take action in clayton county

📊 Transparency & Accountability

Dyslexia Screening Implementation: In accordance with Senate Bill 48, CCPS has started implementing their dyslexia screening process. Review their full process and updates here.

• CCPS screens students in Kindergarten – 3rd grade three times per year
• 243 students have been identified as dyslexic thus far
• While the state funds only the screener, the district has invested in additional supports, including reading specialists.

FY26 Proposed Budget: The proposed general fund budget totals $741 million, with $728.7 million in projected revenue—leaving a $12.2 million deficit. The general fund budget accounts for 88% of the district’s total budget and covers all day to day operation expenses, including employee salaries, instructional supplies, utilities, and transportation. The tentative FY26 budget was adopted in a 7–1 vote allowing the board to move forward with revising the budget and holding public hearings. Review the full budget presentation here.

Key proposals include:

• Maintaining the 19.6 millage rate
• A $1,500 one-time payment to full-time employees ($9.9M cost)
• Launch of a Student Employment Services Division, supported by a $10 million dollar grant from Delta Airlines Foundation.
• The district’s total proposed budget, including all funds, is $1.49 billion

Budget Timeline:

• May 5: First Public Hearing was held
• May 27: Second Hearing (5:30 p.m.) & Final Adoption (6:00 p.m.)
• July/August: Millage Hearings (if required)
• August: Final Millage Rate Adoption

🏫 School Options & Access

Support for Tapestry Public Charter: Two Clayton County parents of children on the autism spectrum advocated for Tapestry’s approval to serve Clayton students, emphasizing its trauma-informed and inclusive approach for neurodiverse learners. Both parents shared their challenges with finding a public school in their community that meets the needs of their children and praised Tapestry’s small class sizes and holistic model as a much-needed alternative to traditional schools.

School Choice Policy Revisions: The district updated its policy language for school transfers to add clarity around parents’ responsibility to provide transportation if they opt into a choice program. Language was also added around behavioral, attendance, and performance expectations students must meet in order for school transfers to remain valid. Review all proposed revisions to the student based policies here.

⚖️ Equity

Staffing & Compensation Concerns: During public comment, a CCPS teacher advocated for the board to consider increasing teacher pay during the budget review process. He noted the district has over 500 staff vacancies and ranks 20th out of Georgia’s 30 largest school districts in starting teacher pay.

• Based on the personnel changes report presented during the board meeting, there are currently 389 teacher vacancies in the district with the highest vacancies in special education (58), elementary education (121), and secondary ELA (50).

Transparency & Accountability

CCRPI Scores: The district’s single CCRPI (College & Career Readiness Performance Index) score increased by 18.6 points, rising from 51.6 in 2023 to 70.2 in 2024. CCRPI is a state accountability tool that measures how well school districts are preparing students for college and career pathways. Review the district’s presentation here for a deeper dive into how CCRPI scores are calculated by the Governor’s Office of Student Achievement.

2024-2025 Winter MAP Assessment Results: The MAP (measures of academic progress) assessment measures achievement and growth in reading, language, math, science. Student performance on the assessment can be used to predict their performance on the Georgia Milestones End-of-Grade and End-of-Course assessments.

• 24% of students in grades 2-8 scored proficient or distinguished in math
• 26.8% of students in grades 2-8 scored proficient or distinguished in language arts
• Compared to 2023-2024 MAP results, the district experienced growth in proficient and above learners for K-8 math, language arts, and algebra.
• Access more details on CCPS’ MAP results here.

New Program Utilization Report Will be Available on District’s Website July 1
A new report will help CCPS track the effectiveness of academic programs, identify gaps, and guide data-driven decisions to improve outcomes for all students. Preview what this tool will entail here.

School Options & Access

STEM Education: Five additional CCPS schools—Tara Elementary, Forest Park Middle, Forest Park High, Morrow High, and Mundy’s Mill High—have earned Cognia STEM certifications, bringing the district’s total to 14 certified STEM schools. This recognition is awarded to schools that demonstrate a commitment to high standards and offer rigorous, comprehensive STEM programming.

Expanding School Options – Tapestry Public Charter: The Board heard passionate support for Tapestry Public Charter School, which is seeking approval from the Board to serve Clayton students. Parents, educators, and staff shared how Tapestry’s trauma-informed and inclusive practices benefit neurodiverse learners and foster student well-being.

Equity 

Summer Programming: The Department of Teaching & Learning presented a wide range of CCPS summer programs aimed at ensuring all students have access to free summer learning opportunities, including work training, fine arts, and college prep. Registration for some programs are now open. Access more details on CCPS’ summer program offerings and how to apply here. 

Federal executive orders: The district is closely monitoring federal executive orders that could impact CCPS policies, funding, and expenses. Amidst concerns from board members regarding negative impacts some executive orders may have on educational equity, district leaders affirmed that they remain committed to ensuring educational equity for all students. Review a summary of the executive orders and how they could impact CCPS here. 

Accountability & Transparency 

School year ‘25-’26 Calendar Discussion & Vote: The Board voted to accept the following 2025-2026 school year calendar. The vote was as follows:

• 6 Yes (Hill, Haney, Tellis Cooper, Straker, Baker)
• 1 Abstention (Williams)
• 2 No (Christmas, Goree)

District leaders shared that the calendar was developed with the intention to maximize professional learning days for teachers to enhance classroom instruction. Board member Goree raised concerns about potential calendar conflicts with other metro Atlanta schools, which could affect district employee attendance, and the need for more diverse stakeholder input. District leaders will convene a committee over the summer to develop calendars for the next two school years and present options to the Board in October 2025.

Policy Discussions & Vote: The Board reviewed recommended revisions to student-related policies on bullying, student hearing procedures, and medication provision. The Board will discuss the recommended revisions at the next board meeting. Notable revisions included:

1. Bullying: Revisions made to update the definition of cyberbullying to comply with state policy (SB 351). 
2. Student Hearing Procedures: Revised to align with state policy (SB 269) to ensure students are provided with appropriate grade-level instructional materials while awaiting completion of a discipline hearing.
3. Medication: Revised to align with Wesley’s Law, requiring schools to keep opioid antagonists on hand.

School Options & Access 

Tapestry Public Charter School: Three community members advocated for a partnership between CCPS and Tapestry Public Charter School to enhance special education services and provide more inclusive school environments for students with disabilities. Tapestry Public Charter School currently serves students in DeKalb and seeks to expand their school model to Clayton. Public commenters highlighted the need for more quality public school options in Clayton for students with disabilities. Additionally, Tapestry’s assistant principal shared how the school utilizes evidence-based practices, such as trauma-informed approaches and project-based learning, to serve both neurodivergent and neurotypical students. 

CCPS Virtual Learning Program: The application window for CCPS’ Virtual Learning Program will open from April 1 to April 30, 2025. Visit the virtual learning website here for more details on the application process. 

Take Action & Stay Informed

• Provide input on the future of CCPS by attending a district strategic planning community meeting on March 25 or March 27. 

• Share your input on CCPS’ “Portrait of a Graduate” by completing this CCPS survey

• Attend or watch CCPS school board meetings. For more information, visit CCPS’ website. 

• Follow CCPS’ Facebook page for daily district updates. 

Accountability & Transparency 

College and Career Readiness Performance Index (CCRPI) Summary: During the January 13 board meeting, a summary of CCRPI outcomes from 2019-2024 was presented to the board. Within the content mastery metric, which measures whether students are achieving at a level necessary to be prepared for the next grade, college, or career, CCPS scores significantly lagged behind state average scores across all grade levels. CCPS did experience growth in content mastery scores across all grade levels and subject areas from 2023 to 2024. However, content mastery scores are still lower than the district’s 2019 (pre-pandemic) scores. The board will do a deep dive of the data report to inform the district’s strategic plan, future budget allocation, and policies. Access the summary presentation here. 

• Note: CCRPI is Georgia’s school accountability tool. Learn more about the tool here.

Homestead Exemption Vote: The Board held two public hearings on the Homestead Exemption bill (HB 581) to inform community members about the bill’s impact on the district. The bill provides property tax relief to homeowners by capping annual increases in property values and offering local governments the option to opt in or out indefinitely. CCPS’ Department of Business Services explained how opting in to the exemption would decrease district funding because 40% of the district’s funding is from local property taxes. Several public commenters urged the board to opt in due to the tax burden property owners are feeling. 

• The Board unanimously voted to opt out of the homestead exemption.

Board Officer Election: The Board voted to elect Benjamin Straker as the new board chair and Mary Baker as the new board vice chair. The board chair facilitates school board meetings and sets meeting agendas, while the vice chair assists the chair with monitoring speaking orders and performs the chair’s duties if absent. Learn more about the nine elected CCPS school board members here. 

Board Policies Vote: The Board discussed three policies – facility naming, general public relations, and parental involvement policies. The Board agreed to table their vote on the facility naming policy after receiving new revisions. The Board voted to accept the public relations and parental involvement policies as presented. Policy reviews are a time when community members can provide input on policy revisions through public comment. See below for the full policies voted on by the Board. 

• Facility naming policy 
• Public relations policy 
• Parental involvement policy 

School Options & Access 

Magnet program application window: CCPS is accepting magnet program applications through March 1, 2025. A magnet application assistance day will be held on February 26, 2025 from 9:30 AM – 4:00 PM at the Sonna Singleton Gregory Senior Center, 3215 Anvil Block Road Ellenwood, GA 30294. Visit the magnet department website for more details. 

Equity

Free School Meals for All CCPS Students Continues: Nutrition services reported that the district was approved for a four year grant renewal that enables all students to receive free school meals. The community eligibility provision grant (CEP) on average saves households ​​$1,035 per child per year. Student well-being and academic outcomes are directly linked to nutrition; when students have access to healthy meals, they can better focus on learning. Access Nutrition Services’ full update here. 

Accountability & Transparency 

CCPS Foundation Financial Update: The CCPS Foundation serves as the district’s primary charitable partner. It operates as a separate entity from the district and is governed by a 17 member board of directors. Since electing its first executive director in September 2023, the Foundation presented its first financial update to the board during the Nov 18 work session. 

• The Foundation is currently in the process of facilitating operations for the district’s forthcoming convocation center, which is projected to generate $10-16 million per year through serving as a multipurpose venue. 85% of the generated revenue will go to CCPS and 15% will go to the Foundation.
• The Foundation’s main funding priority is student post-secondary scholarships and grants that align with the district’s strategic plan. 
• The Foundation’s proposed funding for the current school year amounts to $342,000 spread across schools/ teaching & learning, student support services/ community engagement, CTAE programs, fine arts, and professional learning. 

Board Policy Votes: The Board conducted their second read of three policy series that outline board powers and duties, board governance, terms, and lines of authority. The Board voted to accept the policies as presented. Policy reviews are a time when community members can provide input on policy revisions through public comment. See below for the full policies voted on by the Board. 

• Board powers and duties 
• Board governance 
• Lines of authority and staff relations

Teacher Vacancies Remain a Challenge: Teachers are the number one in school predictor of student success, which is why it is essential that schools have quality teachers. As of Nov 6, there were 86 teacher vacancies in the district. This is a slight increase from the previous month’s report of 76 vacancies. The majority of vacancies remain in special education and elementary education. Read the full human resources report here. 

The Nov. 4 school board meeting primarily served as a voting session to accept reports presented at the October 21 board work session. Board work sessions are typically when district updates are presented to the board along with discussions of policies and initiatives. Review our October 21 board work session summary on our action center. Aside from recognition and announcements shared, this month’s board meeting was relatively brief. 

Accountability & Transparency

Board Votes: The board unanimously voted to accept the Financial Report, SPLOST Revenue Report, Purchasing Report, SPLOST Construction Report, Capital Purchasing Report, and Personnel Changes Report as presented during the October 21 board work session. 

Community Voice: In order to form strong partnerships with families, it’s essential that leaders hear directly from their stakeholders and are responsive to their needs. One public commenter spoke at this month’s board meeting and highlighted the need for stronger and more inclusive family engagement at a CCPS school. The public commenter raised concerns around language barriers and lack of communication with families. Chairwoman, Jessie Goree, responded by commenting that a district leader would speak with the parent regarding her concerns. 

School Choice & Access

CCPS Magnet Application Window: Families can apply to CCPS’ magnet programs between Wednesday, November 1 – Friday, December 2 for the 2025-2026 school year. Application assistance is available in person on November 9, 9:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. and December 2, 2024,  9:30 a.m – 4:00 p.m. For more details visit CCPS’ school choice website. 

Take Action & Stay Informed

• Attend CCPS’ family engagement month events. More details can be found on this CCPS flier.  

• Attend or watch CCPS’ upcoming school board meetings on Monday, November 18 and Monday, December 2 at 6:00 p.m. For more information, visit CCPS’ website. 
• Follow CCPS’ Facebook page for daily district updates. 

Accountability & Transparency  

• 2024 Graduation Rates: CCPS’s 4-year high school graduation rate for 2024 was 83%, which represented a 1.9 percentage point increase from 2023. Some notable highlights include: 
  • Forest Park High School experienced the largest growth in graduation rates with a 6.8 percentage point increase from 2023. 
  • The 4-year graduation rate for English language learners was 79%, which is higher than the statewide rate of 70.5%.
  • The 4-year graduation rate for students with disabilities was 71.2%, compared to the statewide rate of 75.4% and represented a slight decrease from the previous year’s rate of 71.7%. 
• 2024 SAT and ACT Data: The ACT and SAT are tests utilized by most colleges as part of their application process to assess students’ reading, writing, and math skills. CCPS’ 2024 average composite ACT score was 17.5 compared to the state’s average of 21.2. The district’s 2024 average composite SAT score was 901 compared to the state’s average of 1030. In their process of analyzing SAT and ACT data, CCPS will identify contributing factors for schools that showed improvement in scores to apply these learnings across the district. 
  • Morrow High experienced the largest increase in ACT scores with a 4.4 point increase from 2023.
  • Stilwell School of Arts showed the most progress in SAT scores with a 35 point increase from 2023.
• Strategic Planning Process: CCPS is developing a new 5-year strategic plan for 2026-2031. This plan will outline the district’s vision, mission, goals, and the strategy for achieving their goals. The planning process will include training the Board of Education, district leaders, and principals on their roles and responsibilities in the planning process. An essential component of the process also involves engaging all community stakeholders through hosting four community engagement meetings beginning in January 2025. The district aims to have the strategic plan completed and approved by the Board by February 2026. 

School Choice & Access

CCPS Magnet Application Window: Families can apply to CCPS’ magnet programs between Wednesday, November 1 – Friday, December 2 for the 2025-2026 school year. Application assistance is available on November 1, 9:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. and November 9, 9:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. in person. For more details visit CCPS’ school choice website. 

Accountability & Transparency  

• Student Attendance Improvement Plan: The Department of Student Support Services shared an update on how the district is working to improve student attendance rates. The goal is to increase district-wide attendance from 92% to 97%. A 92% attendance rate is a “cause for concern” for the district because it equates to students missing 4 weeks of school or 100 lessons, which can significantly impact student achievement. 
• Systems of Support for Student Well-Being: An update around student wellness interventions was shared by CCPS’ Director of Behavioral Health and Well-Being, Dr. Cheri-Ann Taylor. Some highlights include: 
  • Georgia DOE grant funded college interns and partnerships to provide free therapy for referred students and families 
  • Wrap-around supports through CCPS’ four community school hubs and school-based health centers
  •  $245,000 Safer Schools Grant is being used to strengthen school leader capacity via crisis and de-escalation training and to enhance student and teacher focused digital resources for gang prevention, bullying, and mental health
• School Safety and Security: To ensure all schools are following emergency safety plans, CCPS will begin conducting safe school audits. Several school safety protocols were highlighted to reassure the community that CCPS is taking proactive measures to ensure the safety of students and staff. Some of these measures include equipping all school and district staff with a panic button for emergencies that alerts local law enforcement and school police, emergency response drills, locking all school exterior doors, and requiring school visitors to check in and provide identification. 

School Choice & Access

CCPS Magnet Application Window: Families can apply to CCPS’ magnet programs between Wednesday, November 1 – Friday, December 2 for the 2025-2026 school year. Application assistance is available on November 1, 9:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. and November 9, 9:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. in person. The location will be updated on CCPS’ website. 

School Choice Fair: Families can learn more about CCPS’ school choice options by attending the upcoming school choice fair on October 19, 2024, 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m at Morrow High School. More details can be found on CCPS’ school choice calendar.  

Take Action & Stay Informed

• Access previous school board meeting summaries and specific actions you can take to help strengthen public education for Clayton County’s students, by visiting redefinED’s Clayton Action Center here. 

• Attend or watch CCPS school board meetings. For more information, visit CCPS’ website. 
• Follow CCPS’ Facebook page for daily district updates. 

Accountability & Transparency  

• Youth Empowerment Services (YES) Program Updates: The Department of Student Discipline provided an overview of the YES program’s outcomes during the 2023-2024 school year. The YES program is a nine–week virtual behavior support program for secondary students that aims to reduce long-term suspensions. Learn more about the program and its outcomes here.
  • CCPS saw a 13% decrease in office referrals in middle and high schools as a result of the program
  • 178 students were referred to the program during the ’23-’24 school year 
• Teacher Vacancies: As of Aug. 12, 2024, CCPS has 160 teacher vacancies, according to the human resources report shared at the board meeting. The highest vacancies remain in special education, elementary education, and secondary math. Review the human resources updates here. 

• Board Finances & Budget: CCPS’ Division of Business Services, which oversees the district’s finances, presented the corrective action plan to address challenges highlighted in the fiscal year 2022 audit. The Board voted to accept the corrective action plan as presented. The plan includes new processes and the use of digital software. Learn more about the audit findings and corrective action plan here. 

Equity

Grading System: Updates on CCPS’ grading policy were shared with the board. The policies outlined aim to ensure fair, transparent, and consistent grading practices across the district. Read the grading policy summary here. 

School Choice & Access

School Choice Virtual Information Session: Register here to attend the CCPS school choice virtual information session on Saturday, September 14 to learn about school options that meet the needs of your student. 

Accountability & Transparency  

• Board Budget: During a special called board meeting on June 18, 2024, the BOE voted (7 – yes, 1 – no, 1- abstention) to accept the final fiscal year 2025 budget. The changes from the prior proposed budget include the following: 
  • $500 increase in the certified personnel salary schedule 
  • Attendance incentive/reward to also include certified personnel and classified staff below pay grade 30
  • $1,500 fall break incentive for paraprofessionals
  • $500 spring break appreciation incentive for certified personnel and classified staff below pay grade 30 
  • Read the executive summary for the final adopted budget here
  • See the revised budget here to compare the changes made in the final budget

• Superintendent Contract: During the June 24 board meeting and work session, the BOE voted unanimously to extend Superintendent Smith’s contract by two years through the end of the 2026-2027 school year. 
• Teacher Vacancies: As of June 7, 2024, teacher vacancies continue to hover at 500 with the largest vacancies in special education (97), elementary education (151), secondary language arts (40), and secondary math (53). Between May 10 – June 5, 325 teachers resigned. Read the human resources report here. 
  • The districts’ chief human resources officer noted that the HR department is in the process of developing a teacher retention plan that will involve increasing teacher voice in response to exit survey feedback. 

Equity

• Clayton Reads to Succeed Campaign: CCPS launched a summer reading campaign to promote literacy and support students, caregivers, and teachers with a successful return to school. According to the campaign’s first newsletter, 50% of CCPS students read below grade level. The campaign provides free tools and resources to families and students via the Clayton County Library System. For more details, access the links below. 
  • Clayton Reads Newsletter 
  • Summer reading resources

Accountability & Transparency  

• Board Budget: The Department of Business Services shared a proposed fiscal year 2025 budget during the board work session and then a revised budget at the board meeting, which took into account feedback from the budget hearing sessions. Read the original proposed budget here and the revised budget here. The revised budget includes the following: 
  • Teacher salary increase of $2,500 (state-funded) + $500 (CCPS funded) + one- step increase + mid-year $1K salary increase in Jan ‘25 + bonus incentives throughout the year
    • Average teacher salary increase = 4- 8%; with incentives = 10-14% 
  • New positions: academic coaches (11), early literacy intervention (5) – state mandate for dyslexia, high need SpEd paraprofessional supplement -$3k/ year, homeless position (1)
  • ESSER (COVID relief funding) funded roles – propose maintaining student engagement specialists, 3 ESOL instructional specialists, 1 data clerk, 1 social worker, 1 MTSS lead, 2 student behavior health specialists, homeless education specialist
  •  Total budget for all funds = $1,306,110,536

• Teacher Vacancies: The Department of Human Resources report revealed that teacher vacancies in the district have increased from last month to reach 500 vacancies. The largest vacancies are in special education (100), elementary education (155),  secondary science (45), and secondary math (43). Read the human resources report here. 
  • Board members discussed ways the district should consider filling these vacancies, including potentially expanding contracts with third-party teacher hiring companies, such as Interlodge and Teach for America, and recruiting retired teachers. Superintendent Smith also shared that his team is considering recruiting teachers from other states who’ve been laid off and will ask the board to consider approving funding for relocation packages. 
• Policy series I First Read: The board had its first review of the revisions made to policy series I, which includes policies and regulations governing grading systems, graduation requirements, curriculum development, curriculum research, and electronic communications. Review the proposed revisions to the I policies here and I regulations here. 
  • The board invites community members to share their input on the policies by submitting feedback online or speaking during public comment at the next board meeting on June 24. 
  • To submit feedback online, click here, then click on the yellow highlighted policies, and scroll to the bottom. 

Equity

• Summer Learning Opportunities: The Department of Teaching & Learning shared updates about CCPS summer program enrollment numbers, highlighting that 4,000+ students have enrolled in their free summer programs. Board member Sabrina Hill asked how students from different subgroups were being served. Dr. Young confirmed that their department made a big push to enroll students with disabilities and English language learners in programs and these subgroups are represented amongst enrollment numbers. 
  • CCPS summer programs run from June 3 – June 27 

Access & School Options

• Charter school petition vote: The Board voted to deny the Wright Community School, a proposed charter school that would serve middle and high school students in Clayton County.  
  • Board members Mark Christmas, Victoria Williams, Sabrina Hill, Joy Tellis Cooper, and Benjamin Straker voted to deny the approval. 
  • Board chair Jessie Goree voted for approval and Dr. Dee Haney abstained.

Accountability & Transparency  

• MAP Data: The Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) assessment is administered three times during the school year and is used to measure student progress in reading, language usage, and math. Read the summary report here to learn more. 
  • Spring 2024 MAP data shows student growth in math and reading exceeded the projected growth between the winter and spring MAP tests. 
  • The projected proficiency summary report (included in the link above), which predicts student performance on Georgia Milestones Assessment (GMAS) based on MAP data, reveals that the overwhelming majority of CCPS students fall within the beginning and developing learner bands.
• Board Budget: The board tentatively agreed to accept the fiscal year 2025 budget. During the next month, the board will work to finalize the budget with input from the community. Stakeholders can provide their input on the budget by attending budget hearings on Tuesday, May 28, at 5:30 p.m. and Monday, June 3, at 11:00 a.m. Review changes to CCPS’ budget in the proposed budget here.  
• Teacher Vacancies: Teacher vacancies continue to be a challenge for the district. The Department of Human Resources update highlighted that as of April 15, the district has 323 teacher vacancies, with the majority of vacancies being in elementary education (86) and special education (71). Read the human resources report here. 
• Parent Survey: The deadline to complete the Georgia Department of Education’s annual parent satisfaction survey for parents of students with disabilities is May 29, 2024. The survey is confidential and helps the district improve special education. Click here to access the survey. 

Equity

• Summer Learning Opportunities: CCPS offers an array of summer learning programs, with some tailored to meet the unique needs of different student populations, including exceptional students and English language learners. Learn more about CCPS’ summer learning offerings here.

Access & School Options

• Proposed charter school: The board received information about a new proposed charter high school, The Wright Community School. The board will vote to either deny or accept their petition to be a district charter school at the next board work session on May 28. 
  • Two representatives from The Wright Community School spoke during public comment and highlighted some of the school’s unique aspects, including its community co-design model, mentoring program, and focus on exposure to college and career pathways. 
  • Learn more about The Wright Community School here.