For immediate release May 17, 2016

Office of Communications (404) 651-7774

Deal: Georgia will protect children from federal overreach

Gov. Nathan Deal today issued this statement in response to the Obama administration's directive to school systems:

"The Obama administration's directive, recently announced by press release, to local school systems regarding accommodations for transgender students has generated confusion and controversy among parents, students and school officials. While I do not believe this directive carries the force of law, the Departments of Justice and Education have threatened to revoke federal funding from schools that fail to comply. Georgia's constitution and state laws, however, require these decisions be made at the local level. While our 181 school systems must each determine an appropriate response to this federal overreach, I have asked State School Superintendent Richard Woods to provide guidance to those local school systems seeking assistance and clarity on this issue in order to ensure that there will be as much uniformity across our state as possible. Until Congress acts, I assure the citizens of Georgia that the offices of the governor, attorney general and state school superintendent will work cooperatively to protect the interests of Georgia's children from this abuse of federal executive authority."

Jen Talaber Ryan jen.ryan@georgia.gov
Alyssa Botts abotts@georgia.gov