Georgia Division of Training Publicizes 2022 Legislative Priorities
The Georgia Department of Education announces its 2022 legislative priorities – key public education issues that will guide State School Superintendent Richard Woods’ interactions with lawmakers in the upcoming regular session.
“Our legislative priorities are in line with the larger vision of creating a public education system that is student and class-centered.” Superintendent Woods said. “I look forward to working with Georgian lawmakers to fully fund public education, ensure a raise for our hard-working teachers, and promote unity among students, educators, parents and communities.”
Georgia Department of Education 2022 Legislative Priorities (downloadable / printable version)
EXTENSION POSSIBILITIES FOR STUDENTS: We strive to provide a well-rounded education for every student, taking into account the academic and non-academic factors that affect student performance.
- Priority: Provide access to a 21st grade classroom
- Priority: Strengthening civics and student understanding of the American government and our nation’s history.
- Priority: Promote the elimination of savings cuts for programs that expand learning opportunities for students, including CTAE day / year and youth camps.
INCREASING SUPPORT FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES: We strive to improve support and resources to ensure access to education and success for students with disabilities.
- Priority: Support updates to the funding formula to ensure adequate resources for students in inpatient treatment facilities.
- Priority: Suggest additional funding to support the effective promotion and implementation of the Georgia Special Needs Scholarship.
INCREASING THE TEACHING PROFESSION & STRENGTHENING THE TEACHER PIPELINE: Teachers are the drivers of all educational achievements. We are promoting efforts to ensure that all Georgian students have access to highly effective teachers.
- Priority: Support the full funding of the teacher’s salary increase
- Priority: Encourage removal of the threat of losing certification as a punishment for new teachers identified as “development needs” by the teacher evaluation system.
- Priority: See the establishment of a pilot to develop an assessment system based on professional development with embedded supports for educators.
- Priority: Promote changes that will enable districts to deploy retired full-time educators in much-needed teaching positions.
STRENGTHENING THE PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN SCHOOLS AND THE COMMUNITY: Schools belong to the community and the students, parents, educators and citizens living in them. We are committed to efforts to create strong collaboration between parents and the community, as well as involvement in school decisions.
- Priority: Promote strategies that encourage informed decision-making to ensure the health and safety of students and teachers by recognizing the authority of families to make health-related decisions for their children and staff to make health-related decisions for themselves.
- Priority: Promote unity among students, educators, parents, and communities regarding the common educational challenges our students face by protecting themselves from divisive doctrines or ideologies.
- Priority: Ensure that teaching materials, resources, and programs are age and developmental appropriate and that they are adopted according to an established process that promotes transparency and community engagement.
PROMOTING PUBLIC EDUCATION: We believe in prioritizing additional revenue to fully fund public education, including fully funding the Quality Basic Education (QBE) formula.
- Priority: Promote the abolition of savings cuts for districts and schools and encourage additional funding for RESAs.
- Priority: Apply for additional funding for school district transportation costs.
- Priority: Track additional funding for student support staff at the local level.
- Priority: Support efforts to increase funding for facilities for local charter schools.
FEDERAL PRIORITIES:
- Priority: Promote federal legislation to expand the use of federal ESSER funds to maximize the efficiency, effectiveness and sustainability of those funds and to aid the long-term recovery of Georgian schools.
- Priority: Pursue legislative resolution supporting amendment to the Every Student Succeeds Act to further reduce high-stakes testing by requiring only grade level tests (elementary, middle, and high school) instead of testing in grades 3-12 every year.
