Issue Position: Education

Issue Position

A high-quality public education system is key to Georgia's economic security. It is also the best investment we can make in the long term vitality of our communities. I am committed to fighting for innovation in our classrooms and creative solutions for our funding problems. Our children deserve better than what we have been providing. We need to set high standards. We need to break the habit of teaching to standardized tests. We need to value dedicated teachers and find ways to bring more outstanding professionals to our classrooms.

In order to accomplish these goals, I will continue listening carefully to all my constituents, as well as educators in my district, to hear what they feel is needed to create and maintain excellent schools. Some of the most pressing issues are:

- recruiting and retaining outstanding teachers, and providing those teachers with the support they need to be effective (too many teachers are dissatisfied and are leaving the profession)

- reinstating compensation for National Board Certified teachers

- restoring state funding to eliminate teacher furloughs and return class sizes to previous levels (class sizes impact student performance)

- ensuring parents have a strong voice in crucial aspects of their children's education

- using evidence-based practices

- addressing poverty and its impact on student performance

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