The Education Finance Study Commission was created by the General Assembly for the purpose of evaluating the methods of funding for Georgia's public school systems and of making recommendations for changes.  HB192 - State Education Finance Study Commission sets forth the purposes and the members of this bipartisan Commission.  The Commission will review the Quality Basic Education (QBE) Formula, a method of calculating funding needed for Georgia school systems. Because it is more than 25 years old, the General Assembly passed the legislation to allow for a comprehensive study and evaluation of the QBE. It will also review other types of educational funding, including Race to the Top.
 
The commission will meet quarterly as required by the legislation, and must have the final recommendations completed by Sept. 30, 2012.

The first meeting of the  Education Finance Study Commission will meet on Thursday, June 30, 2011.  This meeting will be held in the Floyd Room located on the 20th floor of the West Tower of the Sloppy Floyd Building in downtown Atlanta (across the street from the State Capitol).   The meeting will begin at 9:00 am and conclude by 3:00 pm.  Lunch will be provided for Commission members.  This meeting is open to anyone who would like to attend and hear the discussion.

Governor Deal announced the names of those who will sit on this Commission.  The members have both the knowledge of education and the expertise in education finance required to find the right ways to balance the educational needs of Georgia's children with the appropriate resources to fund them. 

The 20-member commission consists of 10 members tapped by Deal, four senators appointed by Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle, four representatives named by House Speaker David Ralston, State Superintendent John Barge and Chief Operating Officer of the Georgia Department of Education, Scott Austenson. The list of those appointed is as follows:
 
Gov. Deal
Hank Huckaby, chancellor-designate, University System of Georgia
Buster Evans, superintendent, Forsyth County Schools
Wes Taylor, principal, Lowndes County High School
Jadun McCarthy, 2012 Georgia Teacher of the Year
David Johnson, vice chair, Floyd County School Board, president-elect of Georgia School Board Association
Barbara Hampton, 6th Congressional District Member, State Board of Education
Lynn Cornett, at-large member, Technical College System of Georgia Board
Kelly Henson, executive secretary, Professional Standards Commission
Lee Lovett, Deputy superintendent & chief financial officer, Hall County Public Schools
Jim Bostic, representative, Business Community, member, ACT Board of Directors
 
Lt. Gov. Cagle
Sen. Fran Millar (R-Atlanta), chairman, Senate Education and Youth Committee
Sen. Jim Butterworth (R-Cornelia)
Sen. Jack Hill (R-Reidsville)
Sen. Freddie Powell Sims (D-Dawson)

Speaker Ralston
Rep. Brooks Coleman (R-Duluth), chairman, House Education Committee
Rep. Terry England (R-Auburn
Rep. Tom Dickson (R-Cohutta)
Rep. Margaret Kaiser (D-Atlanta)

Child Welfare providers are especially interested in this Commission because of their advocacy for adequate resources for children in Georgia's foster care system.  Currently, the educational needs of children in Residential Treatment Facilities are funded through a grant which has to be approved each year.  Each year since its approval, this grant has been at-risk of reductions and never has been fully funded.