Data Requests & Contact

June 15, 2026 – Principals

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.

GaDOE Develops Supports for Military-Connected Students’ Wellbeing

The Office of Whole Child Supports is proud to expand the Mental Health Awareness Training (MHAT) Project for the 2026-2027 school year to include four new courses specific to supporting the wellbeing of military-connected students. The collaboration with the nationally known and respected Military Child Education Coalition will provide high-quality professional learning at no cost to schools and districts. 

While we want our school districts near active-duty bases to participate, we encourage every district to take advantage of this opportunity. Military-connected students also include those connected to veterans who are no longer on active duty, as well as those serving in the National Guard and Reserves.

Beginning July 2026, schools, districts, and RESAs will be able to request the following new courses:

  • Practical Approaches to Supporting Military-Connected Students’ Well-being
  • Supporting Military-Connected Students During Deployments
  • When Military Service Ends: Supporting the Children of Veterans
  • Responding to Military Children with Exceptional Need

#SchoolsOutGA Campaign Provides Resources for Students

During the summer months away from school, it’s crucial that children have access to healthy meals, safe environments, and books and educational opportunities so they can keep learning.

Public and private partners across Georgia – including the Georgia Department of Education, Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning (DECAL), Georgia Family Connection Partnership, Georgia Partnership for Excellence in Education, Georgia Public Library Service, Georgia Public Broadcasting, and Governor’s Office of Student Achievement – have come together to create this online toolkit with resources for summer reading, learning, safety, and meals.

TKES/LKES in GaConnects Staff

As part of our continued efforts to strengthen and modernize educator evaluation systems across Georgia, GaDOE will transition access to the TKES and LKES platform to GaConnects Staff beginning July 2026.

This transition builds on the pilot work that began earlier this year and reflects our commitment to providing a more streamlined and consistent user experience for educators statewide.

What This Means for LEAs:

  • Starting July 2026, all users will access the TKES/LKES platform through GaConnects Staff
  • The TKES/LKES platform itself is not changing – only the access point will shift
  • MyGaInsights/SLDS access will be sunset on August 1, 2026

Celebrate Georgia’s Educators with the Atlanta Dream

The Georgia Department of Education’s Teacher of the Year Program is partnering with the Atlanta Dream to offer discounted tickets for educators, families, and supporters this summer. The 2027 Georgia Teacher of the Year finalists will be recognized during the final home game on September 19. We invite you to share this opportunity with your schools and communities.