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Funding Group Backtracks on Formula-Sparks Fly on Teacher Pay
In light of Governor Deal's recent announcement that he is pushing back the timeline for a school funding recommendation from his Education Reform Commission (ERC), the ERC'S Funding Committee backtracked at today's meeting and revisited several foundational premises. Notably, committee discussion returned to the necessity of assessing actual Georgia education costs--instead of redistributing funds. ERC Chair Dr. Knapp has stated at several meetings that redistribution of funds, instead of assessing actual costs, is a core mission of the ERC.
At previous Funding Committee meetings, the group appeared to be headed in the direction of ending state funding for teacher training and experience (T&E) and collapsing a T&E average into a student funding base. Under this mechanism local school districts would not receive state funds based on the actual levels of T&E of its staff but would receive funding based on the number of students enrolled in the district. Concerned about the implications of this plan and several other items, PAGE recently submitted a formal letter to ERC Funding Committee members.
At today's meeting, several legislators on the committee including House Appropriations Chair Terry England (R-Auburn) and House Appropriations Education Subcommittee Chair Tom Dickson (R-Cohutta) pushed back on Dr. Knapp and staff from the Governor's office. England and Dickson cited concerns about how local school districts, particular rural districts, could afford to employ a stable workforce without T&E funding aligned to the actual characteristics of the staff. Dr. Knapp and the Governor's staff appeared to support the idea that Georgia end funding for T&E and that local school districts adopt new compensation models based on "teacher effectiveness." Senate Education Committee Chair Lindsey Tippins (R-Marietta) expressed doubt that Georgia's current teacher evaluation system is ready to serve a foundation on which teacher compensation could fairly be based.
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Governor's Teacher Pay Concept Loses in Straw Poll
At the conclusion of the discussion, which became heated at times, Dr. Knapp took a straw poll of Funding Committee members supporting ending state funding for T&E of current educators. A clear majority voted against the Governor's idea, and Knapp indicated that discussion of this item will resume at later Funding Committee meetings. To be clear, the straw poll is non-binding. Governor Deal convened the ERC and will control recommendations flowing from it. The Governor stated in his announcement last week that he intends to impanel a special legislative committee (presumably comprised of ERC recommendation supporters) to hear ERC recommendations. This indicates that education policy flowing from the ERC will not move through House and Senate Education Committees.
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Provide Input on Educator Compensation Now
Now is the time to thank Senator Tippins, Reps. England and Dickson, and others who voted against destabilizing Georgia's teacher compensation system and destabilizing Georgia schools. Email addresses for those policymakers are below. Please also take a minute to contact Dr. Knapp and the ERC staff to share your thoughts on educator compensation or other ERC items.
It would also be appropriate to use your home address to access the contact information for your GA House and Senate member, to communicate concern or questions about the ERC.
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Margaret Ciccarelli - Director of Legislative Affairs
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