Governor Perdue Unveils Education Agenda at Eggs and Issues Breakfast

Governor Perdue Unveils Education Agenda at Eggs and Issues Breakfast

Teachers to Receive Four Percent Pay Raise
More than Half of all Teachers to Receive Seven Percent Raise
Class Size Reductions for Grades K-8
$383 Million for Classroom Construction
$21 Million for a High School Completion Counselor in Every High School

ATLANTA – Governor Sonny Perdue spoke today at the annual Eggs and Issues Breakfast. He outlined the impact a growing economy is having on the state budget and his priorities for Georgia, and particularly his top priority – education.

Fiscal Year 2007 will see an increase in revenue of $1.24 billion over Fiscal Year 2006. Governor Perdue is committed to spending 72 percent of this increase on his aggressive education agenda for the 2006 General Assembly.

“I’ve made listening to our classroom teachers an essential component of my approach to education. Again and again, teachers have told me they want two things – support and respect,” said Governor Sonny Perdue. “Teachers need support in the form of the resources they need to create a quality learning environment for their students. And they need respect for the hard work they do and the commitment they bring to preparing Georgia’s next generation for their adult roles in society.

Hard-working Teachers to Receive Four Percent Pay Raise

Governor Perdue’s education budget includes $217 million for a four percent pay raise for teachers without any increase in health insurance premiums. The state will cover the entire increase in health care with no employee premium increases, a cost of $138 million.

“Next to having parents involved in their children’s education, the single best thing we can do for our students is to keep dedicated and experienced teachers in the classroom,” said Governor Perdue. “We should honor our teachers and reward their service. This is why my 2007 budget includes a well-deserved four percent pay raise for all teachers.”

With added salary step increases and other adjustments, more than half of all teachers will receive an overall pay raise of seven percent. This year’s four percent pay raise for teachers follows two consecutive years of two percent pay raises.

Reduction in Class Sizes to Improve Student Achievement

Under Governor Perdue’s Truth in Class Size program, parents and teachers will see smaller class sizes in grades K-8 beginning next year. Class size affects the quality of instruction teachers are able to provide. Smaller classes allow teachers to provide more individualized attention to their students. Reduced class size also allows for more disciplined classrooms so that teachers can focus on teaching, not crowd control.

“In the area of support and resources, one request I have heard continuously from teachers is to reduce class sizes. Thankfully our improved economy and increasing state resources provide us the opportunity to enact class size reductions for kindergarten through eighth grade,” said Governor Perdue.

Beginning next school year, parents and teachers can expect no more than 18 students in a kindergarten class, down from a maximum of 20 in the past. For grades 1-3, parents and teachers can expect no more than 21 students in a class, down from 23. In grades 4-8, individual class sizes will be reduced by four students to a maximum class size of 28 students. The Governor’s budget provides $163 million in formula funding to cover the associated costs.

$447 Million in Bonds for Education Infrastructure

With a growing student population and class size reductions, Georgia school systems require additional classroom space. Governor Perdue’s budget includes $383 million in bonds to support the construction of classrooms across Georgia and help local school systems meet the class size reductions.

“It doesn’t take a mathematician to know that with growing student populations and a reduction in class sizes that we’ll need more classrooms,” said Governor Sonny Perdue. “$383 million in school construction bonds will help local school districts provide additional classroom space to help reach our class size requirements.”

The Governor’s budget also includes $50 million in bonds for new buses and an additional $14 million for new technical and vocational equipment.

Graduate Georgia! Plan to Place High School Completion Counselor in Every High School

Nearly 40 percent of Georgia students drop out of high school before earning their diplomas. The cornerstone of Governor Perdue’s Graduate Georgia! plan is to increase high school graduation rates by placing a High School Completion Counselor in every high school in Georgia ($21 million).

“Along with improving classroom results, it is also time for us to focus on keeping more students in the classroom until graduation,” said Governor Perdue. “Finishing high school, going to college and finding that first job are doors of opportunity that every young Georgian should be able to pass through.”

The completion counselor will work with teachers, administrators and at-risk students to set goals, create an achievement plan, and serve as coaches and mentors, guiding the way to graduation.

To support the Governor’s Graduate Georgia! plan, the Georgia Department of Education is working with the Georgia Department of Technical and Adult Education and the Commission for a New Georgia to create career interest ladders matching Georgia’s strategic industries. This approach will help disaffected students better see how their schoolwork is relevant to potential career paths.