State Representative Shaw Blackmon (R-Bonaire), chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, was recently selected by House Speaker Jon Burns (R-Newington) to serve as the chairman of the House Study Committee on Reducing and Prioritizing Mandates for Public School Administration.

“As we continue working to improve educational outcomes across Georgia, it is essential that we evaluate the administrative requirements placed on our schools to ensure they are both purposeful and effective,” said Chairman Blackmon. “Our goal is to strengthen the capacity of school leaders to focus on instruction and student success, and I am dedicated to ensuring that this committee will engage with educators, administrators and policy experts to assess which mandates best support student achievement and which may be restructured or streamlined. I’m grateful to Speaker Burns for the opportunity to lead this important study committee. It’s a privilege to serve alongside such accomplished colleagues in the House, and I look forward to working with each of them as we take on this important matter.” 

Created by House Resolution 887, this study committee will conduct a review of existing mandates relating to public school administration to evaluate best practices for reducing and prioritizing mandates for public school administrators and recommend legislative and policy initiatives to that end.  

Speaker Burns also appointed the following study committee members: State Representative Mitchell Horner (R-Ringgold), State Representative Chris Erwin (R-Homer), State Representative Holt Persinger (R-Winder), State Representative Bethany Ballard (R-Warner Robins) and State Representative Robert Dawson (D-Atlanta).