DCSS Legislative Priorities 2025

The Importance of a Legislative Agenda

A clearly defined legislative agenda is fundamental for the advancement of public education. It serves as a strategic roadmap, enabling school systems to proactively address critical needs such as equitable funding, policy reform, and resource allocation. Through strong leadership and dedicated advocacy, we can effectively communicate our priorities and the real-world impact of legislative decisions on our students and teachers. Building collaborative relationships and working closely with members of the legislature is essential to shaping an educational landscape that fosters excellence and provides every student with the opportunity to succeed.

Summary of Accomplishments

Graduation Rates: Topping 90% for the first time in district history, DCSS posted a higher graduation rate than the state average for the fourth consecutive year.
Literacy and Math Leaders: Eight district schools have been named Literacy and Math Leaders by the GaDOE.
Level Up Program: Over 100 families have earned marketable skills in Healthcare, Heavy Machinery Operation, and Phlebotomy.
Paid Internships: Provided more than 234 students with paid internships through our 4CA, CTAE, and Work-Based Learning Initiatives.
Degrees and Credentials: Graduated 124 students with an associate's degree or TCC, and 132 with an industry-recognized credential.

Legislative Scorecard

Priority	Proposed Action	Status
Teacher Pay Scale	Extend state teacher pay scale beyond step 21.	Achieved
Retiree Hiring	Expand HB 385 to include more content areas.	Achieved
Early Literacy Funding	Secure state support for High Quality Instructional Materials.	In Progress
QBE Poverty Weight	Add weight for economically disadvantaged students to QBE.	Under Review

The Priorities

Expansion of Pre-K

Increasing access to high-quality Pre-K directly impacts early literacy skills, kindergarten readiness, and future academic success, ensuring our young learners start on firm ground.

QBE Funding

Amending the QBE Formula to include funding for economically disadvantaged students is crucial for providing equitable resources and wraparound support for our most vulnerable learners.

State Health Benefits Plan

We advocate for a more reasonable, phased-in approach to healthcare cost increases and state-level discussions on sustainability to better allow districts to budget effectively.

Teacher Pipeline

To address shortages, we support expanding retiree hiring programs, extending the teacher pay scale for veterans, and developing affordable workforce housing to recruit and retain top talent.

Early Literacy Support

As literacy is our top priority, we seek the General Assembly's support in funding the High Quality Instructional Materials requirement of the Georgia Literacy Act, which poses a significant financial challenge for our district.