Wade: The second week of session
The Georgia General Assembly resumed its work on Tuesday, Jan.19 for the second week of the 2021 legislative session, which is commonly known as “budget week.” The House and Senate Appropriations committees held a series of joint budget hearings this week, where Governor Brian Kemp delivered opening remarks and presented his formal recommendations for the amended budget and upcoming fiscal year budget. Later in the week, House Appropriations subcommittees quickly got to work to further examine the recommendations and requests for the current year’s amended budget.
I attended these budget hearings mostly virtually and it was still a busy week under the Gold Dome as we worked to ensure that critical state funds are spent wisely while our state continues on the road to economic recovery.
The Aspen Institute Education & Society Program and ExcelinEd have partnered to develop
Creating Conditions for Student Success: A Policymakers’ School Climate Playbook. The report contains real-world, proven school climate strategies along with a clear set of recommendations to guide policymakers in building a comprehensive and coherent state-wide approach for improving school climate.
In addition to the report, the following resources identify funding opportunities, policy considerations, and tools for state policymakers to communicate the value of school climate work: Federal Relief Funding to Build Healthy School Climates: Outlines opportunities and examples for state, district and school leaders to use Education Stabilization Funds to help schools innovate and improve the learning environment. is an at-a-glance reference for principals and leadership teams to quickly identify high-priority actions for both virtual and in-person settings.
Tennessee educators and parents call for fully funded remote learning to contain the pandemic
On Tuesday, Tennessee’s Republican Governor Bill Lee opened a special session of the Tennessee General Assembly by doubling down on his hard-line stance that all schools should be open for in-person instruction amid the deepening COVID-19 pandemic.
As hospitals reach capacity across the state and reputable scientists increasingly recognize that schools are major vectors for the spread of the virus, Lee stated provocatively, “Here’s the bottom line. You can’t say ‘follow the science’ and keep schools closed. You can’t say ‘I believe in public education’ and keep schools closed.”
Vermont s legislature adjusts to a new normal
The legislature convened remotely last week and seamlessly began its virtual session. While things are running smoothly technologically, lawmakers are operating under the pall of last week’s riot in the nation’s capital.
Rumors of State House rallies on January 17, and even darker activities planned for Inauguration Day on January 20, prompted a security briefing for legislators led by Department of Public Safety Commissioner Mike Schirling on Thursday afternoon. Working with the state police, DPS has been tracking threats through a multi-agency intelligence center leading up to the 2020 elections and has increased these efforts since last Wednesday. While there have been some general concerns in Vermont, Schirling said there have been no credible threats targeting individuals.
(The Center Square) – Georgia School Superintendent Richard Woods says more state funding is needed for mental health and support services in the state s schools.