¶ Overview
Brian Strickland attacked Georgia’s public schools and libraries and supported policies that would defund public education.
- Strickland pledged to “block government overreach” and enforce the “Parents’ Bill of Rights” to protect students from alleged “radical agendas.”
- Strickland also co-signed legislation to allow the use of taxpayer funding for private school tuition and supported directing state funds to charter schools.
- Strickland voted for a library book-banning bill and co-sponsored and voted for legislation that would have defunded public libraries affiliated with the American Library Association.
¶ Brian Strickland Pledged To “Block Government Overreach” In Georgia’s Schools As He Supported Policies That Would Defund Public Schools
¶ Strickland Pledged To “Block Government Overreach In Our Schools” And Enforce The “Parents’ Bill Of Rights”
2026 Website: Strickland Pledged To “Block Government Overreach In Our Schools” And Enforce The “Parents’ Bill Of Rights To Protect Our Children From Radical Agendas In The Classroom.” According to the issues page from Strickland’s campaign website, “The AG's office will enforce the Parents' Bill of Rights to protect our children from radical agendas in the classroom. Record & Vision Brian believes parents, not the government, should raise Georgia's children. He will block government overreach in our schools and ensure transparency for families.” [Strickland For Georgia, Issues, Archived 4/21/26]
VoteSmart 2018 Political Courage Test: Strickland Called For Limited Federal Education Standards, Arguing Education Should Be Mainly Left To Local School Boards. According to Strickland’s answers to VoteSmart’s 2018 Political Courage Test,
[VoteSmart, Brian Strickland – 2018 Political Courage Test, Archived 4/21/26]
¶ Strickland Supported Using Taxpayer Funding For Anti-Public School Alternatives
¶ Strickland Co-Signed Legislation That Would Allow The Use Of Taxpayer Money For Private School Tuition As Public Education Advocates Warned It Could Defund Public Schools
2019: Strickland Co-Signed On A Senate Bill That Would Allow The Use Of Taxpayer Money For Private School Tuition Through The Creation Of “Scholarship” Accounts. According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, “Senate Bill 173 was introduced Friday, assigned to a committee Monday and given a pass out of that GOP-controlled committee Thursday in a 9-3 vote along partisan lines. If either bill becomes law, it’ll be the first time that the general population of public school students would be eligible to go to a private school with a tuition subsidy straight from the state. The legislation would establish ‘scholarship’ accounts enabling parents to use the portion of the money their local school district gets from the state. Parents wouldn’t get the cash, but they would get to direct the money to a private school for tuition or to other providers for things such as textbooks and tutoring. […] Another Kemp floor leader, Sen. Brian Strickland, R-McDonough, is the second signer on the Senate bill.” [Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 2/28/19]
- 2019: The Professional Association Of Georgia Educators Opposed “Using Public Dollars For Private School Vouchers” As Public Education Advocates Warned Of The Defunding Of Public Schools Due To Proposals To Use Taxpayer Funds For Private School Tuition. According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, “A push for state funds to be used for private school tuition and school expenses has increased odds of passing this year as both chambers of the Georgia General Assembly consider nearly identical bills that have the support of Gov. Brian Kemp’s floor leaders. […] Public education advocates said the loss of state funding would hurt local schools, though. The Professional Association of Georgia Educators, with more than 90,000 members, has a long-standing objection to ‘using public dollars for private school vouchers, so that part of the bill does give us pause,’ the group’s legislative affairs director, Margaret Ciccarelli, said at a hearing Thursday.” [Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 2/28/19]
¶ Strickland Said He Supported State Funding For Charter Schools
VoteSmart 2018 Political Courage Test: Strickland Said He Supported State Funding For Charter Schools. According to Strickland’s answers to VoteSmart’s 2018 Political Courage Test,
[VoteSmart, Brian Strickland – 2018 Political Courage Test, Archived 4/21/26]
¶ Brian Strickland Voted To Ban Books In Georgia And Defund Public Libraries Affiliated With The American Library Association
¶ Strickland Voted For Book Bans In Georgia
2022: Strickland Voted For A Library Book-Banning Bill That Outlined New Policies And Procedures To Potentially Remove Books From School Libraries. In 2022, according to the Georgia General Assembly, Strickland voted for S.B. 226, “Sale or Distribution of Harmful Materials to Minors; provisions of Code Section 16-12-103 shall be applicable to libraries operated by schools; provide.” According to Georgia Public Broadcasting, “Local school boards will have to develop policies to screen and potentially remove books from school libraries deemed harmful to minors under legislation that gained final passage in the Georgia Senate Wednesday. Senate Bill 226 passed the Republican-controlled chamber 29-21 along party lines. It already had passed the state House of Representatives last week 97-61, also on a party-line vote. Under the bill, school principals would have seven business days to review complaints from parents that a given book is obscene and ‘lacking in serious literary, artistic, political or scientific value for minors.’ Principals would have three additional days to determine whether a book should be removed from that school’s library and inform the parent of the decision.” The Georgia Senate agreed to the House amendments or substitute 29 to 21. The bill ultimately became law. [Georgia General Assembly – S.B. 226 (2022), Effective 7/1/22; Georgia Senate Vote 757, 3/30/22; Georgia Public Broadcasting, 3/31/22]
- The Legislation Directed School Principals To Review Parental Complaints Over Books They Deemed “Obscene” And “Lacking In Serious Literary, Artistic, Political Or Scientific Value For Minors.” According to Georgia Public Broadcasting, “Under the bill, school principals would have seven business days to review complaints from parents that a given book is obscene and ‘lacking in serious literary, artistic, political or scientific value for minors.’” [Georgia Public Broadcasting, 3/31/22]
¶ Strickland Voted To Defund Libraries Affiliated With The American Library Association
2024: Strickland Co-Sponsored And Voted For Legislation That Would Ban State Funding For Libraries Affiliated With The American Library Association, Claiming The Association Was Influenced By Marxism. In 2024, according to the Georgia General Assembly, Strickland co-sponsored and voted for S.B. 390, “To amend Titles 20, 36, 43, and 50, related to libraries, education, governmental entities, professions and business; acceptance and use of funds from the American Library Association prohibit under certain circumstances.” According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, “Republicans in the Georgia Senate have turned a new page in the culture war over books. Nearly two dozen of them, including several high-ranking members, have signed onto legislation that seeks to ban government funding for libraries affiliated with the American Library Association, which they claim is influenced by Marxist ideology. Senate Bill 390, introduced Wednesday, would deny ALA-affiliated libraries any taxpayer funding from Georgia’s cities, counties, public schools, the state University System and other public bodies created under the state Constitution or laws.” The Georgia Senate passed and adopted the bill by substitute 33 to 20. The Georgia House did not take substantive action on the bill. [Georgia General Assembly – S.B. 390 (2024), Introduced 1/24/24; Georgia Senate Vote 600, 2/29/24; Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 1/25/24]