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Friday, November 28, 2008
Gwinnett wants more freedom
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
As expected, Gwinnett County school leaders are working on a plan to free the state’s largest school district from many of the rules other systems must follow.
It may sound like the district is trying to get charter status. But that is not the case.
Instead the district is seeking flexibility under the Investing in Educational Excellence (IE2) legislation that passed last session.
(A committee assembled by Gov. Perdue did much of the background work for the bill. Gwinnett Superintendent J. Alvin Wilbanks belonged to that group.)
So what is IE2? Basically it frees systems from many state mandates with the expectation that the districts will improve student learning. If the district fails, it is punished.
If Gwinnett’s plan is approved, the system could be exempt from class size rules. They could develop their own teacher pay scale and not follow the one set by the state. They could offer different classes and hire teachers who don’t meet all the state’s certification requirements.
Ideally, Gwinnett would build support for this through a grassroots community buy-in, but teachers, parents and others say the district has left them in the dark about the plans.
What do you think of this increased flexibility? Does freedom from rules lead to better schools?
