ATLANTA – State Representative Brooks Coleman (R-Duluth) commented on the Georgia Senate’s passage today of House Bill 91. Sponsored by Rep. Coleman, HB 91 will allow students to receive a diploma regardless of if they failed a portion of the Georgia High School Graduation Test. Having now passed both the House and Senate chambers, HB 91 is expected to be signed into law by Governor Deal at 12:00 p.m. Monday, March 30, 2015 in the Governor’s office.
“I am proud of my colleagues in the House and Senate for passing this important piece of legislation,” said Rep. Coleman. “The Georgia High School Graduation Test is an outdated standard that is no longer used by the state Board of Education. Although the test has not been used as a graduation standard since 2012, it still remains a barrier for some who attended high school when graduation was partly contingent on passage of the exam. HB 91 will allow more than 8,000 citizens to obtain their high school diplomas, secure higher paying jobs, and enjoy the sense of accomplishment that comes with a high school degree. I look forward to seeing Governor Deal sign it into law on Monday.”
Sponsored by Rep. Coleman, HB 91 allows students who met all other requirements for graduation to petition their local school board where they were last enrolled to obtain a degree from their high school. The legislation has received endorsements from the Atlanta Metro Chamber, Professional Association of Georgia Educators, Georgia Association of Educators, Georgia Association of Educational Leaders, Superintendent Association, and the Georgia School Board Association.
HB 91 passed the Georgia Senate today by a vote of 50-3.
For more information on HB 91, please click here.
Representative Brooks Coleman represents the citizens of District 97, which includes portions of Gwinnett County. He was elected into the House of Representatives in 1992, and currently serves as the Chairman of the Education Committee. He also serves on the Appropriations Subcommittee on Education and the Intragovernmental Coordination, Natural Resources & Environment, and Retirement committees.
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