Georgia Federation of Teachers asks Kemp to call special session to address education funds

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Bibb County teacher Heidi Hintermaier teaches a summer school reading class in Macon in June 2023.

Credit: Grant Blankenship/GPB News

A group that represents teachers and school staff across Georgia is asking Gov. Brian Kemp to call a special session to address federal cuts to education funding.

The Georgia Federation of Teachers (GFT) sent a letter to Kemp saying lawmakers need to reappropriate surplus funds to teachers after the federal Department of Education froze billions of dollars in promised grants.

GFT President Verdaillia Turner said some school districts in Georgia could be forced to cut programs or staff if they do not receive the funding they were promised.

“Georgia should step up to the plate where these school districts, where they're already inadequately funded, could at least do business this year," she said. 

The frozen funds were supposed to be distributed July 1 for the upcoming school year.

A spokesperson for Kemp said there are no plans for a special session. By law, either Kemp or two-thirds of the Legislature must call a special session. 

Turner also sent a letter to State School Superintendent Richard Woods advocating for a special session. Woods released a statement on Monday calling for the release of withheld funds. 

“I deeply believe in fiscal responsibility, which means evaluating the use of funds and seeking out efficiencies, but also means being responsible — releasing funds already approved by Congress and signed by President Trump," Woods said. "In Georgia, we’re getting ready to start the school year, so I call on federal funds to be released so we can ensure the success of our students," he said. 

Read GFT's full letter to Kemp here.