VISION
2020 document
MEDIA
CONTACT:
Matt Cardoza, GaDOE Communications Office, mcardoza@gadoe.org
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Op-Ed
by Superintendent Richard Woods
Here’s one
thing I know for sure: no group, business, or organization can thrive without a
clear vision and strategic plan to guide its work.
Success in our
public schools is no different.
At the Georgia
Department of Education, our primary purpose is providing high-quality
service and support for schools and districts, so they’re able to offer a
holistic education to each and every child in our state. To get this done – to
ensure that students are graduating ready to learn, ready to live, and ready to
lead – we must cast an ambitious and attainable vision, paired with clear and
measurable goals.
That’s why I’ve
created GaDOE’s VISION 2020. This is not a new
direction, but an expression of the GaDOE’s strategic plan as we move forward
in placing the child back into the center of Georgia’s education system.
Our VISION
2020 ensures that we remain fully focused on supporting the needs of
our children.
By 2020…
·
Every
child will have access to Georgia-owned and
Georgia-grown standards, and teachers will have access to
high-quality instructional resources and
support.
·
Every
child in Georgia will be on a path to being
proficient in reading by
third grade and being proficient in math by fifth grade.
·
Georgia
will exceed the national average graduation
rate.
·
Every
child in Georgia will earn college and/or
career credit before they
graduate high school.
·
The
number of high-stakes tests will be reduced to
the federal minimum while
support for diagnostic tools in all core content areas will be provided.
·
Every
child in Georgia will have access to a STEM
or STEAM certified school.
·
Every
child in Georgia will have access to computer
science and fine arts learning opportunities.
·
Every
teacher and leader in Georgia will have access to high-quality, relevant, personalized
professional learning.
·
State
and federal processes, procedures, and policies will be streamlined and
integrated in order to provide maximum
flexibility to districts while ensuring transparency to
taxpayers.
·
We
will increase the number of Georgia districts that meet or exceed the goals of their performance contracts through
innovative practices, academic growth, and stakeholder engagement.
·
Seventy
percent of public schools will achieve a 4-
or 5-star climate rating.
·
At
least 20% of the meal requirements for the
student lunch will be comprised of Georgia Grown products.
·
Every
elementary and middle school student will have access to at least 30 minutes of physical activity per day.
·
We
will ensure an open and clear line of communication to the Georgia Department of Education and
continual opportunities to provide meaningful, ongoing feedback.
We face real challenges in education –
but often, I think we overcomplicate the solutions. We chase fads and silver
bullets as we seek to improve. The reality is, in order to truly improve
education, we have to focus on the fundamentals – that’s what helped
generations of public-school graduates lead the United States to become the
greatest nation in the world.
To educate Georgia’s future – our
children – we must have a forward-thinking vision. VISION 2020 focuses
on attainable goals that will benefit all students. When we meet the goals and
vision set forth in this plan, I believe we’ll be well on our way to providing
a world-class education for Georgia’s students.
Richard
Woods, a 22-year public school educator and former small business owner, is
Georgia’s School Superintendent.
Learn more: VISION
2020 Document
