ATLANTA — Georgia Governor Nathan Deal is giving a committee of educators, legislators and business leaders he created in January more time to come up with new ways of funding Georgia’s public schools.

When the governor announced formation of the Education Reform Commission during his annual State of the State address, he gave a subcommittee of the panel in charge of school financing until Aug. 1 to make recommendations.

But in a letter dated Wednesday, Deal moved the deadline back to Dec. 18 at the commission’s request.

“While I am disappointed that you believe more time is needed, it is important that you feel the committee has sufficient time to make the best recommendations possible,” the governor wrote.

Deal said he plans to introduce legislation during next year’s General Assembly session creating a special joint legislative committee to review and act on the reform commission’s funding suggestions.

Georgia has been using the same funding formula for elementary and secondary schools since 1985. The state’s leading educators and politicians have long argued it needs an overhaul.

Atlanta Business Chronicle