From the Executive Director
Advocacy Results in Positive Testing and Educator Evaluation Reform Dr. Allene Magill
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ducators across Georgia celebrated the unanimous passage of Senate Bill 364 in the Senate and House this legislative session, which ended March 24. The bill, sponsored by Sen. Lindsey Tippins (R-Marietta), provides important relief on testing and educator evaluation requirements, including reducing the percentage of student growth measures on evaluations from 50 to 30 percent for teachers and 70 to 40 percent for leaders. Further, student measures will not be utilized for evaluations unless students are in attendance for 90 percent of a teacher’s course. The bill also reduces the number of required tests from 32 to 24 during a student’s K-12 academic experience. These hard-fought reforms came about through grassroots advocacy by educators, parents and the face-to-face initiative of legislative affairs staff on behalf of PAGE members and other education associations. I commend PAGE legislative affairs staff members Margaret Ciccarelli and Josh Stephens — your representatives at the Capitol — for their leadership and daily efforts with legislators. Unless you have experienced the daily grind of tracking legislation, keeping up with ever-changing committee hearing times and locations, and schedules that don’t follow a traditional work day, it’s hard to truly appreciate what being an advocate at the Capitol is really like. Margaret’s and Josh’s “Report from the Capitol” emails throughout
May/June 2016
the session kept our members informed and engaged, and you were engaged. Legislators reported to us that your calls, emails and direct communication at home made a difference. PAGE thanks you for your effort, and I also ask that you reach out and thank your legislators for supporting public educators in Georgia. I encourage you to read Josh’s report about this session on Page 12 of this issue. PAGE REMAINS COMMITTED
PAGE commits time and resources to the professional development of teachers and leaders through several initiatives. The capacity-building activities range from leadership networks for assistant principals and principals, to regional professional learning groups in south Georgia and the High School Redesign Initiative in several districts across the state. PAGE commissioned a universityled, research-based study of the effect of professional learning work on the outcomes for students, teachers and schools. The effort, called the Impact Study, validated the importance of engaging in well-designed, collaborative professional learning that is sustained over time. I encourage you to read the introduction executive summary and report by going to pageinc.org and looking for the link to the study. I am proud of the work PAGE does to increase the capacity of Georgia’s teachers and leaders to continuously improve the
quality of work provided to students so that they can experience profound learning. GROWTH CONTINUES
PAGE continues to grow this year thanks to the continued support of current members and their positive referrals, as well as the excellent services PAGE provides through our membership services representatives, advocacy, legal and professional learning support. Typically, membership levels off after the beginning of the school year. However, PAGE membership continues to grow through the active professional recruitment within schools and student recruitment at college and high school events. Our membership growth demonstrates the value of our organization to the majority of educators in Georgia and our connection with people at all levels of public education in every sector of our state. Thank you for helping us become a stronger and more vital partner for you and for public education.
ENJOY YOUR SUMMER!
The myth of the traditional summer break for educators lives on despite what we know about what teachers and leaders must do between school years just to keep up with changes in standards, content and school expectations. My wish for you this summer is that you will find time to relax, reconnect with cherished friends and family, and learn new things that will help you experience success in the next school year. n
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