State Representatives Sandra G. Scott, Viola Davis, and Kim Schofield have called on the Georgia General Assembly to allocate $500 million in funding for students living in poverty as part of House Bill 27, known as the Investing in Every Student Act. The bill was introduced during the 2025 legislative session.
Rep. Scott, who sponsored HB 27, stated, “This is not about politics—this is about children. Students living in poverty face challenges that extend far beyond the classroom, yet Georgia’s funding formula has never fully acknowledged that reality. A $500 million investment is a moral, educational and economic imperative. If we are serious about outcomes, equity and workforce readiness, we must be serious about funding students living in poverty.”
Rep. Davis added, “We cannot continue to expect schools to close achievement gaps with one hand tied behind their backs. This funding would give districts the ability to provide tutoring, mental health supports, literacy interventions and other services that we know work. Investing in students living in poverty is investing in Georgia’s future workforce and economic stability.”
Rep. Schofield said, “This is about fairness and responsibility. Every child deserves a real opportunity to succeed, regardless of their ZIP code or family income. Georgia has the resources to do better, and this investment is both fiscally smart and morally right. When we lift our most vulnerable students, we lift the entire state.”
House Bill 27 aims to update Georgia’s Quality Basic Education framework by providing targeted grants to school districts serving economically disadvantaged students—including those who are homeless, in foster care or from migrant families—and requires that at least 90 percent of funds be spent directly on school-level services.
The three representatives recently submitted a letter urging the House Appropriations Committee to support passage and funding for HB 27 during the 2026 legislative session.
Burns was elected as a Republican representative for Georgia’s 159th House District in 2005 after Ray Holland.
