Pay Raises, Testing, ERC & More - Governor's State of the State 2016
Gov. Deal delivered his annual State of the State address this morning before a joint meeting of state House and Senate members along with other dignitaries and invited guests. The speech heavily focused on education, and the full text is available HERE. Below are highlights from the speech.
CLICK HERE to read PAGE'S response to the governor's address.
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On Teacher Pay Raises and Furloughs...
The Governor said his proposed budget contains $300 million for local school districts, intended to eliminate furlough days and increase educator pay by 3 percent. Although districts have the flexibility to spend the funding in other ways, Deal warned districts to use this flexibility wisely.
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With regard to his Education Reform Commission, Deal asked legislators to conduct a full review of the Education Reform Commission recommendations in 2016 before enacting any of the proposals. The major recommendations include replacing the QBE funding formula with a student-based model and changes to teacher compensation. He indicated that his budget next year will include funding to implement his recommendations and those of the ERC, allowing time for vetting of the proposals. He noted "it is also important that in the meantime, the debate be conducted in good faith rather and that your recommendations be based on facts and not rhetoric."
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PAGE members' voices have made a difference on the issue of over-testing and the influence of factors outside the classroom on student performance:
"I fully understand that there are many factors that impact test scores and graduation rates, and many of these are not within the control of our teachers."
"Now that the federal government has given states greater latitude regarding testing of students, I call on our State Department of Education and local school systems to evaluate their testing requirements. If a test is not necessary to advance and tailor instruction, it should be eliminated."
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PAGE members still have work to do on the issue of teacher performance as a factor in compensation. Deal lauded the Gwinnett County School System for preemptively enacting ERC proposals and developing a teacher compensation model that "rewards effectiveness, promotes flexibility, and requires accountability." The Governor thanked Gwinnett Superintendent Alvin Wilbanks and remarked that Wilbank's example would be "invaluable in removing the fear associated with change."
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What's Next for Teachers & Students?
The Governor also mentioned his Opportunity School District plan, substantial Pre-K budgetary enhancements recommended by the ERC that he intends to move forward during the current budget cycle, work-force ready education initiatives, and formation of a Teacher Advisory Committee similar to the Governor's Education Advisory Board.
PAGE will continue to analyze the state budget when it is published later this week.
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Testing, I Promise, & Educator Evaluation
In light of the Governor's acknowledgement that students are given unnecessary standardized tests untethered to instruction and his directive to local districts and the State Department of Education to evaluate their testing requirements, it is clear that educator and parent advocacy regarding misuse of testing is effective. I Promise is working. But, there is still much work to be done. Please take a moment to contact Gov. Deal and your House and Senate member to talk about testing and its impact on the students you serve. Please request that policymakers reduce the emphasis of testing in teacher and school leader performance evaluations. Current state law requires that test scores comprise 50 percent of a teacher's evaluation and 70 percent of a principal's evaluation. Our state is an outlier in this overemphasis, and new federal law allows states to unlink teacher evaluation from testing. Georgia will not succeed in protecting students from the harmful effects of over-testing by building high stakes educator evaluation and compensation decisions on testing.
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