District Identifies 2026 Legislative Priorities

Members of the Bibb County Board of Education approved the 2026 Legislative Priorities as presented on December 18, 2025. Approval enables District leadership to actively engage legislators, education partners, and advocacy organizations in support of policies and investments that advance student success, workforce stability, and fiscal sustainability for Bibb County Schools.

The District’s 2026 Legislative Priorities build upon prior advocacy efforts while responding to emerging statewide and local challenges impacting public education. The priorities are organized across five interrelated focus areas.

Student Supports: Safe, Supported Schools

The District seeks sustained state investment to ensure schools remain safe, supportive, and responsive to student needs. Priorities include recurring funding for school safety personnel, training, emergency preparedness, and facility-based safety improvements; increased funding for school-based mental health professionals; flexibility in counselorto-student ratios based on local context and student need; and strengthened cybersecurity protections to safeguard student data and instructional systems.

Workforce Stability: Educators and Essential Staff

Recognizing that strong schools depend on a stable and well-supported workforce, the District will advocate for competitive educator compensation and retirement security; expanded investment in teacher preparation and pipeline programs, particularly in high-need certification areas; improved compensation and benefits for classified and operational staff; and targeted return-to-work options for retired educators in shortage areas while preserving the long-term integrity of the Teachers Retirement System.

Education Funding & Fiscal Sustainability

To ensure long-term financial stability, the District will advocate for modernization of the Quality Basic Education (QBE) formula to better reflect inflation and rising operational costs; oppose unfunded mandates that strain local resources; preserve the sustainability of the Teachers Retirement System; address escalating employee health insurance costs; and oppose unjustified premium increases impacting both certified and noncertified employees.

Teaching & Learning: Literacy and Career Pathways

The District supports sustained investment in early literacy initiatives that strengthen foundational reading skills and long-term academic outcomes. Additional priorities include expanded funding for career pathways, work-based learning, and industry-recognized credentials; continued support for dual enrollment, apprenticeships, and technical education; and encouragement of public-private and community partnerships that enhance real-world learning and student engagement.

Advocate for Public Schools

The District will continue to champion strong public-school systems by supporting accountability models centered on continuous improvement and transparency; preserving local governance and decision-making authority; advocating for the elimination of negatively framed school lists in favor of cohesive designation systems; and promoting balanced, merit-based narratives that recognize and elevate the work of public schools.