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SR 369

MEMORIAL-ROBERT L. HARDER

104th Regular Session Introduced by Steve McClure

Designates Oct 6-10, 2025 as Georgia Pre-K Week to honor the program, boost public support, and urge policy improvements (class size, pay, funding) without new funds.

Resolution Adopted
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Bill Summary · SR 369

Summary — SR 369 (2025): Recognizing Georgia Pre‑K Week (and note on appended memorial text)

Main purpose

Senate Resolution 369 officially designates October 6–10, 2025, as "Georgia Pre‑K Week." The resolution honors the state’s Pre‑K program, thanks the educators and programs that operate it, encourages public engagement and support for high‑quality, accessible early education, and directs the Secretary of the Senate to provide a copy of the resolution to Voices for Georgia’s Children.

Note: The legislative file as posted also contains text from an unrelated Illinois memorial resolution for Robert L. “Bob” Harder. That memorial appears to be erroneously concatenated into the same document; the sponsors and substance of SR 369 (Georgia) concern Georgia Pre‑K Week.

Key provisions and findings cited

  • Recognizes origins and scale:
    • Georgia Pre‑K began as a 1992 pilot under Gov. Zell Miller (750 students) and is administered statewide by the Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning (DECAL) since 2004.
    • The Georgia Lottery Corporation has provided more than $9 billion for Pre‑K, preparing over 2.2 million Georgia children since inception.
    • Current reach: serves more than 73,000 four‑year‑olds annually in about 3,700 classrooms across all 159 counties.
  • Outcomes and rankings:
    • Cites longitudinal research (Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute) showing sustained learning gains through fourth grade.
    • Georgia Pre‑K is ranked 9th nationally for access for four‑year‑olds.
  • Quality improvement and recognition:
    • Notes over half of Georgia Pre‑K programs participate in Quality Rated.
    • Names the 2024–2025 Pre‑K Teachers of the Year: Elizabeth Arthur (public) and Rachel Robertson (private).
  • Policy recommendations (from the 2023 House Working Group on Early Childhood Education) that the resolution highlights as areas for improvement:
    • Restore class sizes to 20 students
    • Increase assistant teacher salaries and pursue pay parity with K–12 teachers
    • Increase operating funds for Pre‑K
    • Count Pre‑K enrollment in entitlement earnings for public school systems
    • Ensure equivalent lease payments for private Pre‑K providers

Who is affected

  • Symbolically: all Georgia Pre‑K programs, teachers, aides, staff, participating private providers, families of four‑year‑olds, and community stakeholders.
  • Practically: DECAL, Voices for Georgia’s Children, Georgia Lottery (as primary funding source), public school systems and private providers referenced in the working group recommendations.
  • The resolution itself does not allocate funds or change statutes; it is a recognition and encouragement for continued support and improvement.

Procedural / timeline highlights

  • Introduced: April 2, 2025
  • Read & adopted (Senate): recorded April 7, 2025 (also noted as Read and Adopted March 11, 2025 in some entries)
  • Reported enrolled: April 7, 2025
  • Filed with Secretary / Co‑sponsored by all Senators / Referred to Resolutions Consent Calendar: October 14, 2025
  • Final resolution adopted: October 15, 2025
  • Primary sponsors: Senators Chuck Payne, Billy Hickman, and Steve McClure

Effect and significance

SR 369 is a commemorative resolution that raises public awareness of Georgia’s Pre‑K system, acknowledges program successes and challenges, and encourages stakeholders to support policy improvements. It does not create binding law or authorize funding.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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