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EXPAND TEACHER PAY RAISES
The state salary scale does not provide salary step increases for beginning teachers with 0-2 years of experience or veteran teachers with more than 21 years of experience, meaning teachers at both ends of their careers receive flat pay -- this must change!
To recruit and retain our teachers, we must expand step raises across a teacher’s entire career.
To recruit and retain our teachers, we must expand step raises across a teacher’s entire career.
ESTABLISH A NEW TESTING MINIMUM
Georgia has reduced the number of state tests to be more in line with the federal minimum -- but progress cannot stop there!
We must establish a new federal testing minimum: once in elementary, once in middle, and once in high school to further reduce high-stakes testing and provide truly diagnostic tools in the "off years" to remediate and accelerate learning.
We must establish a new federal testing minimum: once in elementary, once in middle, and once in high school to further reduce high-stakes testing and provide truly diagnostic tools in the "off years" to remediate and accelerate learning.
DEVELOP MULTIPLE DIPLOMA PATHWAYS
Our students deserve a tailored high school experience that matches their passion, potential, and postsecondary pursuits.
We must develop customized diploma pathways that support the postsecondary goals of each and every child -- whether its attending a college or university, going straight into the workforce, or serving in the military.
We must develop customized diploma pathways that support the postsecondary goals of each and every child -- whether its attending a college or university, going straight into the workforce, or serving in the military.
TREAT TEACHERS AS PROFESSIONALS
Instead of an "gotcha" tool that devalues teachers, we must transform our teacher evaluation system into one that truly treats our teachers as professionals.
We must develop a evaluation system that provides clear, personalized pathways of supports and opportunities at every step of a teacher's career -- from beginning teacher to teacher leader.
We must develop a evaluation system that provides clear, personalized pathways of supports and opportunities at every step of a teacher's career -- from beginning teacher to teacher leader.
MODERNIZE THE K-12 FUNDING FORMULA
Our children deserve a 21st century funding formula that supports a 21st century education.
It's time to modernize our K-12 formula by increasing transportation funding, recognizing poverty, enhancing non-academic supports, expanding Educational Support Professionals, and adjusting funding levels with the rising costs of resources, supports, and personnel.
It's time to modernize our K-12 formula by increasing transportation funding, recognizing poverty, enhancing non-academic supports, expanding Educational Support Professionals, and adjusting funding levels with the rising costs of resources, supports, and personnel.
ELEVATE SUPPORT PROFESSIONALS
Educational Support Professionals (ESPs) -- nurses, counselors, custodians, bus drivers, nutrition staff, media specialists, social workers, psychologists, and parapros -- are the backbone of our schools.
We must establish and expand funding for non-academic supports with a modernized K-12 formula, leading to higher wages and better student ratios for our ESPs.
We must establish and expand funding for non-academic supports with a modernized K-12 formula, leading to higher wages and better student ratios for our ESPs.
EXPAND OPPORTUNITY FOR EVERY CHILD
Whatever a child's zip code, they deserve access to a well-rounded education.
We must establish 'Opportunity grants' for all schools, dedicating funding streams to support and expand opportunities in fine arts, computer science, recess and play, PE, STEM/STEAM, AP, gifted, Career, Technical and Agricultural Education (CTAE), and world language.
We must establish 'Opportunity grants' for all schools, dedicating funding streams to support and expand opportunities in fine arts, computer science, recess and play, PE, STEM/STEAM, AP, gifted, Career, Technical and Agricultural Education (CTAE), and world language.
LIFT UP SCHOOLS -- DON'T JUST LABEL
Our students are more than a test score and so are our schools.
Instead of providing families with a fair or full picture of their local schools, the current letter grade or 100-point rankings only oversimplifies their worth.
We must provide a public dashboard that showcases the challenges and opportunities of every school.
Instead of providing families with a fair or full picture of their local schools, the current letter grade or 100-point rankings only oversimplifies their worth.
We must provide a public dashboard that showcases the challenges and opportunities of every school.
LET TEACHERS TEACH -- CUT RED TAPE
Our teachers were called to teach -- not push paperwork or check boxes.
We must free our teachers from the excessive requirements that pull them away from students and push them out of the profession.
At the state level, we must streamline processes and cut red tape while getting local school districts to do the same.
We must free our teachers from the excessive requirements that pull them away from students and push them out of the profession.
At the state level, we must streamline processes and cut red tape while getting local school districts to do the same.
ELIMINATE EXCESSIVE LOCAL TESTING
As we've worked to reduce the number of high-stakes testing at the state level, we must also work to reduce redundant testing at the local level -- testing that takes away from precious planning time and valuable instructional time.
We must adopt transparency measures to assist local school districts with identifying, evaluating, and eliminating excessive testing.
We must adopt transparency measures to assist local school districts with identifying, evaluating, and eliminating excessive testing.
PREPARE STUDENTS FOR LIFE
Our students need to be prepared for more than a test -- they must be prepared for life.
All students must have a strong foundation of the fundamentals in literacy and numeracy. To be successful, all students need cursive writing and personal finance along with a strong understanding and appreciation of our Nation's Founding and history.
All students must have a strong foundation of the fundamentals in literacy and numeracy. To be successful, all students need cursive writing and personal finance along with a strong understanding and appreciation of our Nation's Founding and history.
ADDRESS SAFETY -- COMPREHENSIVELY
The safety of students must remain a top priority. School safety isn't as easy as adopting fad fixes -- it requires a comprehensive approach.
We must increase both School Resource Officers (SROs) and mental health resources; coordinate best practices and training; secure facilities; and collaborate with community organizations and public safety partners.
We must increase both School Resource Officers (SROs) and mental health resources; coordinate best practices and training; secure facilities; and collaborate with community organizations and public safety partners.
BOLD VISION.
