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 at @GeorgiaDeptofEd
January
10, 2019 – The
Georgia Department of Education is announcing its 2020 legislative priorities –
key public-education issues that will guide State School Superintendent Richard
Woods’ conversations with lawmakers in the upcoming session.
GaDOE’s
priorities fall within four overall themes: Responsible and Aligned
Accountability, Strengthening the Teacher Pipeline, Expanding Opportunities for
Students, and Funding Public Education. Many of the priorities are drawn
directly from the issues
raised by teachers and leaders across the state at the listening
sessions Governor Brian Kemp and Superintendent Woods hosted last
fall.
“The
2019 legislative session was a historic one for Georgia’s teachers and
students. The Governor and General Assembly recognized the importance of
education by fully funding QBE, providing additional funding through the APEX
program, and supplying $30,000 per school to ensure the safety of our
students,” Superintendent Woods said. “We recognize and value that investment
in public education, and we will continue to promote efforts that serve our
students, by advocating for continued full funding of QBE and additional
resources for our rural systems – namely in transportation; an assessment
system that truly serves our students; robust Teacher Pipeline legislation;
expansion of fine arts opportunities; and more. With the Governor’s Office,
Department of Education, and General Assembly more aligned than ever before,
I’m confident there will be more positive developments for public education
this session.”
Georgia
Department of Education 2020 Legislative Priorities (web
version | printable
version)
RESPONSIBLE
& ALIGNED ACCOUNTABILITY
Our
Values: We
support an assessment and accountability system that measures the strengths and
needs of our students and teachers, and reduces the pressures and burdens
placed on them by an over-emphasis on high-stakes testing.
GOAL: Pursue state testing
requirements that are more closely aligned with the federal minimum
GOAL:
Streamline
competing accountability systems and eliminate duplication
GOAL: Address Financial
Efficiency Star Rating
GOAL: Transfer accountability, oversight and support of Strategic
Waiver School Systems (SWSS) to GaDOE
STRENGTHENING
THE TEACHER PIPELINE
Our
Values: Teachers
are the drivers of all educational achievement. We promote efforts to ensure
all Georgia’s students have access to highly effective teachers.
GOAL: Pursue robust Teacher
Pipeline legislation, including the establishment of a pilot to design an
evaluation system built on professional progression with embedded supports
for educators
GOAL: Promote changes to
allow districts to utilize retired educators full time to fill high-need
teaching positions
EXPANDING
OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS
Our
Values: We
are committed to providing a well-rounded education for every student and
addressing all factors that have an impact on student achievement
GOAL: Expand opportunities
for fine arts and computer science instruction
GOAL: Ensure sustainability
and quality of the Dual Enrollment program
FUNDING
PUBLIC EDUCATION:
Our
Values: We
believe in fully funding public education, including the continued full funding
of the Quality Basic Education (QBE) formula.
GOAL: Support
additional funding for transportation in rural school districts
GOAL: Increase funding for
additional school counselors to support student mental health needs
