Data Requests & Contact

December 5, 2025 – Superintendents

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

Weekly Reminder: Georgia Schools Care Winter 2025

GaDOE is proud to sponsor the third annual Georgia Schools Care initiative, uniting students, teachers, and staff statewide in the spirit of giving. This year’s effort – running through December 17, 2025 – continues our tradition of supporting Clark’s Christmas Kids, ensuring every child in Georgia’s foster care system receives a gift on Christmas morning. Schools are encouraged to collect small donations from students and staff, showing how even the smallest contributions can make a big difference. Together, Georgia’s schools are demonstrating the power of compassion, community, and care this holiday season.

All funds should be submitted as one combined school donation, with checks made payable to DFCS Secret Santa (not GaDOE) and mailed to:

DFCS Secret Santa, c/o Georgia Department of Education, 205 Jesse Hill Jr. Dr. SE, 2066 Twin Towers East, Atlanta, GA 30334

Innovative K-12 Learning Models Project Webinar

GaDOE and the Institute for Self-Directed Learning are partnering on a project to empower districts to design and launch new school models in their communities to increase public school enrollment. The Innovative K-12 Learning Models Project invites districts to reimagine traditional school structures – to design flexible, learner-centered models that deepen engagement, increase family connection, and expand opportunities. Register for an upcoming webinar to learn more about the project and the process to become part of this work. The webinar will be offered twice: December 10 at 8:30 a.m. and December 18 at 10:30 a.m.

2026 Georgia Scholar Application Window Opening Soon

The 2026 Georgia Scholar Program application window will open January 1 and close March 1, 2026. Georgia public- and private-school seniors who meet all program criteria are eligible to apply. These criteria are established in state law, and no exceptions can be made. The application, detailed program criteria, and application guidance brochure are found on the Georgia Scholar webpage linked below.

International Baccalaureate Exam Fee Initiative Grant Now Open

The International Baccalaureate (IB) Exam Fee Initiative Grant is intended to support students by providing financial support to partially cover exam costs for students who qualify for a fee reduction and for students who take a STEM exam at high schools offering the International Baccalaureate program. A total of $319,000 in grant funds is available, with a maximum of $40,000 per district. All Georgia public school districts with authorized IB schools administering IB exams in May 2026 are eligible to apply.

Invitation to 8th Annual Greater Atlanta HBCU College Fair

Georgia students are invited to participate in the 8th Annual Greater Atlanta College Fair on Saturday, January 31, 2026, at South Gwinnett High School. This statewide, free event provides an opportunity for students and parents to meet with HBCU admissions and financial aid counselors from across the country. We encourage you to ensure students in your district have the opportunity to register and attend this year’s fair. The fair will also feature HBCU band scholarship auditions conducted by college band directors, along with essay and art contests that provide scholarship awards to the winners.

Reminder: Chris Paul HBCU Basketball Classic & Education Day

As a reminder, your district’s schools are invited to participate in the 2025 Chris Paul HBCU Basketball Classic and Education Day, taking place December 18-19, 2025, at the Gateway Center Arena in College Park. The Education Day experience is designed to engage high school sophomores, juniors, seniors, and community college transfer students from across Georgia and neighboring states. Students will experience interactive college and career readiness sessions; networking opportunities with HBCU representatives and educational organizations; and exposure to HBCU culture, history, and leadership opportunities.

Reminder: Annual Ornament Opportunity

For the ninth year, we are excited to extend the opportunity for all Georgia public schools to contribute student-created ornaments to fill GaDOE’s Christmas tree. Information on this opportunity was sent to principals on November 26, and they were encouraged to share the details with their art teachers. If any school in your district would like to contribute an ornament or ornaments, please direct them to the address below by December 20, 2025:

          Geraldine Price
          Georgia Department of Education
          2066 Twin Towers East
          205 Jesse Hill Jr. Drive SE
          Atlanta, GA 30334

We ask that submissions include the school name, art teacher’s name, and name(s) of the student(s) who created the ornament(s) so we can thank and recognize all involved. We welcome multiple ornaments from the same school and display all artwork submitted. Unfortunately, we are unable to return ornaments once they have been submitted.

Reminder: Share With Assessment, Special Education, and ESOL Leaders – Language Domain Preclusion Request Process

The annual WIDA assessments measure English language proficiency (ELP) across four language domains: Listening, Speaking, Reading, and Writing. Some English learner (EL) students with disabilities may be unable to meaningfully participate in one or more language domain subtests due to the nature of their disability. In such cases, exemptions may be granted based on determinations made through students’ Individualized Education Program (IEP) or Section 504 Plans. If applicable, LEAs may submit a 2025-2026 Language Domain Preclusion Request for WIDA Annual Assessments to the Division for Exceptional Children by December 31.

Please share this information with the Assessment, Special Education, and ESOL Program leaders in your district.