Georgia Department of Education Website
Data Requests & Contact

September 18, 2026 – Superintendents

Below are your weekly updates and reminders from the Georgia Department of Education. Here are your links to the District Deadlines and To-Dos Dashboard and the Digest Archive.

Update from Amira Learning

Amira Learning, Georgia’s free universal reading screener provider, has shared a letter with Georgia superintendents with information and updates for the 2026-2027 school year. See the link below to access the letter.

Register for Georgia’s Public Schools — Stories That Shape Us

Teach in the Peach is excited to announce that registration is open for Georgia’s Public Schools: Stories That Shape Us, a special evening celebrating the impact of Georgia’s public schools through stories from students, educators, and graduates. The event will take place Tuesday, October 20, at the Alliance Theatre’s Goizueta Stage in Atlanta, with doors opening at 6:30 p.m. and the program from 7 to 8:30 p.m.

Registration is complimentary, but advance registration is required and seating is limited to 300 guests. We hope to bring together an audience that extends well beyond the education community, and we’d appreciate your help in spreading the word. Please consider sharing the invitation with your teams and more broadly in your communities — including with families, business and community partners, local leaders, and others who may be interested in attending.

Join Us at the Final Convening of This Year’s Innovative Learning Models Cohort

On October 28, 10 Georgia school districts will gather at Plywood Place in Atlanta to present the blueprints for the new learning models they’ve spent the past year designing. Each district built its blueprint alongside its own community, and each will present it to a panel of experts for real-time feedback.

GaDOE and the Institute for Self-Directed Learning are excited to celebrate the first year of this work and launch into year two! Districts interested in joining the next cohort are invited to attend and learn more about the project. Sign up using the registration link.

GAA 1% Participation Application

The GAA 1% Participation application for district assessment directors to complete in collaboration with special education directors is available in the secure MyGaDOE Portal. The application will close at 4:00 p.m. October 1, 2026, and superintendent sign-off is required.

To access the application, log on to the MyGaDOE Portal, click on the CCRPI link, and then choose GAA 1%. Please note that pop-ups must be enabled to access the application. The user guide, training video, and video PPT handout for this application are available in the MyGaDOE Portal (select CCRPI, CCRPI Resources, then GAA Participation Application Resources).

If you need assistance completing the application, please contact the GaDOE accountability specialist assigned to assist your district.

Annual Survey of Local Institutions for Neglected and Delinquent Children

GaDOE has an annual requirement to collect the number of students enrolled in residential facilities for neglected or delinquent (N&D) children located in local educational agencies (LEAs). The annual survey is required by the United States Department of Education and the information is used to determine Title I funding. This year’s survey generates funding for the 2027-2028 school year.

The submission of this survey is critical in supporting the educational needs of children and youth residing in local and state residential facilities. We encourage local educational agencies (LEAs) to engage in meaningful consultations with their local neglected and delinquent facilities to ensure that the children and youth who reside in them are provided with the same access to education and opportunities as their peers.

The GaDOE Grants Unit will host a support session on September 28 at 11 a.m. This session will provide an opportunity for LEAs to ask questions and receive answers about the process, required documentation, and submission of the N&D survey. Register for the N&D support session at the link below.

The deadline to submit the N&D survey is Friday, December 4, 2026.

If you need further technical assistance, please feel free to contact Grants Program Consultant, Whittney Mitchell, using the contact information below.

Help Shape a New Tool for Examining 21st CCLC Program Practices and Student Experiences

GaDOE invites 21st CCLC Program Directors to participate in the 2026-2027 Out-of-School Time (OST) High-Quality Implementation Rubric Pilot. External evaluators are encouraged to participate alongside Program Directors to build a shared understanding of high-quality implementation, calibrate observations, and strengthen evaluation practices. Participants will help pilot a new rubric designed to support evidence-based coaching, continuous improvement, and more specific, actionable recommendations in summative evaluation reports. Please share this opportunity with your 21st CCLC Program Directors.

  • Additional Information: Flyer | Registration
  • Contact: Jeff Barnett, jeff.barnett@doe.k12.ga.us

Quality Review of Data Elements for State ESOL and Federal Title IIIA Programs

Please ensure your district’s ESOL, Title IIIA, and SIS coordinators review the available ad hoc reports on English learner (EL) status, EL students’ participation in state and federal programs, and immigrant student participation. This collaborative review helps verify data accuracy and supports accurate FTE-1 reporting.

Paraprofessional to Teacher Reimbursement Grant Round 5 Now Open

The Paraprofessional to Teacher Reimbursement Grant Round 5 is intended to promote the recruitment of teachers in local educational agencies (LEAs) and Georgia Network for Educational and Therapeutic Support (GNETS) programs across Georgia by providing financial support to paraprofessionals completing their teaching certification through the Georgia Teacher Academy for Preparation Pedagogy Program (GaTAPP). To provide districts with greater flexibility and ensure timely reimbursement, the Paraprofessional to Teacher Reimbursement Grant has adopted a year-round application window with two scheduled board review periods each year. The year-round application will remain open until all funds are allocated. The next window for applications closes on December 31, 2026. Georgia LEAs are eligible to apply.

  • Additional Information: GaDOE Grant Opportunities
  • Deadline: December 31, 2026 at 11:59 p.m.
  • Contact: Darryl Felker, darryl.felker@doe.k12.ga.us

Rural Teaching Apprenticeship Grant Round 3 Now Open

The Rural Teaching Apprenticeship Grant Round 3 supports the development and expansion of registered teaching apprenticeships and pre-apprenticeships in rural Georgia by providing funding for the instruction, mentorship, and supportive services needed to create and sustain a registered teaching apprenticeship program. A maximum of $378,890 is available for the grant period of January 1, 2027, through June 30, 2028, with up to $31,500.00 per LEA or RESA. Funding is based on the number of apprentices and pre-apprentices the LEA or RESA plans to support, demonstrated needs, and alignment to the purpose of the Rural Teaching Apprenticeship Grant. Rural Georgia LEAs, plus districts located in a county that has a total population of less than 60,000, are eligible to apply.

  • Additional Information: GaDOE Grant Opportunities
  • Deadline: October 15, 2026 at 11:59 p.m.
  • Contact: Heather Finley, heather.finley@doe.k12.ga.us

Reminder: Georgia RISE Award Nomination Window

The 2026 Georgia Recognizing Inspirational School Employees (RISE) Award nomination window is open August 10-September 30. District superintendents and principals may nominate a full- or part-time classified school employee who provides exemplary service to students in pre-kindergarten through high school.

Full- or part-time classified employees in the following job categories are eligible for consideration: Clerical and Administrative Services, Custodial and Maintenance Services, Food and Nutrition Services, Health and Student Services, Paraprofessional, Security Services, Skilled Trades, Technical Services, Transportation Services.

Reminder: U.S. Senate Youth Program Application

The 2027 U.S. Senate Youth Program application window is open from August 10 to September 30. High school juniors or seniors may apply, provided they meet all program qualifications outlined by the U.S. Senate Youth Program.

District Spotlight

Cherokee County School District is investing in its future workforce through an annual student internship program that brings more than 100 college students into district schools. The interns are preparing for careers as teachers, counselors, speech-language pathologists, school psychologists and other education professionals. Organized by the district’s Human Resources team, the program is designed to support CCSD’s efforts to recruit educators and support staff to serve its students. By providing college students with opportunities to intern directly in local schools, Cherokee County is building an early connection between aspiring education professionals and careers in public education.

Inside GaDOE

State School Superintendent Richard Woods was on the road this week, visiting schools in Irwin County, Ben Hill County, Rome City, and Bartow County as part of his Constitution Week visits recognizing winners of the John Hancock Student Signature Award.

While in Bartow County, Superintendent Woods also kicked off a new series of visits with first-year teachers. He sat down over lunch with six new teachers to hear directly about how their first year in the classroom is going, gather their feedback and insights, and share lessons from his own 14 years as a classroom teacher. The visits will continue throughout the school year, giving the Superintendent an opportunity to hear directly from educators as they begin their careers.

Superintendent Woods also joined Atlanta News First at Edmonds Elementary School in Clayton County for its Books to Kids initiative. Atlanta News First distributed 1,940 books to students in pre-K through fifth grade, bringing the program’s total to more than 110,000 books distributed over nearly a decade. GaDOE is a partner in the initiative, which works to put books directly into students’ hands and encourage a love of reading.

And this week, GaDOE’s Office of Rural Education & Innovation hosted its first Rural Education & Innovation Summit in Tifton. The South Summit brought education leaders together for district-led sessions focused on literacy, instruction, special education, college and career readiness, work-based learning, educator workforce development, technology, and other approaches making an impact in rural communities. The North Summit will take place September 30 at Brasstown Valley Resort in Young Harris.

Don’t forget to explore the Professional Learning Catalog for upcoming GaDOE conferences, trainings, and events.