Education
Education

Top Georgia leaders at odds over direction of education

Gov. Nathan Deal (left) shakes hands with Georgia School Superintendent Richard Woods. AJC File photo
Gov. Nathan Deal (left) shakes hands with Georgia School Superintendent Richard Woods. AJC File photo
By Ty Tagami
Sept 28, 2017

Georgia's new education plan has driven a wedge between two top state officials: the governor and the elected state superintendent.

The two Republicans are fighting over the state’s plan for compliance with the U.S. Every Student Succeeds Act, which Georgia sent to President Donald Trump’s education secretary on Sept. 18.

Gov. Nathan Deal says it “falls short in setting high expectations,” in part because of the way it uses testing to hold schools accountable. Superintendent Richard Woods refused to make amendments demanded by Deal, arguing that they would have fostered a culture of “measure, pressure, and punish.”

Education Secretary Betsy DeVos has about four months to consider the plan.

Deal's allies aren't happy, and one had strong words about Woods' leadership of education at a meeting Thursday. What can the governor can do about the situation? Read more at myajc.com.

About the Author

Ty Tagami is a staff writer for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Since joining the newspaper in 2002, he has written about everything from hurricanes to homelessness. He has deep experience covering local government and education, and can often be found under the Gold Dome when lawmakers meet or in a school somewhere in the state.

Follow Ty Tagami on facebookFollow Ty Tagami on twitter
More Stories

Keep Reading

These kits are being distributed to public schools across Georgia to help students who suffer an opioid overdose. (Courtesy of Georgia Department of Education)

Credit: Contributed

Officials to install opioid reversal kits in Georgia’s public schools

The kits will contain Narcan, which can temporarily reverse the effects of an opioid overdose and restore breathing.

Why the Atlanta school board voted to close and repurpose some schools

Sixteen schools will be repurposed under the APS Forward 2040 plan as enrollment falls and the district seeks better resources for students.

Atlanta board of education approves school consolidation plan

The Atlanta school board voted unanimously Wednesday night to approve a consolidation plan, which would result in some school closures in a couple of years.

The Latest

These kits are being distributed to public schools across Georgia to help students who suffer an opioid overdose. (Courtesy of Georgia Department of Education)

Credit: Contributed

Officials to install opioid reversal kits in Georgia’s public schools

Why the Atlanta school board voted to close and repurpose some schools

Atlanta board of education approves school consolidation plan

Featured

Former Fulton County election worker Ruby Freeman talks to her daughter, Wandrea ArShaye "Shaye" Moss, a former Georgia election worker, after she testified before the U.S. House Select Committee at its fourth hearing on its Jan. 6 investigation on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday, June 21, 2022. (Yuri Gripas/Abaca Press/TNS)

Credit: TNS

OPINION

The 2020 election interference case is gone, but it can’t be forgotten

The decision by a Georgia prosecutor not to pursue the massive Trump election interference case leaves some bad deeds unpunished.

Officials to install opioid reversal kits in Georgia’s public schools

The kits will contain Narcan, which can temporarily reverse the effects of an opioid overdose and restore breathing.

Odom-led comeback nets Conference USA championship for Kennesaw State

The Owls continue to be one of the most intriguing stories of the season, going from a two-win season to a conference title and beating the defending league champions.