Since taking office in 2003, Governor Sonny Perdue has made improving public education in Georgia one of his top priorities. He focuses on initiatives with potential to improve student achievement, raise SAT scores, lower dropout rates, and consistently grow students' skills in reading, writing, and math. Under his leadership, the state of Georgia has made impressive gains in public education. His major initiatives are highlighted below.

Georgia's "Tough Choices or Tough Times" Working Group

In July 2008, Governor Sonny Perdue announced the appointment of a working group tasked with investigating innovative ways to create long-term, comprehensive education reform to make Georgia more globally competitive. This working group, chaired by Dr. Charles Knapp and Dean Alford, will build off the work of the Investing in Educational Excellence (IE2) Task Force and review a provocative national report called Tough Choices or Tough Times to determine how Georgia might reform its education policies and practices to cause needed change for its educational system.

Graduation Coaches

In 2006, Governor Perdue championed an initiative placing a graduation coach in each of Georgia's high schools. Each coach strives to identify and work with at-risk students and help them stay on track to graduate. Graduation coaches also identify, recruit and engage concerned organizations and agencies to serve in a variety of education support roles. It is no surprise then that in 2007, Georgia posted its highest high school graduation rate, 72.3%, in the state's history. Governor Perdue built on this momentum by placing graduation coaches in each of Georgia's middle schools in the fall of 2007.

Community Coaches

Governor Perdue recognizes that it quite literally takes a community to improve public education. In January 2007, he challenged Georgia's business community to support his goal of raising the state's high school graduation rate. Just four months later, 348 Community Coaches were in place, meaning that a staggering 94.6 percent of high school graduation coaches have been paired with a business community partner to help fulfill their mission of helping students graduate from high school.

Investing in Educational Excellence

In August 2004, Governor Perdue appointed the Education Finance Task Force to review the current Quality Basic Education (QBE) funding formula and devise a new framework for financing schools in the future. The Governor charged the Task Force with two critical initiatives: 1) think in terms of investing in children rather than funding education; and 2) stop thinking about basic and instead aim for excellence. Therefore, the Task Force's efforts are known as IE2: Investing in Educational Excellence. For more information on the Governor's Education Finance Task Force and a complete list of members and subcommittees, please visit the IE2 website.

Master Teachers

The 2005 Georgia General Assembly passed legislation that authorizes the Professional Standards Commission (GaPSC) to establish the Georgia Master Teacher Certification Program. The Program's purpose is to provide statewide recognition to Georgia public school certified teachers who consistently demonstrate excellence in the classroom that is linked to gains in student achievement. For more information, please visit GeorgiaMasterTeachers.org.

Professional Liability Coverage

Through Senate Bill 34, certified educators are eligible for free professional liability coverage provided by the State of Georgia. This professional liability policy insures certified personnel employed by all local public school systems and student teachers teaching in public school systems against damages arising out of the performance of their duties. The policy provides primary coverage of up to $1 million in liability coverage and is in addition to other policies certified personnel may hold. Because the State of Georgia pays for this insurance, there is no cost to certified personnel and student teachers who are automatically covered. Certified personnel may obtain a copy of the policy from the website of Department of Administrative Services (the state agency responsible for administering the insurance program).