Part 1: Governor, State Superintendent Trade Letters Regarding ESSA

Sharp disagreement on the use, number, and weight of high-stakes tests
 
From State Board of Education members serving on the advisory committee and receiving regular updates to the Governor’s Education Policy Advisor and leadership from the Governor’s Office of Student Achievement serving on various committees, the Governor has had a broad representation participating in the development of Georgia’s State ESSA Plan.
 
Per the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) statute, the Governor has a 30-day review period prior to the State’s ESSA Plan submission to the United States Department of Education. In response of his review, the Governor Deal sent Superintendent Woods a 5-page letter mostly consisting of changes that Deal wanted to make to the plan:

Governor Deal's Letter to Superintendent Woods

Whereas Woods agreed to some recommendations that raised literacy expectations and reduced red tape for districts, Superintendent Woods stood firm against efforts to increase the use, number, and weight of high-stakes testing as well as refused efforts that would limit opportunity for students. Read Superintendent Woods’ letter responding to the Governor:

Superintendent Woods' Response to Governor Deal

​Georgia’s State ESSA Plan was submitted on September 18th without the Governor’s signature (Note: ESSA requires a 30-day review by the Governor but not the Governor’s approval). With the submission of Georgia’s Plan, Superintendent Woods affirms the principles that he campaigned on and has governed with – doing what’s best for Georgia’s nearly 1.8 million students by knocking down barriers to success and opening the doors to opportunities.