Accountability
- Guardrail 4.1 (Student Outcomes Focused Governance):
- Reduce Tier 2 (TSI) and Tier 3 (CSI/ATSI) schools from 37.5% in Dec 2022 to 27.5% by Dec 2024.
- Multiple schools, including Toomer Elementary, Deerwood Academy, and Boyd Elementary, have been removed from support lists due to improved performance.
- Support Strategies: District Plan of Support, monthly monitoring with GaDOE, and targeted instructional support.
- Financial Accountability (FY2025 Overview):
- Revenue: $868.73M collected (72.43% of budget).
- Expenditures: $473.57M spent (37.08% of budget).
- Federal Program Spending: Title I, Part A ($5.96M), Title II, Part A ($615K).
Key Questions:
- Board members asked about specific support for ATSI schools and instructional staff as well as staffing for speech, language and psychology services.
Equity
- Equity Commitments: Focus on systemic change, data-driven decision-making, and collaboration for measurable outcomes.
- Key Actions:
- Address disparities in academic and disciplinary outcomes.
- Develop a Biennial Equity Plan.
- Stakeholder Engagement: Input from the Equity Advisory Committee, Senior Leadership, and APS Board.
Key Questions:
- Board members asked about how the updated equity commitments will live in the upcoming strategic plan.
- There was also concern around the progress on discipline and AP course equity.
Access & School Options
Homestead Exemption (H.B. 581):
- Caps property value increases at inflation.
- APS must decide whether to opt-in or opt-out.
- Pros: Targeted relief, predictability.
- Cons: Revenue constraints, limited flexibility.
Public Comment Themes:
- Mental health plans for students.
- Improved IEP documentation access.
- Enhanced social-emotional learning programs.
- Strengthened partnerships with parent groups.
Community Engagement Opportunities
- Public Hearings: Scheduled for February 2025.
- Resolution Deadline: March 1, 2025.
- Community Feedback: Calls for better mental health strategies, increased family engagement, and transparent partnerships.
Next Steps
- Finalize Biennial Equity Plan.
- Monitor progress on Guardrail 4.1 goals.
- Public hearing schedule for Homestead Exemption decision.
- Continued financial oversight and preparation for the FY2026 Budget Development Process.
📣 Stay Informed & Take Action!
- Visit the official board website: https://www.atlantapublicschools.us/Domain/3944
- Schedule a meeting with our APS Community Engagement Team: https://calendly.com/dthompson-29/30min