BOLD VISION.

Richard Woods has a bold vision of substance and solutions -- not sound bites -- to tackle the challenges facing our schools.

ADDRESS SCHOOL 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.

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!
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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. ​​

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 it's 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.

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.

ELEVATE EDUCATION SUPPORT PROFESSIONALS (ESPs)

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.

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.

LIFT UP SCHOOLS -- DON'T JUST LABEL THEM

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.

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.

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.

EXPAND CTAE INTO THE EARLY GRADES

Career, Technical, and Agricultural Education (CTAE) provides students with a hands-on, relevant education that prepares them for high-demand, high-wage careers. 

We must build on new elementary Construction and Agricultural programs by expanding elementary CTAE opportunities across all career clusters, assisting students with exploring a wide-range of opportunities.

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.