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Gov. Kemp signs package of education bills

Gov. Kemp speaking at the Forsyth County Arts and Learning Center before signing 7 education related bills.
Office of Gov. Brian Kemp
Gov. Kemp speaking at the Forsyth County Arts and Learning Center before signing 7 education related bills.

Gov. Brian Kemp signed a number of education bills this morning including some which were the source of controversy during this year’s legislative session.

Among the 7 bills signed is HB 1084, which bans the teaching of what Kemp describes as “divisive concepts”, in public schools. It also makes it possible to block transgender students from playing on sports teams that don’t match the gender on their birth certificate.

“Making sure parents have the ultimate say in their child’s education should not be controversial," said Kemp at the bill signing ceremony in Forsyth County. "And as the parents of three daughters, Marty and I want every young girl in this state to have every opportunity to succeed in the sport they love. That should not be controversial”

Another bill makes it easier for parents to seek to remove ‘obscene’ materials from school libraries. School districts around the country have dramatically increased the number of banned books in recent months.

Other measures require financial literacy courses for 11th and 12th graders, (HB 385) and allows retired teachers to return to the classroom fulltime in high-need areas.

After a series of testy exchanges with GOP rival David Perdue at a debate last Sunday, Kemp faces off against Perdue again tonight in Savannah. This coming Sunday the GOP candidates will debate again in Atlanta. That debate will be live on WUGA Sunday at 7.