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Friday, December 12, 2008
Waiving state mandates
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Gwinnett school leaders held a public hearing last night on its plan to be exempt from certain state mandates they view as limiting their ability to improve student learning.
If approved by the state, Gwinnett wouldn’t have to follow class size rules. They could develop their own salary schedule for teachers. And they could decide how to spend state money, instead of being forced to allocate to specific programs.
The school district still must follow federal testing rules and mandates, such as providing services for students with disabilities.
What happens in Gwinnett will have large consequences across the state. Gwinnett is the largest school district in Georgia and teaches about 10 percent of the state’s public school population.
More than that, if this plan works expect other districts to follow.
What do you think of Gwinnett’s plan? (Here’s a copy.) Which state mandates would you want lifted for your schools?
