Georgia Department of Education Website
Data Requests & Contact

October 29, 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.

GaLEADS Cohort E Now Open for the 2027 to 2028 School Year

GaDOE is now accepting participation forms for GaLEADS Cohort E for the 2027 to 2028 school year. GaLEADS provides districts with a growth-centered approach to educator observations, with flexibility to plan implementation based on local needs and readiness. Cohort E districts will also benefit from resources, examples, support, and lessons learned through earlier GaLEADS cohorts. District leaders interested in joining Cohort E are encouraged to review the participation information and submit the GaLEADS Pilot Participation Form for Cohort E by January 31, 2027.

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.

FY26 Final Report: Student Mental/Behavioral Health Services Grant Due November 30

The Georgia General Assembly appropriated $20.1 million for the Student Mental/Behavioral Health Services Grant in FY26 and renewed funding in FY27. Requested in the budget, this report presents final FY26 and projected FY27 expenditures to inform the Georgia General Assembly’s FY28 budget development.

  • Additional Information: FY26 Final Report Submission
  • Contact: Tabathia Baldy, tabathia.baldy@doe.k12.ga.us
  • Deadline: November 30, 2026 at 11:59 p.m.

Innovative Learning Models: Cohort Two Informational Webinars & Application

Applications are now open for the second cohort of GaDOE’s Innovative Learning Models initiative, a partnership with the Institute for Self-Directed Learning that supports districts in designing new or redesigned school models that meet the needs of students and families.

To learn more about the initiative before applying, join us for one of three upcoming informational webinars: Monday, November 2 at 10 a.m.; Thursday, November 19 at 1 p.m.; or Thursday, December 10 at 2 p.m.

Unified Literacy Plans and Locally Approved Charter Schools

Districts should include all schools under their umbrella in their Unified Literacy Plans, including locally approved charter schools. However, there are some situations in which charter schools, because of their differences from other schools in the district, feel that the district plan does not provide sufficient detail to guide their work. Additionally, there are situations in which the charter boards want a plan specific to their charter schools even if they are authorized by the district. If a public charter coordinates with their authorizing district, the district plan meets the legislative requirement for the Unified Literacy Plan.

  • Contact: Amy Denty, amy.denty@doe.k12.ga.us

Impact of HB 1193 on Promotion and Retention

This document clarifies the impact of the Georgia Early Literacy Act of 2026 (House Bill 1193) on promotion and retention policies and practices in local school districts.

2026 Family & Community Engagement Showcase

November is Family Engagement Month, and GaDOE is excited to celebrate with our Second Annual Family and Community Engagement Showcase!

This live, virtual event will spotlight innovative activities, successful strategies, and meaningful partnerships from across Georgia that strengthen family and community engagement. Join us as districts, schools, and partners share inspiring practices that empower families to support student learning and success.

Be part of the celebration! Register today to discover new ideas, celebrate successes, and strengthen connections that make a difference for Georgia’s students and families.

  • Additional Information: Flyer
  • Contact: Mandi Griffin, mgriffin@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.

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.

Action Required: Designate Local Administrator for Enhanced Statewide Job Board

GaDOE, in partnership with the Georgia Professional Standards Commission (GaPSC), is developing an enhanced statewide job board. The Teach in the Peach/TeachGeorgia job board will provide a centralized, high-visibility hub for districts to post openings and vacancies, streamlining how we attract educator talent across the state.

​To ensure a seamless rollout, we need each district to designate a primary Point of Contact (POC).

​Responsibilities of the District POC:

  • ​Local Job Board Administrator: Manage and oversee the district’s job postings and vacancies on the new Teach in the Peach/TeachGeorgia job board.
  • GaDOE Liaison: Work directly with the state implementation team to field district-specific questions and facilitate onboarding.

Please complete the brief survey below no later than October 23 to identify the designated POC for your district. ​Thank you for your prompt attention and your continued partnership in supporting Georgia’s education workforce!

Reminder: Mandatory Assessment Training Requirements for System Test Coordinators

Superintendents are reminded to ensure that their System Test Coordinators (STCs) complete all mandatory assessment training requirements, as specified in the Assessment Training Schedule Memorandum provided on July 1. As outlined in the Student Assessment Handbook (SAH), STCs are required to participate in all applicable assessment trainings and review guidance related to assessment policy, test security, administration, and local monitoring (page 19).

STCs must complete all mandatory training before redelivery to School Test Coordinators (SchTCs) and before any test setup or assessment administration activities. Reminders have been sent to STCs who have not completed all mandatory training requirements. The Georgia Milestones Winter End-of-Course (EOC) test setup window opened Monday, October 19, 2026.

Reminder: Charter System and SWSS Annual Reports

Charter Systems and Strategic Waiver School Systems are required by law and contract to complete an annual report. An email was sent to superintendents on Wednesday, August 5 regarding this requirement. The deadline to submit the completed Annual Report to the Georgia Department of Education is Monday, November 2, 2026, by 11 p.m. If you did not receive the email, please reach out to flexibility@doe.k12.ga.us with your contact information and what school system you represent.

  • Contact: flexibility@doe.k12.ga.us
  • Deadline: November 2, 2026 at 11 p.m.

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!

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.