(By Matthew Smith )
Governor Brian Kemp kicked off last week by signing the Amended FY 2026 Budget into law. House Bill 973 funds the government through June 30, 2026. Below, I have shared how the budget invests in the five priorities identified by the EdQuest Georgia Coalition.
- Early Learning
Early care educators who teach in Georgia Pre-K classrooms will receive one-time, $2,000 bonuses. Budget writers also instructed the Department of Early Care and Learning to use existing funds to increase the number of Rising Pre-K classrooms in Summer 2026 from 69 to 94, a 36% annual increase.
- K-12 Education
The budget includes $2.5 million in additional funds for out-of-school care, on top of the $13.25 million already appropriated. The line item supports the continuation of the BOOST program, an initiative created by GaDOE and managed by the Georgia Statewide Afterschool Network.
- Post-Secondary and Workforce Readiness
The budget provides $325 million to endow the DREAMS Scholarship, a need-based financial aid program. To restore the full amount in the final budget, the General Assembly added $145 million from the State Lottery Reserve Fund.
In addition, the budget includes increases for the Dual Enrollment and HOPE Scholarship programs, demonstrating healthy demand for these financial aid programs.
The Technical College System of Georgia will receive $6 million to create a Career Navigation tool for the public to learn more about high-demand careers.
- Educator Recruitment and Retention
School staff will receive bonuses. In previous budgets, only certified educators and staff (FY 2023) or full-time, benefits eligible employees (FY 2024) earned a bonus. In the FY 2026 Budget, educators, administrators, bus drivers, custodians, nurses, and nutrition workers will receive $2,000 bonuses. The specificity around which staff receive the upcoming bonuses should improve district execution of the budget directive.
- Barriers to Learning and Well-Being
The General Assembly addressed rural health care access by providing $17.8 million to support the expansion of graduate medical education programs operating south of Macon. The funds will support 103 medical residents. The budget also includes $3.2 million for the Department of Community Health to support the creation of new rural health clinics.
In April 2026, the Georgia Partnership will summarize how the FY 2027 Budget aligns with the five EdQuest priorities.