Teacher Performance Evaluations Dead
Several attempts to pass Governor Perdue’s statewide teacher evaluation initiative failed in the final days of the 2010 legislative session. The Governor’s office and some legislators worked morning, noon, and night to pass the evaluation language by trying to attach it to other bills, a maneuver that would have opened the door to a merit pay system in Georgia. All attempts failed, due to the persistence of Georgia educators like YOU!
Each time the House voted on education related legislation last night, legislators specifically asked whether or not those bills included the teacher evaluation language. It was clear they did not want to vote for a bill that would include this initiative!
2011 Budget Passes
The House and Senate finally agreed to a 2011 budget yesterday. Most of the items we reported earlier this month were unchanged. Highlights include:
- National Board Certification funds eliminated
- RESA funds restored – $9.3 million in total funds, including ETC funds of $1.5 million
- School Nurse funds reduced by $1.6 million – $27.4 in total funds left for the program
- Testing - funds for SAT prep were eliminated; funds for PSAT and AP exams were reduced to cover free and reduced lunch students only; funds for CRCT tests for grades 1 and 2 were eliminated; funds for the writing assessment for grades 3 and 5 were eliminated; total state and federal funds combined = $27,096,654
- QBE Program - $7,786,519,286 in total state funds; $140,709,507 in federal recovery funds; total state and federal funds combined = $7,927,228,79
2010 Session Wrap-Up
It will take several days to sort through the bills that made it and the bills that failed. Watch for our legislative wrap up…coming to you soon! If you have any questions in the meantime, do not hesitate to contact us. Until then, stay tuned!
Lasa and Michelle
