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ERC Funding Committee & Full Commission Combo Report
On Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2015, the ERC Funding Committee met at the state Capitol. The following day, the full Education Reform Commission convened to hear reports from the Funding Committee and four other committees.
PAGE has combined these meetings into one report, which follows.
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ERC Funding Committee Discusses Teacher Pay at Length
On Tuesday, Sept 22, PAGE sent ERC Funding Committee members feedback on the committee's evolving discussion regarding teacher pay. The Funding Committee discussed the issue at length on Wednesday. Committee members appeared to struggle with how to continue compensation for educator Training & Experience (T & E) for current Georgia educators. Mandating that existing teachers continue on the current T & E scale is a difficult proposition. All but two Georgia school systems have adopted the IE2/Strategic Waiver or Charter district governance models that already allow local school districts to deviate from T & E. Several committee members, including House Appropriations Chair Terry England (R-Auburn) expressed a strong desire to continue T & E for current teachers. Committee member and columnist Dick Yarbrough encouraged the committee and staff to move with clarity to discourage confusion and fear amongst educators.
The T & E information published by the ERC at Wednesday's meeting include the items provided below.
The committee reached preliminary consensus that T&E should continue, for a period of time, to be calculated outside the base in the following manner:
- Determine the state average teacher salary and multiply it by the number of teachers in the state. Once all teachers statewide have transitioned to a new compensation model, a per student amount would be calculated and districts would earn this funding in the state student base determined by enrollment.
- Funding for all teachers currently employed by LEAs will be grandfathered at the level that would have been earned based on T and E, including any step or education/training increases unless the teacher opts in to the new local salary model, or unless the district uses its Strategic Waivers School System or Charter System contract flexibility to implement a local model for all of its teachers.
- For all new teachers to the profession, and any existing teachers who choose to opt in to the new model, funds will be allocated to the district based on the calculation described above.
- Funding the district might have earned for current employees based on the state average teacher salary calculation described above, above what would have been earned under the T and E calculation, will be used to increase the base amount of funding for students statewide.
The committee also reached preliminary consensus that districts would proceed to adopt, adapt, or develop a new compensation model to meet the unique needs of the LEA.
- All districts will select a state-developed compensation model or develop their own local model to submit for approval. All new compensation models must have effectiveness as one component, but may also take into account experience, critical shortage areas, or other local priorities.
- Districts will have the flexibility to allocate the funds at their discretion and would not be restricted by law or rule, nor tested by expenditure controls.
- Upon the effective date of a new funding formula, all new employees will be paid according to the new local compensation model adopted by the district.
More information about student funding weights and other Funding Committee materials from Wednesday is available on the ERC website HERE.
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Full ERC Meets, Teacher Compensation Again a Focus
The full commission met Thursday, Sept. 24, 2015, and each ERC committee delivered a report. Commission Chair Charles Knapp prefaced the reports with comments regarding teacher compensation, referencing misinformation "floating around the internet." He stated that teacher pay will not be capped at $51,000 and that the Funding Committee has expressed a desire to grandfather existing educators covered by T & E.
The ERC'S complete slideshow from Thursday's meeting is available HERE. The Funding Committee's report contained items from the committee's meeting the previous day, including a summary of the proposed student-based school funding formula with three components:student-based funding determined by enrollment, weighted student characteristics, and specialized grant funding.
Highlights from the Early Childhood Education Committee, which at previous meetings recommended an impressive slate of reforms including raising teacher and assistant salaries and increasing student slots, revolved around enhancing DECAL'S Quality Rated Program.
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ERC Teacher Recruitment, Retention, & Compensation Committee Backtracks on Upping Starting Salaries, Publishes Compensation Recs
The Teacher Recruitment, Retention & Compensation Committee report contained recommendations for the following items: service cancellable loans for GA educators, full year "practice" for student teachers, compensating teachers who supervise teacher interns, mentoring, protecting teacher planning time, using teachers' time wisely, and reducing the number of required observations for veteran high-performing teachers under the state teacher evaluation system.
The committee noted that it does not plan any reform regarding the Teachers Retirement System, and disappointingly, due to cost, that it was tabling consideration of raising beginning GA teacher salaries.
The Teacher Committee put forth its own recommendations regarding teacher compensation, which included the following slide:
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School Choice Committee Recommends New Voucher Program
The Expanding Educational Options/School Choice Committee made several recommendations to the committee regarding charter schools, non-traditional education centers, and educational savings accounts.
Disconcertingly, the committee recommended creating a new Student Scholarship Tax Credit Program which enables students to attend private schools on a voucher. Citing the need for a student means test and for additional program transparency, Committee Chair Nels Peterson said the committee does not intend to reform Georgia's existing voucher program which but would create an additional voucher program for needy students. One member of the committee suggested that the necessary means-test and accountability reforms be applied to Georgia's existing student scholarship tax program instead of creating a new costly program. Another member, Dick Yarbrough, explained his discomfort with using public money for private schools.
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Public Comment/Next Steps
The committee announced its next meeting, scheduled for Oct. 22 from 10 am - noon in the Department of Early Care and Learning Oak Conference Room in the East Tower of the Sloppy Floyd Building.
Four members of the audience spoke during the public comment portion including Rebecca Johnson from TRAGIC who addressed the ERC regarding teacher compensation, Margaret Ciccarelli from PAGE who also spoke about compensation, retired educator Bette Holland who presented information on charter schools and other choice options, and a representative from the gifted students association who addressed the group regarding funding weight for gifted services.
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Margaret Ciccarelli - Director of Legislative Affairs
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PAGE's core business is to provide professional learning for educators that will enhance professional competence and confidence, build leadership qualities and lead to higher academic achievement for students, while providing the best in membership, legislative and legal services and support |
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