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.
New Georgia School Climate Survey Dashboard Available
The new Georgia School Climate Survey Dashboard is now available. To access the dashboard, log in to the MyGaDOE Portal, open the School Climate application, and select the Analytics tab. Use the dashboard to explore survey results and identify areas for improvement. See the Georgia School Climate Data User Guide linked below for instructions and guidance.
- Additional Information: Georgia School Climate Data User Guide
- Contact: Tammi Clarke, taclarke@doe.k12.ga.us
Educator Insights on Screens in Georgia Schools
The University of Pennsylvania is conducting work related to screentime and artificial intelligence in Georgia schools. In an effort to gain a deeper understanding of current practice and perspectives, they created a 5-10 minute survey for educators to share their thoughts. Responses will be used to inform policy and improve outcomes for students.
- Additional Information: Survey | Survey Questions
GEFA Energy-Efficient Lighting for Schools Program
The Georgia Environmental Finance Authority (GEFA) invites you to join them Thursday, November 5, at 10 a.m. to learn about the new Energy-Efficient Lighting for Schools Program. Funded by the U.S. Department of Energy, the program will provide grants up to $100,000 to eligible school districts to distribute to schools within their districts.
Applications will be accepted November 12 through December 18, 2026. Projects must be completed by August 31, 2028. Additional information, including a sample application, will be available on GEFA’s website after the webinar.
- Additional Information: Registration
Reminder: Submit Student-Created Ornaments by December 1
State School Superintendent Richard Woods invites schools across Georgia to submit student-created ornaments for the Georgia Department of Education’s Christmas tree! Our goal is to receive at least one ornament from every school in the state.
Schools may submit multiple ornaments, and all submissions will be displayed. Please include the school name, art teacher’s name, and student artist(s)’ names. Ornaments cannot be returned.
Submit ornaments by December 1, 2026, to:
Geraldine Price
Georgia Department of Education
2066 Twin Towers East
205 Jesse Hill Jr. Drive SE
Atlanta, GA 30334
Please share this opportunity with your art teachers.
- Contact: Meghan Frick, mfrick@doe.k12.ga.us
- Deadline: December 1, 2026
District Spotlight: Thank you for helping us tell the stories of Georgia’s public schools!
This week, we’re spotlighting the students, graduates, educators, and school communities who helped make our first Georgia’s Public Schools: Stories That Shape Us event a success! Hosted by the Alliance Theatre on October 20, the event celebrated the impact of Georgia’s public schools through personal stories and student performances.
From student and educator storytellers to our emcee, student musicians and performers, and the student artists creating a collaborative artwork inspired by the event, participants shared their talents and experiences in ways that reflected the very best of Georgia’s public schools.
Thank you to the districts, schools, and educators who helped shape their journeys and whose work makes stories like these possible every day!
- Additional Information: Stories That Shape Us
Inside GaDOE
Last week, Superintendent Woods held the first meetings of the school year with his Student Advisory Council and Parent Advisory Council, hearing directly from students and families about their experiences in Georgia’s public schools.
He also visited Talley Street Upper Elementary School, Morrow High School, and Rex Middle School; and presented John Hancock Awards recognizing excellence in cursive writing to students in Griffin-Spalding County Schools and DeKalb County Schools.
On October 20, GaDOE’s Teach in the Peach initiative hosted its first Georgia’s Public Schools: Stories That Shape Us event at the Alliance Theatre. Students, educators, and public-school graduates shared personal stories and performances celebrating the lasting impact of Georgia’s public schools.
On October 23, Kirsten Baesler, Assistant Secretary for Elementary and Secondary Education at the U.S. Department of Education, visited Georgia to highlight the success of GaDOE’s literacy coaching initiative and learn how the model could be shared as a best practice with other states. Read more about the visit.
This week, Superintendent Woods’ schedule includes John Hancock Award and STEAM certification presentations in Atlanta Public Schools, STEM certification presentations in Fulton County Schools, and a visit with a new teacher in Bartow County Schools as part of his ongoing commitment to supporting educators early in their careers.
Superintendent Woods is also participating in Discovery Education’s Building Pathways: Connecting Classroom to Industry event at Georgia Tech, joining a panel discussion on strengthening connections between education, career pathways, and workforce needs.
He is also addressing Georgia’s school nutrition directors at their annual conference in Athens, celebrating their essential role in student success and recognizing the impact of Georgia’s Farm to School initiatives.
Don’t forget to explore the Professional Learning Catalog for upcoming GaDOE conferences, trainings, and events.