Joint Education Committee Meeting
The House and Senate Education Committees kicked off the session this week with a joint meeting in which they heard updates on various state initiatives. State Supt. Richard Woods and his staff updated the Committees on the ESSA plan, results of the CTAE program and other successes. They heard from Chief Turnaround Officer Eric Thomas and Stephanie Johnson, Deputy Superintendent of School Improvement as each discussed their efforts on turning around the lowest performing schools.
They had a brief review of the Georgia Partnership for Excellence in Education's Top Ten Issues. They also heard what was happening in the world of IB and AP, issues for military students, and how two charter systems are using flexibility and the extra money they receive. Eric Arena, superintendent of Putnam County, discussed a reading pilot program they have initiated and have three other districts joining in. Allen McCannon, superintendent of Madison County, discussed the value in the flexibility they have.