CSD will focus on four priorities for the 2026 legislative session: safety & security, mental health, funding, and local authority. These priorities will support CSD's All-In Strategic Plan accelerator, "Organizational Effectiveness and Excellence." 

Safety & Security
CSD is committed to ensuring every student feels safe, seen, and successful by proactively providing safe learning environments for all students and staff.

• Priority: Continue to allocate funding for school safety in the state budget, and making this a stable, ongoing priority.
• Priority: Require safe and secure firearm storage for all citizens.
• Priority: Allocate funding for monitoring, installation, licensing, and maintenance of potential physical and cyber threats and continuous training of school administrators.
• Priority: Continue to allow operation and enforcement of school zone speed cameras.

Mental Health
CSD opposes any legislation that prevents schools from creating inclusive learning environments where all students can thrive in a manner consistent with their identities.

• Priority: Expand mental healthcare access, particularly for teens and young adults.
• Priority: Ensure the mental health and safety of all students, including those from historically marginalized populations.
• Priority: Increase funding for training for mental health professionals and expand student and staff access to services.
• Priority: Increase funding for school counselors for students in special education and gifted programs.
• Priority: Lower the student-to-school counselor ratio to 250:1 as recommended by ASCA. 

Funding
CSD opposes the expansion of tax credits and private school vouchers that divert public funds to private education.

• Priority: Fully fund the QBE Formula.
• Priority: Modernize the QBE Formula to account for inflation and adequately fund public education.
• Priority: Increase state funding for quality early learning programs.
• Priority: Increase funding for student transport to and from school, electric buses, and green infrastructure
• Priority: Continue to increase funding for state-required literacy and dyslexia programs.
• Priority: Reduce barriers to attracting/retaining talent.
  • Provide funding to support increases in the employer portion of non-certified employee health benefits.

Local Authority
CSD opposes any legislation that overrides the constitutional authority of the locally elected City Schools of Decatur Board of Education.

• Priority: Maintain local control over school governance and operations.
• Priority: Maintain local authority over educational and curriculum decisions, instructional resources, local revenue sources, and local exemptions.
• Priority: Maintain local control and flexibility in implementing legislative priorities.
• Priority: Maintain local authority to determine educational frameworks that promote positive outcomes for all students and staff. 
• Priority: Urge local school districts to amplify student voice by adding a student representative to the Boards of Education.

2026 Legislative Wrap-Up Presentation - May 12, 2026