Budget season has officially wrapped for the state of Georgia, and Gov. Brian Kemp has released his finalized Governor’s Budget Report.
The massive 420-page document details a $36 billion budget that will fund more than 40 state agencies, six judicial level entities, and four legislative bodies in the 2024-2025 fiscal year.
For more than 2 million school-age residents of the state and the vast population of citizens charged with working within the industry, funding for the Georgia Department of Education is facing a pivotal moment.
In Atlanta, the allocation of state funds play a major role in shaping the educational landscape for more than 50,000 students. The predominantly Black school district has more than 50 Title I-designated schools — institutions that receive supplemental financial assistance to assist children from low-income families — and boasts a student population where more than 70% are economically disadvantaged.
Now, the state plans to spend more than $2 billion through the end of next year to fund education — more than $600 million in 2024 and $1.7 billion in 2025. That funding is a decrease from the previous two years, when the state spent in excess of $3 billion.
Capital B Atlanta dug into the amended fiscal year 2024 and fiscal year 2025 Governor’s Budget Report as it pertains to the Department of Education, the University System of Georgia, and the Technical System of Georgia, highlighting adjustments in classroom resources and teacher salaries, the expansion of early childhood programs, and other line items. Here are the big takeaways.
Budget highlights for early childhood, K-12 in 2024
According to the document, certified K-12 teachers, pre-kindergarten teachers, and teacher assistants received a one-time salary supplement of $1,000 from the $315 million the state has dedicated as a means to retain educators and promote recruitment to the industry.
In his letter within the budget, Kemp says by increasing salaries for teachers, the state’s goal is to invest back into its workforce for better educational outcomes.
“Retaining quality employees reduces knowledge loss, provides for better service delivery, reduces the cost to recruit and train new staff, and minimizes ‘downtime’ or the cost of overtime due to vacant positions,” he wrote.
The state will also spend $6 million to expand the Summer Transition Program provided by the Department of Early Care and Learning, $102 million for a midterm adjustment to the state’s funding formula, and $28.5 million to supplement the State Commission of Charter Systems of Georgia after a 5.24% increase in enrollment at state-operated charter schools.
Another $12.3 million of state dollars will be spent to provide additional funds for high school students participating in dual-enrollment programs, which allow students to take college-level courses (and earn undergraduate credits) while pursuing a high school diploma.
Budget highlights for higher education in 2024
Georgia currently funds two higher education systems for residents who want to pursue educational pathways beyond K-12: the University System of Georgia (USG) and the Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG).
While the University System of Georgia primarily includes public four-year colleges and universities that offer undergraduate and graduate degrees, the Technical College System of Georgia refers to institutions that include state and technical colleges that focus on vocational training and technical education.
Both are primarily funded through taxpayer dollars in the forms of state appropriations or state and federal grants. Offset funding like student contributions through tuition and private donations and partnerships help maintain the more than 100 institutions that are governed by both entities.
In this budget, the state plans to spend $66 million to restore funding for instruction in teaching at USG institutions and $80 million to address backlogged maintenance and renovation work at public universities.
On top of addressing funding gaps, the budget also calls for $19.5 million to be spent on establishing three new workforce accelerator programs for TCSG students looking to enter the electric mobility industry and an additional $15 million to support Quick Start, a state-operated incubator program for growing businesses.
Budget highlights for early childhood, K-12 in 2025
To continue supporting funding increases made in 2024, $244 million has been earmarked to cover increased employer costs for certified educators participating in the State Health Benefit Plan (SHBP), while $382 million is set aside to raise salaries for certified personnel by $2,500.
Another $249 million will address enrollment growth and training, serving approximately 1.74 million students and more than 138,000 teachers and administrators, along with $49 million for charter school supplements, $204 million for pupil transportation, and $236 million for construction and renovation of local schools.
$11 million is designated for literacy initiatives, including regional literacy coaches and K-3 student screeners, while $20 million will be spent to replace 227 outdated school buses. Plus, another $15 million in state dollars will be spent to continue supporting high school students enrolled in dual-enrollment programs.
For early childhood, $23.5 million will increase salaries for certified and assistant teachers by $2,500, with an additional $10.9 million investment to start a four-year plan to reduce pre-K classroom sizes from 22 to 20 students.
And to continue support from 2024, $6.1 million has been allocated to continue the Summer Transition Program, along with $4.6 million to boost reimbursement rates for Childcare and Parent Services (CAPS).
Budget highlights for higher education in 2025
In 2025, for USG, a major allocation of $66 million is designated to restore funding for education programs at USG institutions, ensuring continued support for instructional quality. This will be compounded by an additional $2.9 million to address adjustments due to a minor decrease in credit hour enrollment and increased costs in higher-demand programs like cybersecurity, film production, and information technology.
For TCSG, $9.4 million will be spent to bolster technical education, reflecting a 3% rise in credit hour enrollment. An additional $643,706 is expected to target recruitment efforts to support Georgia’s budding electric vehicle industry.
To enhance campus security, $1.9 million will fund 22 new campus police officers. Finally, $71.8 million is earmarked for capital projects at TCSG institutions, supporting necessary upgrades and expansions to accommodate growing student needs and improve facilities. To support infrastructure improvements, $102.8 million is allocated for capital projects across various USG institutions and $71.8 million at TCSG institutions.
Correction: Gov. Brian Kemp approved $7 million to fund school safety and literacy spending. An earlier version of this story mistakenly indicated that he struck down those proposals.
