Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp signs a bill aimed at making public schools safer during a ceremony in Savannah, Ga., on Thursday, April 13, 2023. The measure requires Georgia schools to conduct annual campus shooting response drills. The governor also signed new laws aimed at improving literacy among kindergarten through third grade students. (AP Photo/Ross Bynum)
Savannah, Georgia (WSAV) — Five education bills were signed into law by Governor Brian Kemp Thursday in Savannah.
This includes the Safe Schools Act – which will require “intruder alert training” in all public schools. Also known as HB 147The law provides voluntary gang prevention training to help teachers detect and prevent gang activity and recruitment in classrooms.
Kemp also signed two bills aimed at improving literacy: SB 211who created the Georgia Literacy Council and HB 538Georgia Early Literacy Act. The laws will require local school systems to implement five-year literacy plans and provide evidence-based literacy education to meet students’ needs.
Two health-related bills were signed: HB440And SB 45. The first allows public and private schools to stockpile ready-to-use glucagon not intended for students with diabetes. SB 45 allows parents to submit action plans for treating their student’s epilepsy or seizure disorder.
“I am honored to sign these important laws into law to make our schools safer and more successful,” Kemp said in a press release. These bills will help improve literacy in our state and ensure our schools have the resources they need to provide a safe and healthy learning environment for both students and teachers.
“As a governor and father of three daughters, I want to make sure that every student in Georgia can participate in an unprecedented opportunity here at the Beach State.”
The bill was signed at the Marriott’s Savannah Riverfront Hotel after Kemp delivered remarks at the Georgia School Principals Spring Bootstraps Conference.