State House committee seeks to reduce public school mandates; reduce burden on administrators

Each year, the Georgia General Assembly passes new laws aimed at improving the education of students and enhancing safety in public schools across the state. While adding new mandates for school administrators, outdated ones often remain in place. 

WARNER ROBINS, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – State legislators are exploring ways to help Georgia schools focus less on enforcing legal mandates and more on educating students.

Today, the House Study Committee on Reducing and Prioritizing Mandates for Public School Administration held its first on-site meeting in Warner Robins. Each year, the Georgia General Assembly passes new laws aimed at improving the education of students and enhancing safety in public schools across the state. While adding new mandates for school administrators, outdated ones often remain in place.

“If there are some overburdens, some mandates out there let’s figure out how to pull them off the books and free up our teachers to teach and administrators to do the job that we’re asking them to do, and that’s elevate our public schools,” said Shaw Blackmon (R-Bonaire), who’s serving as chairman of the committee. 

The committee will travel the state and speak with administrators in regard to mandates that may no longer be beneficial. Existing mandates include safety protocols such as the implementation of panic alert systems. Others include physical education requirements and student assessments.

“The assessments being where you fill out A, B, C, D to respond, where we know in real life, the skills students need are applying the skills and speaking and creating,” said Dr. Richard Rogers, Superintendent of the Houston County School District. 

Rogers says it’s important that state laws represent the needs of students across Georgia, while taking the load off of school administrators. For students in Houston County, Rogers says success is often preparing for a future career at the Robins Air Force Base. He says staff members having less on their plates to juggle will help make that a little easier.

“We’re the experts in public education,” Rogers said. “And we just appreciate them taking the time to talk to us, listen to us, and really be flexible on mandates so we can make the right decision for the students and the local community.” 

When their work is done, the committee will craft a final report with the goal of passing new laws during the 2026 legislative session.