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8 issues to watch as legislature kicks off 2016 session
Georgia-General-Assem Casa
Belle Doss lays out seating charts Friday on the desks of state representatives in preparation for the opening of the Georgia General Assembly at the state Capitol in Atlanta. Religious freedom, education and gambling bills top the 2016 agenda of the state's legislative session. - photo by David Goldman
EDUCATION While funding for K-12 education has increased 21 percent since 2011, the payoff in student performance has not been equal to that investment, according to the state education reform commission launched this year. The commission recommends permanently adding $258 million to the current K-12 state budget beginning in the 2018 fiscal year budget. The commission has also recommended adding $209 million toward a modern, student-based new funding formula for classrooms.