State Schools Chief Proposes Lowering Testing Stakes For Students, Teachers

Georgia Schools Superintendent Richard Woods talks with U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos during a September discussion about school reopenings at Forsyth Central High School.

Credit: Ross Williams/Georgia Recorder

This unusual school year for Georgia students can be a time to restructure public schools in the state to be less data-driven in the future, said Superintendent Richard Woods.

"There is a 'normal' we should not and cannot go back to – a 'normal' of data points determining destiny, scores oversimplifying a student's worth, and blame and shame serving as the drivers of education reform," Woods said. "It's my hope that our collective efforts to choose compassion over compliance during this pandemic have underscored for all of us what is truly important."

Woods released a plan Monday afternoon outlining his aspirations for the future of Georgia public schools.

https://www.gpb.org/news/2020/10/20/state-schools-chief-proposes-lowering-testing-stakes-for-students-teachers