2025 Legislative Priorities

                        DeKalb Board of Educa on
                       2025 LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES
The DeKalb County Board of Educa on is commi ed to advancing public educa on so that all
students have the tools and resources to reach their full poten al. The Board recognizes the
cri cal role of legisla on and the district's strategic plan in shaping the educa onal landscape,
and members are dedicated to advoca ng for policies that priori ze student learning. The
Board firmly believes any educa on-related legisla on should be carefully considered to
maintain high standards, allowing educators to focus on meaningful teaching and learning.
These priori es reflect the issues the Board sees as vital to the success of DeKalb County’s
students and school community.

QBE Formula
A major overhaul of the QBE formula is needed and has been discussed for many years. However,
since such an overhaul does not appear imminent, a smaller and targeted reform should be
undertaken to modernize funding for pupil transporta on and establish an increased and fully
funded weight for students iden fied as Economically Disadvantaged, much in the same manner
that Students with Disabili es and English Language Learners also receive a substan ve increase
in assigned funding. Therefore, DeKalb County School District (DCSD) requests the QBE
Equaliza on formula under O.C.G.A. Title 20, Ch. 2, Art. 6 be amended to account for the
present-day costs of buses/fuel, and the significant impact of poverty.

Mental Health and Counseling Needs
Student mental health and social-emo onal learning con nue to be challenges in the classroom.
Addi onal resources to support these challenges include, but are not limited to, increased state
funding for counselors at a rate of 1:250, social workers at 1:400, and psychologists at 1:500, as
well as a mental health coordinator for each school district. DCSD urges the General Assembly
to appropriately fund School Counselors and other Mental Health supports.

Public School Employees Re rement System (PSERS)
The State should support a sustainable re rement program for all employees under the Public-
School Employees Re rement System (PSERS), especially for school district bus drivers, and
custodial, maintenance, and food service personnel. The fact that there is such a large disparity
between the Teachers Re rement System (TRS) and PSERS gives the appearance that there are
two classes of employees. DCSD provides a significant matching to 403b (more than any other
system) which is only for PSERS employees and not TRS. This makes up some of the difference.
Further, some progress was made in the 2024 legisla ve session, with the passage of SB 105,
which increased the benefit mul plier from $16.50 to $17.00 per creditable year of service for
PSERS, for school bus drivers, custodians, maintenance personnel, and food service workers and
removes the cap so the PSERS board of trustees can adjust benefits as they see fit. However, to
truly make this sustainable DCSD requests the law be amended to allow employees under PSERS
to par cipate in TRS.



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School Safety and Security
Safety for our students and employees is a con nuous effort. There are costs to maintain security
systems; provide the statutorily required training for school administrators, teachers, and support
staff including custodians and bus drivers on school violence preven on, school security, school
threat assessment, mental health awareness, and school emergency planning best prac ces; and
meet new challenges as they occur. DCSD requests the General Assembly to con nue to fund
the annual categorical grant for school safety.

Early Childhood Educa on and Literacy
The goal of Early Childhood Educa on is to provide children with strategies that help them
develop the emo onal, social, and cogni ve skills needed to become lifelong learners. For
children in lower socioeconomic environments who are unable to access these programs, it can
be challenging for them to enter a school system and thrive academically and emo onally.
Addi onal support for early learning can be achieved through universal Pre-K funding, improved
funding for Pre-K teacher salaries and funding for a paraprofessional in all kindergarten
classrooms. Integral to this support for many of these children is tackling early literacy challenges,
which can be greatly assisted by having a literacy coach in each school. DCSD urges increased
funding for all these early childhood educa on and early literacy programs, with a focus on
children in high needs communi es.


DeKalb County Board of Educa on

Mr. Diijon DaCosta Sr., Board Chair
District 6
Mrs. Deirdre P. Pierce, Vice Chair
District 3
Mrs. Anna Hill
District 1
Mrs. Whitney McGinniss
District 2
Ms. Allyson Gevertz
District 4
Mrs. Vickie B. Turner
District 5
Dr. Joyce Morley
District 7

Dr. Devon Q. Horton
Superintendent




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