MEDIA CONTACT: Matt Cardoza, GaDOE Communications Office, (404) 651-7358, mcardoza@gadoe.org

INTERESTED PARENTS: Jason Clay, Parent Engagement Communications Specialist, (404) 656-2633, jclay@doe.k12.ga.us

-Follow DOE on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram

September 12, 2016 – State School Superintendent Richard Woods has appointed sixteen new parents to serve on his 2016-2017 Superintendent’s Parent Advisory Council (PAC).

A total of 24 members of the Superintendent’s PAC are parents that were nominated by their local school districts. New members are selected each year by representatives of the Georgia Department of Education based on the applicants’ responses to questions on engaging parents to ensure their children’s success at school. Once selected, members serve a two-year term on the council.

“Feedback received through the Parent Advisory Council is an essential part of our decision-making process here at the GaDOE,” Superintendent Woods said. “Parents are their children’s first teachers, and we must partner with them to ensure we’re providing the best possible education for every child.”

As members of the council, parents will meet two times during the school year with Superintendent Woods to give input on the development of Georgia’s state plan in implementing the new federal law, the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). For more information about ESSA, visit http://gadoe.org/essa.

In addition to the 24 PAC members, six parent representatives are the 2016 winners of the Georgia Parent Leadership Awards who serve as honorary, one-year members on the PAC in recognition of their contributions to Georgia’s public schools. The council also includes members from various educational organizations across the state. Those organizations are: Georgia PTA, Communities In Schools of Georgia, Georgia Family Connection Partnership, Parent to Parent of Georgia, United Way of Greater Atlanta, and Bright from the Start: Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning.

The first meeting was held on September 12, 2016. The Superintendent’s PAC will have the opportunity to speak with Superintendent Woods about ESSA.

For more information about the PAC, visit the Georgia Department of Education Superintendent’s PAC Webpage at http://www.gadoe.org/School-Improvement/Federal-Programs/Pages/Parent-Advisory-Council.aspx.

 ​