Data Requests & Contact

August 6, 2025 – Principals

Below are your weekly updates and reminders from the Georgia Department of Education. Click here for the District Deadlines and To-Dos Dashboard.

State Board of Education Votes to Distribute Remaining Federal Funds

In a called meeting this morning, the State Board of Education approved State School Superintendent Richard Woods’ recommendation to distribute $145,546,701 in federal funds to Georgia school districts. These allocations, just released by the U.S. Department of Education (USED), include all previously delayed federal funding through the Title I, Part C; Title II, Part A; Title III, Part A; and Title IV, Part A grants.

Reminder: Georgia Early Literacy and Dyslexia Principal Surveys – K-3rd Grade

GaDOE strives to provide the guidance and support schools need to serve their students well. The 2024-25 school year was the first year of implementation for new policies related to reading and dyslexia, including screening. GaDOE values your reflection on how your school addressed the new requirements. Responses to this survey, which closes August 8, will be used to inform GaDOE’s guidance and support in 2025-26 and beyond.

This survey should be completed by a school leader who is familiar with how the school implemented universal reading screening, dyslexia screening, reading intervention, and the identification of students with characteristics of dyslexia in the 2024-25 school year.

The survey contains 21 questions and should take about 15-20 minutes to complete. For the best experience, we recommend using a computer browser.

Resources for the New ELA Assessments for 2025-2026

It’s time to implement the new Georgia K-12 English Language Arts standards! Along with the new standards come updated ELA assessments, and it’s important to ensure that every ELA teacher is familiar with them. Key resources include the Redesigned Georgia Milestones ELA Assessment webinar; ELA blueprints, rubrics, and ALDs; ELA FAQs; Online Study and Assessment Guides; and Online Scoring Samplers. The Study and Assessment Guides contain a variety of sample test questions, including two full ICT sets for each grade and course. The Scoring Samplers include scored and annotated student responses for the two released ICT sets in grades 3, 5, 8, and Literature & Composition II. Answers to frequently asked questions about administering the Literature & Composition II EOC are available as well. Help ensure all teachers and students are prepared for the redesigned ELA assessments by sharing these key resources!

2025 WIDA ACCESS Scores and Student Growth Percentiles (SGPs)

English learners’ 2025 WIDA ACCESS score results are now available on each student’s SLDS Profile Page along with the downloadable 2025 WIDA ACCESS Growth Reports. We hope this data will inform EL identification, instructional planning, and intervention and support services for EL students in your schools.

Computer Science Teacher Equipment and Community (CSTEC) Grant Now Open

The Computer Science Teacher Equipment and Community (CSTEC) Grant aims to provide support for all students to access and engage in computer science experiences. This grant offers professional support for instruction, practice, and pedagogy, including the use of physical computing to engage students in computer science education. Georgia LEAs are eligible to apply.

Computer Science Teacher Credential (CSTC) Grant Now Open

The Computer Science Teacher Credential (CSTC) Grant is designed to support the broadening of participation in K-12 Computer Science (CS) education and to assist in implementing O.C.G.A. 20-2-149.3 by providing funding for teacher professional development and training, as well as teacher certifications and endorsements for middle and high school CS teachers. Georgia LEAs are eligible to apply.

Addressing Chronic Absenteeism Efficiently and Effectively

Join the Office of Whole Child Supports for a hands-on, interactive session of attendance problem-solving and strategy-sharing. With in-person and virtual options, this training will provide valuable opportunities to learn and apply proven practices for reducing chronic absenteeism.

Special Attendance Edition of the Better Ed Bulletin

In order to share strategies and upcoming events related to attendance, the Office of Whole Child Supports created a special edition of the Better Ed Bulletin. The two-page newsletter is packed with links to support improvement efforts and share success stories across Georgia.