UpdatedThu, Jan 14, 2021 at 2:10 pm ET
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The state of Georgia plans to provide a bonus payment to every public-school teacher and school staff member. (Shutterstock)
GEORGIA Gov. Brian Kemp and State Superintendent Richard Woods plan to provide a one-time, $1,000 bonus payment to every K-12 public-school teacher and school-level staff member in the state.
The bonus payments are intended for all school-level staff in Georgia s K-12 public schools, including teachers, paraprofessionals, school counselors, school psychologists, school nurses, custodians, bus drivers, school nutrition staff, media specialists, clerical staff and administrative assistants, school principals, assistant principals, instructional coaches, therapists, etc. The funds will be allocated to school districts and must be spent on the bonus payments. Woods will officially recommend the allocation for approval at the state board of education s Feb. 18 meeting.
Full text of Gov. Brian Kemp s 2021 state of the state address
ATLANTA Here is the text of Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp s State of the State address as prepared Thursday:
Lieutenant Governor Duncan, Speaker Ralston, Speaker Pro Tem Jones, members of the General Assembly, Chief Justice Melton, Chief Judge McFadden, and my fellow Georgians:
In my first State of the State address, I talked about building on a sure foundation. We applauded the leadership of Governors Perdue and Deal who guided our state through difficult storms. I extended my gratitude to the Georgia General Assembly, who helped pour the concrete with key investments in education and economic development.
ATLANTA â Georgia K-12 public schools have the option not to count year-end tests toward studentsâ final grades this year due to schooling hardships from the COVID-19 pandemic following a vote by the state Board of Education.
State law requires scores on the annual Georgia Milestones tests to account for 20% of the cumulative grades for most of the stateâs public school students, from the third grade up to their senior year.
But this year, the Milestones scores can be counted essentially zero after State School Superintendent Richard Woods won approval for his proposal to water down the tests so students and teachers can have some relief as they continue working through challenges related to the virus.