Gov. Nathan Deal signed legislation that expands students’ and service members’ access to postsecondary education and jobs skills training.

“Investing in education at every level — from our youngest minds to graduating high school seniors to returning service members and military veterans — has been, and remains, one of my top priorities,” said Deal. “With the help of the General Assembly, we’ve demonstrated our commitment to students, teachers and education initiatives each year. To that end, the 2017 budget includes an additional $300 million intended for teacher salary increases, $26.2 million more for pre-K teacher pay raises and another $29.4 million for Move on When Ready programs.

“The legislation I signed today builds upon previous efforts to advance educational opportunities for all Georgians. As students exit the classroom and enter the workforce, they must be prepared and equipped with the skills necessary to succeed. This legislation will help cement Georgia’s reputation for the top-notch quality of our workforce, the strength of our economy and the vibrancy of our communities.”

Signed legislation includes:

• HB 801, which incentivizes student enrollment in STEM college courses
• HB 54, which provides tuition grants to children of law enforcement and public safety officers killed in the line of duty
• HB 1072, which expands financial aid opportunities for members of the Georgia National Guard
• HB 895, which provides support and training for charter school board members to ensure sound fiscal management
• SB 18, which grants technical college credits for skills acquired during military service
• SB 364, which changes teacher evaluation measurements and state testing requirements
• HB 802, which increases contribution limits for families utilizing college savings plans
• HB 798, which expands Zell Miller Scholarship eligibility for Georgia’s highest achieving home study students

All 2016 legislation updates may be found here.