15. Assist Schools with the Greatest Challenges

GAE supports making schools with low student achievement levels a high legislative priority.
These schools need additional resources and incentives to attract the best staff.
GAE supports improving schools with low student achievement levels by:


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Providing a 10% bonus for quality teachers identified as master educators;


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Enacting high quality professional development programs for staff;


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Increasing parental involvement and holding parents more accountable;


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Encouraging collaboration of teachers and staff;


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Removing rigid state requirements and encouraging innovative approaches;


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Adding 15% to the school level funding;


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Reducing class sizes to no more than 18 students;


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Involving community, business, political, and local leaders in the curriculum, instruction, and school operation decisions;


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Allowing teachers, administrators, and school councils to redirect education funds to specific programs needing the most attention;


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Encouraging volunteers to assist with reading and other school programs;


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Including ESP in the site-based decision process; and


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Removing the punitive penalties established in Georgia’s accountability plan

Those who support vouchers for private schools have already decided to abandon public schools. Now is not the time to trash our struggling schools by branding teachers and students.