward to provide our kids the best educational opportunities we can – because that’s what we were elected to do.” 

Georgia leaders delivered on that promise and more during the 2024 legislative session. 

Georgia Created Its First Education Scholarship Account  

Georgia lawmakers wrapped up the legislative session this year with passage of the state’s first education scholarship account (ESA) program for K-12 students. Sen. Greg Dolezal’s SB 233 creates The Georgia Promise Scholarship Act—a scholarship program for low-income public school students who are zoned to low-performing schools.  

Starting in the 2025-26 school year, the program targets students enrolled in Georgia’s lowest-performing schools, offering scholarship accounts of up to $6,500 to potentially thousands of families. Families can use those funds to pay for various qualified education expenses, such as private school tuition, learning materials, tutoring, educational therapists and school transportation. Eligibility extends to families residing in areas with underperforming district schools, with household incomes at or below 400% of the federal poverty level (up to $120,000 for a family of four), provided the student has attended public school for at least two consecutive semesters. 

Gov. Kemp, Sen. Dolezal, Speaker Jon Burns, Speaker Pro Tem Jan Jones and Rep. Todd Jones showed unwavering leadership, prioritizing students and their future. 

Georgia’s 2024 Education Budget Provides Funding to Implement Early Literacy Policies 

Georgia passed its first comprehensive early literacy law in 2023, the Georgia Early Literacy Act, with bipartisan support. That legislation requires districts to adopt high-quality instructional materials aligned to the science of reading, develop tiered reading intervention plans for students and train teachers in the science of reading. 

In 2024, Georgia lawmakers passed a state budget, HB 916, that provides funding to implement reading supports, including nearly $7.5 million for literacy screeners and targeted literacy coaches. 

Georgia Adopted Social Media Restrictions and Strengthened Career Pathways, School Accountability  and More  

In addition to ESAs and early literacy funding, Gov. Kemp signed the following education bills into law in 2024: 

• Georgia Sen. Jason Anavitarte’s SB 351 protects students from harmful impacts of social media by requiring the following: age verification for social media accounts, local boards of education to adopt a social media policy for schools and the Department of Education to develop a social media literacy program.  
• Georgia Rep. Matthew Gambill’s HB 982—a Gov. Kemp initiative—requires the state to publish a high-demand career list and focus funding on programs that align with in-demand careers.  
• Sen. Billy Hickman’s SB 497 creates additional opportunities for apprenticeships in high-demand career fields by doubling the number of allowable apprentices for employers and providing funding of up to $5,000 per apprentice. 
• Rep. Scott Hilton’s HB 1122 ensures charter schools receive funding for principals and superintendents. The bill allows and gives admission preference to students who enroll in charter schools where their parents work. The bill also improves school accountability and transparency.   

Thanks to Gov. Kemp’s leadership and so many other legislative leaders’ hard work, students who are most in need of educational options will now have the power to access the best school to meet their needs. After years of working to expand school choice, the legislature delivered for parents and families. With 2024 as an indicator, we are eager to see what student-centered policies Georgia pursues in 2025 and beyond as the state continues its journey to transform K-12 education.