GaDOE continues efforts to locate and support rural students who have disengaged from school during pandemic

The Georgia Department of Education is continuing its statewide effort to assist school districts with locating and supporting students who have disengaged from school due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The GaDOE, in continued partnership with Graduation Alliance, has dedicated $5 million in ESSER COVID-19 relief funds to the location, engagement, and individual support of up to 50,0000 students in rural areas who have disengaged from school or are chronically absent due to COVID-related school disruptions, who are in danger of failing one or more classes, or whose families have requested additional support.

“We must not overlook students who need our support as we continue to recover from the effects of the pandemic,” State School Superintendent Richard Woods said. “School closures, quarantines, and varying instructional models caused some students and families to disengage from their education. Continuation of this project allows us to maintain and expand our work in collaboration with Georgia school districts to locate these students and extend needed support.”

While the Franklin County School System is not participating in the GDOE effort, Assistant Superintendent of Teaching & Learning Melanie Burton-Brown told the Franklin County School Board last week that they are using part of the system’s ESSER funds to reach students who have been struggling or falling behind due to the pandemic.

Of the $7.7 million in COVID ESSER funds allocated to the Franklin County School system just over $1.5 million, she said, has been allocated to learning loss over a three-year period.  Other budgeted funding according to Burton-Brown is $1.4 million which is going to Student Services and Supports.

Burton-Brown told the Board that the school system is also paying for failing or struggling high school students to take classes at the Foothills Education High School in order to help them catch up. Each course, she said, is $100. Those grades are then transferred back to their high school records.

During the 2021-2022 school year, the State Board of Education worked with 18,830 students and supplied districts with key actionable data insights including providing referral information for students facing housing insecurity and transportation issues, among other challenges.