On Thursday, Achieve Atlanta announced their new incoming President/Executive Director, Dr. Cheryl Watson-Harris. Achieve Atlanta is a nonprofit that awards need-based scholarships to Atlanta Public Schools students who pursue various post-secondary paths after high school. Watson-Harris, the former Superintendent of Dekalb County Schools, was fired from the board in April 2022 after a controversy that […]
Category: Policy
Posted inGeorgia Department of Education
Kemp announces teacher pay increase in inauguration speech
Governor Brian Kemp announced raises for teachers and other government employees during his second-term inauguration speech on Jan. 12, 2022. The governor’s 2023 budget proposes $2,000 pay raises for all state employees including state law enforcement, pre-kindergarten teachers, and kindergarten through 12th-grade personnel. Before the announcement, the average entry-level salary for a K-12 teacher in […]
Posted inPolicy
Atlanta City Council approves new gun safety legislation
The Atlanta City Council approved new gun safety legislation during their Jan. 3, 2022 meeting. The resolution, 22-R-4798, requests the mayor’s Office of Violence Reduction and the Atlanta Police Department to develop a program to provide firearm safety storage (lockboxes) for free to qualifying Atlanta residents. The resolution was proposed by council member Antonio Lewis. […]
Posted inPolicy
News Brief: Biden Administration Propes New Rules for Title IX
On the 50th anniversary of Title IX, the federal law banning sex discrimination in education programs receiving federal funds, the Biden administration has proposed new regulations governing its enforcement. According to the Department of Education, the new rules would, among other things, “protect LGBTQI+ students from discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity, and sex […]
Posted inNational News
Congress Passes Gun Violence Bill; FY 2023 Experiences Increases
In the wake of the school shooting in Uvalde, Texas, and other mass shootings in the United States, Congress has passed the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act–intended to reduce gun violence and also includes new investments for K-12 schools. The bill includes promoting state “red flag” laws, expanded protections for victims of domestic violence, more substantial […]
Posted inGeorgia Politics
Georgia PTA Issues Statement on Culturally Responsive Curricula
In the aftermath of concerned parents storming school board meetings throughout the metro Atlanta area, Georgia PTA has issued a statement on the need for culturally responsive curricula in schools. The statement comes after the State Board of Education passed a resolution essentally the ‘banning’ of critical race theory being taught in K-12 despite dozens […]
Posted inCommunity, Fayette County Schools, Policy
Fayette County elementary schools receive grant for fresh fruits and vegetables
North Fayette and Spring Hill Elementary in Fayette county will have fresh fruits and vegetables thanks to a federal grant by the United States Department of Agriculture. The schools were given a grant from the Fresh Fruit & Vegetable Program, which is designed for schools with a high number of students on free or reduced-price […]
Posted inCommunity, COVID-19, Henry County Schools, Policy
Henry County Schools share COVID-19 prevention efforts for school year
As the first day of the 2021-22 school year quickly approaches Aug. 4, Henry County Schools are updating their COVID-19 mitigation efforts. The district shared a COVID-19 playbook with the community Monday, which outlines protocols the district will take this school year to prevent the spread of the virus. These measures include optional face masks, […]
Posted inTeaching in Atlanta
Griffin-Spalding Schools: masks optional, continuing pandemic measures 2021-22 school year
Griffin-Spalding County Schools will not require masks for the 2021-22 school year, the district announced Monday. The district will continue COVID-19 mitigation efforts including three-foot physical distancing and sanitization of large areas, according to the announcement. Many schools have been outfitted with filtration systems in HVAC units and touchless water fountains with water bottle filling […]
Posted inTeaching in Atlanta
Griffin-Spalding Schools to hold open house at end of July, masks optional
As the upcoming school year quickly approaches, Griffin-Spalding Schools are preparing by sharing more and more details. This year’s open house will be held July 29 from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. for all schools across the district, according to the website. This is less than a week before the first day of school, which […]
Posted inPolicy
Rockdale County Public Schools to require masks 2021-22 school year
Rockdale County Public Schools students will be masking up once again for the 2021-22 school year, Superintendent Terry Oatts announced Saturday. Staff and students will be required to wear masks indoors and on busses, physically distance at least three feet from each other whenever possible and keep up hygiene measures, Oatts said in his announcement. […]
Posted inCobb County Schools
Cobb County School Board of Education passes resolution banning Critical Race Theory in district
The Cobb County School Board of Education passed a resolution to prohibit teaching of critical race theory in the district Thursday. The vote was split among partisan lines, with republican members voting for the resolution and democratic members voting against the resolution. Chair Randy Scamihorn, David Chastain, David Banks and Brad Wheeler — all Republican […]
Posted inUncategorized
News Brief: Starting this Fall, Atlanta University Consortium Institutions Will Require COVID-19 Vaccinations
Starting at the beginning of Fall 2021, the Atlanta University Center Consortium (AUCC) member institutions- Clark Atlanta University, Morehouse College, Morehouse School of Medicine, Spelman College, and AUC Robert W. Woodruff Library will require all students and members of their faculties and staff to be fully vaccinated. Citing safety and health concerns for their communities, […]
Posted inGeorgia Politics
Proposed Math education standards open for a 30-day Period
The Georgia Department of Education needs the community’s feedback on the proposed the K-12 Mathematics Standards for the 2022-2024 school year. Starting today the standards are up for review for a 30-day public comment period. If approved, the standards will be implemented in the 2022-23 school year. Throughout the 2021-2022 school year, teachers will receive […]
Posted inPolicy
Biden’s $170 Billion+ Plan to Reopen Schools in 100 Days
President Biden unveiled his administration’s first legislative priority in a $1.9 trillion stimulus package that pushes $130 billion to reopen schools in 100 days in a quest to get the pandemic under control and mitigate the economic and social impact on the country. While he intends to get bipartisan support of this package, Democrats hold […]
Posted inPolicy
Georgia Department of Health Gives Guidance on Picking Up Items from School Settings
Late Friday, the Georgia Department of Health gave guidance on picking up materials and other belongings for schools. Noting that there is still a lot that is unknown about the newly emerged COVID-19 and how it spreads. The Center for Disease Control has cautioned that it may be possible that a person can get COVID19 […]
Posted inCoranovirus
Nation’s Governors Send Letter to U.S. Department of Education
This week the on behalf of the Education & Workforce Committee, governors from around the United States urged the U.S. Department of Education to disburse funds to states and territories from the Education Stabilization Fund of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act, P.L. 116-136). In addition to the ask, they also […]
Posted inGwinnett County Schools
Gwinnett and Cobb County Schools Transition to Four Day Work Weeks
In correspondence sent to parents, both Gwinnett County and Cobb County Schools have opted to transition to a four day work week starting April 13 after hearing from hundreds of parents around how online learning is going for students and parents. Both districts opt for digital learning for Monday through Thursday and opt for Friday […]
Posted inCoranovirus
Federal Waiver Approved Federal Assessment Waiver- No CCRPI for 2020 or State Testing
Immediately following the closure of metro Atlanta schools for two weeks on March 16th, Superintendent Roger Woods took the step to suspend teacher and leader evaluation and state assessment, and consequences with attendance. Followed by an announcement of the United States Department of Education that encouraged states to request waivers from federal assessments, Georgia filed […]
Posted inCoranovirus
Starting April 13, Atlanta Public Schools Will Offer Front Line Workers ‘Hero Pay’
Even though the last day of in person instruction stopped on March 13, 2020, some of Atlanta Public Schools Front Line Workers will receive hero pay. While teachers and principals work to finish out distance learning to the end of the year, other employees such as food and nutrition, safety, facilities have to do their […]
Posted inNational News
Changes to Advanced Placement Will Focus on Access and Preparation for 2019-2020 Exams
As the country has shifted to virtual learning, it looks likes the College Board, the organization behind Advanced Placement has issued new guidelines for schools effected by COVID-19 closures. The most telling one is that all exams will now be digital, 45 minutes long with a heavy concentration of early semester learning. Now that students […]