State commits to a more well-rounded education
for K-12 students including expanded opportunities, balanced measurement of
performance
Click
here to read the U.S. Department of Education’s press release
Click
here to read Georgia’s final, approved plan and here to learn more about Georgia’s ESSA process
MEDIA
CONTACT: Meghan
Frick, GaDOE Communications Office, (404) 463-4246, mfrick@doe.k12.ga.us
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GaDOE on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram @GeorgiaDeptofEd
January
19, 2018 – The
U.S. Department of Education has approved Georgia’s State ESSA Plan, State School Superintendent
Richard Woods announced today.
The
U.S. Department of Education highlighted
Georgia’s work rewarding schools making significant progress with traditionally
underserved subgroups and creating an accountability system that expands
opportunities for students and supports the whole child.
“Thousands
of Georgians – parents, students, educators, policymakers, members of the
business community – gave us their feedback as we worked to create our state’s
ESSA plan. We listened and heard that Georgians want a K-12 education system
that supports the whole child; a system that produces students who are not just
college- and career-ready, but ready for life. This plan is a direct response
to that feedback, and reflects our continued focus on expanding opportunities
for Georgia’s students.”
What is the Every Student Succeeds Act, or ESSA?
The
Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) is the reauthorization of the Elementary and
Secondary Education Act, replacing the No Child Left Behind Act of 2002. ESSA
gave states additional flexibility and authority over their educational systems
and tasked them with developing state plans to support education – although
wholesale flexibility was not granted, and requirements of the law vary in
specificity from issue to issue.
Georgia’s
ESSA plan sets a new course for K-12 education in the state, moving away from
an excessive focus on high-stakes testing to an education system that places
the whole child at the center.

Developing
a plan for Georgians, by Georgians
Gathering
feedback from all Georgians was an essential part of the ESSA plan development
process. The Georgia Department of Education brought together a State
Advisory Committee and six working
committees; educators, parents, students, and representatives of
state/agencies, business/industry, nonprofits and education advocacy
organizations served on those committees and shaped Georgia’s ESSA plan. GaDOE
also held eight in-person public feedback sessions across the state; hosted
additional feedback meetings with students, teachers, parents, and civil rights
organizations; and provided two survey opportunities along with social media
chats and an open email address for feedback. Each plan draft was posted online
for public review.
Receiving
approval from the U.S. Department of Education
As part of the
plan approval process, states receive interim feedback from the U.S. Department
of Education. Georgia received its interim feedback December 14, 2017 and
resubmitted with minor changes January 4, 2018. Many of the revisions requested
by the U.S. Department of Education could be addressed with the addition of
clarifying language – click here to view a redline version as submitted January
4.
Work
has begun to implement key provisions of the plan, and implementation will
continue during the 2018-19 school year.