Governor Brian Kemp has signed several education bills into law focusing on school safety and literacy. That legislation includes House Bill 147, or the Safe Schools Act. The measure updates school safety protocols and requires all public schools in the state hold annual campus shooter drills and report the completion of those drills the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency. Schools must conduct that drill by October 1 each year. Students would be required to participate unless local districts allow parents to opt their children out. Lawmakers set aside $115 million for school safety grants during this year’s session.
Kemp spoke about the bill earlier.
“No child, parent, or educator should have to worry about the safety of a school campus,” according to Kemp.
The bill also requires the state Professional Standards Commission create a safety and anti-gang program for training teachers and other school personnel. The measure is aimed at assisting teachers in spotting and preventing spot and prevent gang activity. Other legislation signed focus on literacy and health measures. The Republican governor signed the measures into law Thursday in Savannah during a conference of school superintendents.
