STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION DR. CLAUDE PURCELL, Executive Officer Honorable H. W. Blount, Waynesboro 1st District Honorable William T. Bodenhamer, Ty Ty .. . 2nd District Honorable Clarke W. Duncan, Buena Vista ... . ..3rd District Honorable James S. Peters, Manchester-Vice Chairman .. 4th District Honorable George P. Whitman, Jr., College Park, Chairman. 5th District Honorable Francis Shurling, Wrightsville ... 6th District Honorable Henry Stewart, Cedartown 7th District Honorable Lonnie E. Sweat, Blackshear 8th District Mrs. Bruce Schaefer, Toccoa 9th District Mrs. Julius Y. Talmadge, Athens ..10th District Together we work to make Georgia a state where great-hearted men and women have illumined minds, intellectual curiosity, the ability to appreciate and use the miracles of modern technology, an active concern with the problems of democracy, and the integrity of character that will make of them good citizens of their communities, their state, their nation, and their world. Bulletin of Office of Public Information State Department of Education Atlanta, Georgia State Superintendent of Schools DR. CLAUDE PURCELL " . . . Georgia's most vital concem is to see that its children get quality education." -- A message from the State Superintendent of Schools: "Our biggest job in Georgia today is to educate our children. "They have been born into a complicated world full of terrors and tensions, but also bright with the possibilities of being the best world we have ever known. Modern scientific and artistic achievements seem like miracles. We must give our children the education that will help them understand, use, and add to these resources. The future depends on our doing this. "Democracy demands enlightened minds. People who govern themselves must know how to govern well. They must think clearly, feel deeply, act wisely. "Our educational system is solidly based on the belief that local people should be in charge of it. Professional educators and the public should be partners in it. "There are nearly a million children in our schools now. Another baby is born in Georgia every 5 minutes-more than a hundred thousand a year. To educate each to his full ability is our Unfinished Business. "Let us look at our schools, and consider what we are teaching and what the children are learning. Let us think on these things and hold fast to that which is good. Quality education in every classroom is our goal. Good teachers, good administrators-and a helpful, interested publicwill bring this about. "We cannot do it a~ well without you. "Ask questions. Get answers. Be informed. The more you know about your schools, the more clearly you will see how far they have come, and the better you can help us in seeing that every ehild in Georgia gets his chance to be an educated, useful, happy person." Every man has a right to his own opinion, but no man has a right to be wrong in his /acts.-HoITTles \ I~ GENERAL Who runs the schools? The local citizens, through their local boards of education. What are the main boards or departments in Georgia officially concerned with education? The State Board of Education is the policy making group for the public schools. The State Department of Education carries out the administration of these state regulations and di burses money for the public chools. The Board of Regents is concerned with higher education throughout the University System. The Tcacher Retirement System handles thc retirement funds for teachers of both systems, the public schools and the University. The State School Building Authority is concerned with making it possible for local school systems to build enough public schools for the children of Georgia. How many school systems are there in Georgia? 199 (1 in each of the 159 counties, and 40 independent systems. The law prohibits the creation of any more independent systems.) How many public schools do we have? There are 2,177 schools in Georgia. (1,362 white and 815 egro) There are 575 four year high schools. Of these, 363 are white and 212 are Negro. How many children are enrolled in the schools of Georgia? early a million; 969.000 were expected to be on the rolls for the 1957-58 term when all the records were m. What does it cost to run the schools? A million dollars a day. The 1957-58 budget for the 180 day school year is 180 million: 140 in sta te and federal funds and 40 more in local funds. How many teachers? 11,000-84% wi th college degrees. Of what practical value is education? It raises the tandard of living. An official in Washington said, "A good share of the credit for American productivity must go to our schools and college ." A rise of I year in the median years of schooling rai cs per capita income about $75. If the edueationallevel of the U. S. could be raised by just one year, our income would increase by 12 billion. In Georgia, our income would ri e by $275 million if our people generally had one more year's education. Research shows that a high school graduate can expect to make $50,000 more during his adult earning years than a nongraduate; a college graduate $100,000 more. Is there anywhere that a citizen can get a copy of all the lows that concern schools in Georgia? Yes. The State Departmcnt of Education and the Attorney General's Office cooperate periodically to compile the e school laws. Each superintendent and board has a copy. Inquire about thf'se at the local school office or the State Department of Education. Has not this been a remarkable time of building in the world of education? Yes, indeed. In addition to our own multi-million dollar schoolhouse construction program, Georgians have recently had a part in the building of state and national headquarters for the Georgia Education As ociation, the National Education Association, the Georgia PTA, and thc national PTA. Are more children going to school in the U. S. now? Yes. Enrollments ha e been increasing at the rate of a million a year. This year, they arc up one and a quartcr million. There are now 33,508814 2 children in U. S. public elementary and high schools. This is 40% more than 10 years ago. How much has state support of schools increased in Georgia? The school budget in 1933-34 was six million. In 1957-58, it was one hundred and forty million. During the past ten years, local school revenues have doubled, and state and local revenues have increased fourfold. What is the proportion of local, state and federal financing of public schools? In Georgia, 24% local, 72% state, and 4% federal. In U. S. 57% local, 390/< state and 4% federal. nearly a million In /2 grades ( ,/ ) ,/ .C;, I _I " .. willingly to school" 3 - Education is more powerful than I1tom bombs. ,, 0,, ADMINISTRATI E PERSO EL State What does the Governor have to do with the schools? He approves legislative acts. (including appropriation bills) which affect schools. He approves annual and quarterly budgets presented by the State Department of Education for schools. Unlimited authority is vested in him to transfer public to private schools, and to suspend the compulsory school attendan e law. As dire tor of the budget, he may grant additional funds. He appoints members of the State Board of Education. What does the General Assembly have to do with schools? They create the school systems. Local systems, State Board of Education and State Department of Education have only such authority as is vested in them by the Legislature (except that granted by the Constitution.) They pass all school legi lation, make appropriations of money to run the schools and have two continuing committees--one in the Senate and one in the House-who consider bills and look into various phases of education. They also have special committees sometime as for instance, those considering the driver training, area trade school, or junior college proposals. (If you wish the names of the legislative committees on education at any time, write the State Department of Education. ) 4 At mid-century, evidence shows that America's firm belief in boards of education has been steadily strengthened.-U. S. Office of Education. STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION Who makes up the State Board of Education? Ten men and women. One from each Congressional District. (For names of current Board, see list in front of book.) Who chooses the members of the State Board? The Governor, with the consent of the Senate, names one man or woman from each of the Congressional Di tricts for terms of 7 years each. They must have resided in Georgia for at least 5 years. (Georgia Code 2-6501.) He cannot appoint a professional educator or anyone connected with a school book publishing firm. The Governor himself is not a member of the boarel. When and where does the State Board meet? Usual1y on the 2nd Monday of each month at the State Department of Education in Atlanta. Meetings are open to the public and the press. What are their duties? They adopt policies, approve the budget, teacher al1otment, school curriculum, and hear appeals from local boards, etc. They exercise the legislative and judicial functions of the State School System. What are they paid? $20 per day, plus expenses of travel, meals, lodging, etc. for the time spent attending to school business. 5 State Superintendent of Schools How is the State Superintendent of Schools chosen? Elected by the people every four years (at the same time the Governor is elected.) The Governor can fill a vacancy by appointment. What qualifications must the State Superintendent have? Good moral character, high educational standing, at least three years of practical experience as teacher or a diploma from college or normal school, or five years actual supervision of schools. What is his salary? In 1957, it was $1,018.36 a month. Is he under bond? Yes. State Department of Education How is the State Deportment of Education organized? Like this: STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION D", GlorC). P. Whitm,". J,.. Ch.;,,,,," STATE SUPERINTENOfNT OF SCHOOLS EMERITUS D., M a.Collin, I I STATE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS Dr. CI~\ld. Purcell ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT Dr. C. S. Hllbb.rd r NEGRO EDUCATION I C.lltr.1 Ac.coullti"9 1'",0"",1 '"'o,,,,,tiol'l Offic.S.,... ic.\ Phollu M.;I, ,'c. r FiElD SERVICES (Ind"'din9 f-------~ ,,,,rpluiprop.,ti"l I w. E.P.flotd Dir,do. COORDINATING COMMITTEE 51,1, School Sup.rill',nd,"' S"l, School Sup.rolll,"d,." Em.,itu, Aui,t.". St.~. School Sup.,inhnd.nl Oi..i,;on Dir,cto" ADMINISTRATION AUen C. Smith Direc:tor Minimum Found, tion Progt,m of Eduutiol'l 1.lIolm.nh.nd p.ym.nhl T"nlporf,t,on Vi,iting Tueh., S . r .. i e . I.tf.nd.tle nd c:en,u,1 School Pl,nt R " reh IBM, INSTRUCTION H. S. ShurOl,oI$e Director Curric:ulum O....lopm.nt Guid.nc:e,nd T.1Iing Sup.... of In,truC:lion ,tid E1.m, Ed. Prol)r.m for Ele.pliol'l.1 Child"tI T..eh., Edu. Tueh.re,,., INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS Z,de Kenimer Dinctor T lbooh Libr,ri.~ "hool public: Libr.ry for Ih. Bli ... d AudioVi,u.1 Aid, VOCATIONAL EDUCATION VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION G.org. I. M,r,in A. P. J'rrell Dir.ctor Dir.ctor Agric:ultuft Ed. Hom.m,.ing Ed. r.d. 'nd Indu~tri.1 Ed. Di,ributi... Eduution Bu'in,,' Eduution I Including Voe.tion,1 Off;CI r.initlgl Voulion,l R.h,bili. I'lion S.,.,.iu~ Di"bilily Oet.rmi. n.I,on Unit IO.A.S.1.I G.org', School for '.D..f G.orl)i. Aud.my for the Blind School lunch ,tid Food Oi,it. 6 Where is the State Department of Education? It is on Mitchell Street, just aeross the street from the State Capitol, and on the next block to the Atlanta City Hall. The phone number is MUrray 8-2390. When is it open? Mondays through Fridays, from 8: 15 a. m. to 5 p. m., rxeept on legal holidays. What is an "Area Representative" of the Deportment? A staff member who is located out in some area of the state, for the convenience of the local school superintendents and boards. He helps them with problems throughout the year so that they do not have to come all the way to Atlanta when they need help. Where are they located? At Waycross, Ochlochnce, Thorn on, Zebulon, Calhoun, Gainesville, State boro Americus, Atlanta. What other field stoff members are there? Staff members working in vocational education, \'ocational rehabili ta tion, libraries, audio-visual, school lunch surplus commodities distribution, and staff members located at certain colleges to aid in teacher training programs. Beside. this, staff members from the Atlanta office arc constantly going out into the field on request, to give consultative services. Does the Deportment have any role besides supervisory and leadership? Yes. The Department actually operates four schools: The forth Georgia Trade School at Clarkesville, the South Georgia Trade School at Americus, the Schools for the Deaf at Cave Spring, and the Academics for the Blind at Maton. 7 Boards of education are one of America's greatest contributions to the science of public administration. They are representative of thl' rleT"'()rr-rv in which we live . . . THE STATE AND EDUCATION. ,\ LOCAL BOARD OF ED CATION Who lelect. the board. of education in the local .chool .yltem? This varies. Generally, in the county systems the Grand Jury appoints five. Each is appointed for a five year term. The terms are staggered so that one is appointed each year. In about twenty county systems, constitutional amendments provide for the board members to be elected by the people. There are still other ways of choosing the board members. Bibb county's board is self-perpetuating. The Board itself names its new members, who serve until they resign or die. In Chatham county, the county commissioners appoint six members of the board of education, and the City Council appoints six. In Dougherty county, the board has 7 members; 2 are named by the Grand Jury, 2 by the City Council, and 2 by the County Commissioners. These 6 choose a 7th. In city systems the boards are either elected by the people or appointed by the City Council. When, where and how often doe. the local board meet? A monthly meeting is held at the county seat. The date of the regular meeting must be between the first and fifteenth of the month. If date is changed, this must be advertised. The law requires the meetings to be open to the public. What i. the general opinion of school boards? The U. S. Office of Education bulletin titled The State and Education, says, "Boards of education 8 are one of America's greatest contributions to the science of public administration. They are representative of the democracy in which we live. The firm belief of the American people in boards of education has been steadily strengthened through experience for over 150 years. At the middle of the 20th century, evidence shows that the people have accepted boards as the policy-making agencies for education in the U. S." II the local superintendent a member of the board? No. He is their executive officer. Can the board hire a teacher not recommended by the superintendent? Yes. By a 4/5 vote of the board. But it rarely happens. What are local board members paid? A 1957 law allows a per diem payment not to exceed $10 for each day's actual service. If a citizen is not satisfied with a local board's decision, what can he do? Appeal to State Board. How is this done? The appeal must be made in writing through the local superintendent, to the State Superintendent. It must set forth the facts and the question of law involved. The State Board provides for notice to the opposing side, and for a hearing on the appeal. (See Acts 1937, p. 864). Should the local board have a set of policies in writing? Yes indeed it should. "Understanding prevents misunderstanding." The public can better understand board. policies if they are in writing and available. / / / . . . put them in writing 9 "More peopLe are invoLved in studying school problems in Georgia than ever before. More citizens want to help lhe schools do a good job." -A Georgia Superintendent x:: -b~ Local System Superintendent of Schools Hew ia the local achool superintendent chosen? In most counties, he or she is elected by the people. In others, the superintendent is appointed by a board which is itself elected by the people. In several systems both the board and the superintendent are elected. In city systems, the superintendent is always appointed by the board. When ia the election? Every 4 years, on the Tuesday after the 1st Monday in November. The superintendent takes oltice January 1. He remams in otfice until his succe9Sor is elected and qualified. How much of the system superintendent's salary does the State actually pay? The State pays him 12 months in the year the amount that he would be due as a teacher. If he has a 5 year degree and 9 years experience (now the highest a teacher can earn on), he gets $3,800. That-based on 10 months' figures-gives him $380 a month. But the superintendent gets 12 checks for $380 each, or one each month in the year. The $380 is the highest state-pay for a superintendent just now. There are some superintendents who have only permits. These get $150 a month for 12 months. (See proposed raises under new salary schedule.) 10 What i. the .alary of the local .uperintendent of .chool. in Georgia? It ranges from $3,000 to $22,000 a year. It is determined by the local board of education. A state law provides that a county school superintendent shall receive in state pay the same salary that he would draw as a teacher. The State Department of Education sends to him personally a check for this amount each month. Then this is supplemented by local funds. In the case of the city superintendent, the money-also paid according to what he would receive as a teacher-is sent to the school system itself. They supplement this with local funds. They decide the amount of the supplement. The average salary for the superintendents of smaller school systems in Georgia is $5,000 to $6,000. In big systems, it ranges from $15,000 to $22,000. I. the local .chool superintendent under bond? Yes. The county school superintendent has to be under a surety bond before he can officially act. The amount is determined by the local board and made payable to the board. The premium is paid out of public tax funds. The county school superintendent is custodian of the school funds. The county school board operates independently of other county agencies. School fuflds amount to about as much as all other phases of county government combined. In most cases, the school system is the largest single business in the county. In city systems, the board usually carries on its financial operations through the regular financial channels of the city government. They are dependent on the city budget and on the city council for the levying of taxes to operate the school. Some city systems-Atlanta, for instance-are exceptions to this, however. How many women superintendents of schools are there in Georgia? In 1957-58, there are ten, in these systems: Atlanta, (city system); and in these counties: Camden, Early, Dawson, Liberty, McIntosh, Telfair, Habersham and Worth. Other county systems that have had women superintendents are these: Calhoun, Catoosa, Clinch, Chattooga, Dooly, Fayette, Franklin, Glascock, Henry, Habersham, Johnson, Long, Lincoln, Laurens, Lumpkin, Macon, Miller, McDuffie, Polk, Randolph, Talbot, Terrell, Turner, Thomas, Treutlen, Webster and perhaps others. 11 Who can qualify as a candidate for county school superintendent? A candidate must have at least 3 years' practical experience in teaching, or college diploma, or 5 years experience in actual supervision, or pass an examination before the State Board of Education. ( ote: There is a movement on foot just now, started by the superintendents themselves, to professionalize this office. The requirements have not been changed since 1919. Many able superintendents have in the past been able to handle school , management and also to attend to another business. But many people feel that now a modern school system is a: full time job for a professionally trained administrator.) Who can vote in a county election for superintendent when there is also an independent system in the county? All the qualified voters in the county except the voters of the independent system. But, if this is only a quasi-independent system, they can vote for county school superintendent. (See Georgia Laws 2-7901 or 172 Georgia 497). What is a "quasi" independent system? A city system which, through a legislative act, is joined with the county system for ertain purposes. A mere contract docs not make a system "quasi". Who can remove a local superintendent from office? For what? The local board of education, for inefficicncy, incapacity, neglect of duties, malfeasance or corruption.. But he can appeal to the State Board of Education. How is a vacancy in this office filled? When the superintendent dies, resigns, or IS removed, the county board of education elects a superintendent for the unexpired term. PRINCIPAL What is the difference between a superintendent and a principal? Once the e terms were u ed interchangeably. The head of a single school was often called the superintendent, and his assistant in that school was called principal. Now the uperintendent heads the system, county or city. The principal administers an individual school. There are usually several principals who work under one system superintendent. 12 a teacher must have the facts and the phosphorescence!" ... Georgia teachers now have sick leave state wide, a new solar)1 scale which their re presentoti ves helped plan, summer scholarships to strengthen their science and moth programs, and a $100 monthly minimum retirement for 35 )'ears' service. 13 bz Who elects the principol? The local board of education, usually on recommendation of the local superintendent. What salary does the principal get? The same that he would get on his teaching certificate, plus $5 per teacher unit for from 5 to 20 teachers for a P4 certificate; for a P5 certificate, $8 per teacher unit for 5 to 20 teacher'. (Supplement paid for 10 months.) Proposed new salary schedule would raise this pay. What are these certificates? Evidence of a part year or full year of extra study beyond his 4 year degree in school administration. Does the Southern Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools require a principal to have a Master's degree before they will accredit a high school? Yes, and from an accredited college or university. (But this is not now required of the system superintendent) . SUPERVISORS OF I STR 'CTIO What is a Supervisor of Instruction? A specially trained and certified person whose chief job is to help the teachers of a school system improve the quality of instruction. These are all people who have been successful teachers themselves. (Some systems with a good supervisory program have shown an increase as high as 25% in pupil learning and achievement.) How many state-allotted supervisors are there in Georgia? In 1957-58 we had 88 Instructional Supervisors serving 95 systems. There were 73 Jeanes Supervisors serving 110 systems. There are others employed locally, especially in the large city systems. Negro Supervisors of Instruction are called Jeanes Supervisors. (This name has survived from a former time when they were partly paid from a private fund known as the Anna T. Jeanes 'Fund). White Supervisors of Instruction are called Instructional Supervisors. How does a system get a Supervisor of Instruction? It must have at least 60 state allotted teachers on a racial basis. Two or more systems can share one. Or one system may employ one person who works 14 half time as an Instructional Supervisor and half time as a Visiting Teacher. Yihat are they paid? They are paid on the basis of the type teaching certificate they hold, plus a supplement. The supplement is $500 for an SV 4, and $750 for an SV 5. These certificates mean that they have done work beyond their regular college degree, in the special field of supervision. They are allowed travel, at 6 a mile up to $50 a month for 10 months. "i iting Teacher Yihat is a Visiting Teacher? She is a specially trained, system-wide employee whose special work is helping children attend school. She works not simply to check up on absences, as the old truant officers did, but to find out the problems that cause the absences. Shl': works with the school, the child, the parents, and community agencies to solve those problems. How long have we had the Visiting Teacher Program in Georgia? Since 1945, when the present Compulsory School Attendance Law was passed. It has reduced absenteeism greatly. Many juvenile court judges have praised the program. Does every system have a Visiting Teacher? No. There are 161 Visiting Teachers (1956-57). This includes 117 full time teachers, 32 half time and 12 combination Visiting Teachers-Supervisors. How does a school system get a Visiting Teacher? If a school system has 75 state allotted teachers in both racial groups and a qualified person to fill the Visiting Teacher job, then the system is eligible. Not more than one Visiting Teacher can be allotted to any system. The system Board of Education elects the Visiting Teacher. What special training must a Visiting Teacher have? Three years as a classroom teacher with a B. S. degree and willingness to continue with training as a Visiting Teacher. There are 23 in training during 1957-58. 15 What is the salary of the Visiting Teacher? The salary of the Visiting Teacher is based on the type teaching certificate held by the teacher. She also gets a supplement: $500 a year if she has a VT 4 certificate, and $750 for a VT 5 certificate. What are VT 4 and VT S certificates? They indicate that extra training has been taken, beyond the 4 year degree program. VT 4 indicates that at least 3 special courses have been taken in this particular field. VT 5 indicates that the whole 5th year in the special training has been completed. . . . Georgia's school curriculum is beinJ? strengthened in math and science by scholarships for teachers, summer workshops, a new curriculum /!uide, and teachers studyin/l at Oak Ridge. . 16 . . . a million dollars a day. MONEY How much does it cost to run the public schools of Georgia? A million dollars a day. The 1957-58 budget totaled 180 million dollars for the 180 day school year. Of this, 140 million was state and federal funds, and 40 million was local funds. Exact amount of state budget: $140,291,460.70. How much of the state's income is spent on education? About 53%. This includes the public schools, the University System, and the Teacher Retirement System. Where does the money come from and "how is it spent? $1.00 S1.00 How much per child do we spend on education? $185 per child during 1957-58. The national average is $320. Is it legal for a school to charge a tuition fee? Not if the child is going to school in his own school district, or if his local school board has a contract 17 with another school system. For instance, the law says that a county must provide schools for the children living within it. That county cannot charge those children tuition. But if a child who lives outside the county goes to school there, the system can charge him a non-resident fee. What is the recently talked-of theory of "letting the money follow the child."? There have been some proposals to allow children to cross county lines to attend schools that may seem better or be nearer to their homes. Some people think this should be done, with the school attended by the child getting the state money for his education. Others point out that the county or system in which the child lives has built its schools with the prospect of operating them for all the children who live within the system, and that it would be unfair to take the children-and with them the maintenance and operation money and money for teachers-into another county. They also point out that if students could change from one school to another, it would be difficult to plan school progr~ms and maintenance. School officials would never know from one term to the next how many to plan for. How long has the State been allotting money for the building of schools? Since the Minimum Foundation Program was enacted in 1951. How much is in the budget annually for building? Fourteen and a half million dollars. What is it used for? To payoff the "lease purchase" price of the buildings, largely, and for the dozen school systems that chose to take their building money annually and not build through the State School Building Authority. (See the section, under Building on State School Building Authority,) How many children have been born since 1951, that you must get ready for in the next few years? 1952-will start in 1958-59 1953- " " 1959-60 1954- " " 1960-61 1955- " " 1961-62 1956- " " 196263 Total 97,130 97,421 100,191 100,205 102,643 White 61,439 61,671 64,392 64,238 65,642 Negro 35,691 35,750 35,799 36,057 37,001 18 .~imium Foundation Program What is the Minimum Foundation Program of Education? It is a program that guarantees equal educational opportunity to all children in Georgia. What does it provide? (1) A minimum term of 9 months. (2) A salary schedule for teachers that guarantees equal pay to all teac.hers for equal preparation and experience. (3) A certain number of teachers for each school, based on the Average Daily Attendance for that school. (4) Bus rides with state-aid for every child who lives as much as 1Y2 miles from school, and a minimum salary schedule for bus drivers. (5) A maintenance and operation fund of $368 per teachrr unit for heat, lights, water, insurance, sanitary supplies, janitors' services, and similar expense in operating the school plant, school buildings (see State School Building Authority). (6) Adequate teaching materials, including books at a cost of $2.75 average per child per year. When was this Minimum Foundation Law enacted? In 1949. It was put into effect during the school year 1951-52. (The sales tax had been passed by the January 1951 Legislature, and had become effective in April, providing the money.) How is the Minimum Foundation Program of Education operated? This way: in each school system, the cost of providing a Minimum 'Foundation Program for all chil~ren is figured. Then from the Economic Index, it is determined how much the local school system is able to pay. That is subtracted from what the local MFPE would cost. The state pays the rest. Example: Say the cost of providing a Minimum Foundation Program of Education for the children in T county is $450,000. The Economic. Index shows that T county is able to pay $60,000. That represents half of their school-tax paying ability. This $60,000 is what they pay toward the cost of the MFPE in T county. Th state pays the other $390,000. (Tote: the $60,000 repre ents HALF 19 more dollars for education and more education for our dollars." 20 of what the Index shows the county is able to pay to support its schools. If its 15 mill tax does not bring in twice that much, its tax as essments are too low, and its schools do not get what they are entitled to in local funds.) What is the fund known variously as the "hardship," "equalization" or "contingent" fund? It is a fund to make sure that every school y tern in Georgia has at lea t $26 per child to enrich its local program beyond the 1inimum Foundation Program. It works like this: the county pays toward the cost of its own Minimum Foundation Program what the Economic Index shows that it is able to pay. Say, for in tance- in X county, this is $25,000. X county has collected, from its 15 mill school tax, $40,000. That leave the local system $15,000 with which to enrich its school program for its 1250 children. Over in Y countya richer county-the school tax brings in $210,000. They pay $100,000 toward the cost of their own Minimum Foundation Program. That leaves Y county $110,000 to use in enriching its local program for its 2500 children. Obviously, Y county can do more local enrichment than X county. So we add enough equalization money to Y2 of X county's school tax paying ability to be surc that they have at least $26 per child to use for local enrichment of the school program. The following table shows how this works: FO NDATIO PROGR M X County Y County No. MFPE Local Children Cost Chargeback* State 1,250 $250,000 $ 25,000 $225,000 2,500 $500,000 $100,000 $400000 Equalization Fund For Enrichment = X County 1,250 x $26 $32,500 Less amount which should be availablc for th is purpose $25,000 = Amount State Equalization fund needed $ 7,500 Y County 2,500 x $26 $65,000 Less amount which should be available for this purpose $100,000 Amount State Equalization fund needed 0E *The chargeback represents Y2 of the system's school tax paying ability. Doesn't the payment of the "hardship" fund to bring the local enrichment fund up ta $26 per child encourage low tax assessments? No, because this is determined on tax paying ability as shown by th Index-and not what it IS 21 paying. For example, if L county-with 1200 children-has a school tax that brings in $30,000 and it has to pay $20,000 on its MFPE cost, we multiply the 1200 x $26 and subtract from that figure the $20,000 it SHOULD have left for local enrichment, not the $10,000 it DOES have left. Does the MFPE "chargeback" always take only HALF of what the local system collects in school tax? No. Sometimes it takes more. Sometimes it takes less. It depends on the local tax assessments, which vary. If the Economic Index shows that B county, for instance, is able to pay $20,000 toward the cost of its own Minimum Foundation Program, and its tax assessments are so low that their school tax brings in only $32,000, then they would have only $12,000 left for a local enrichment program. On the other hand, if the Economic Index shows that C county can pay $850000 toward the cost of its own Minimum Foundation Program, and they collect two million in school tax, then they would have MORE than half left for local enrichment. Generally, in counties having low property assessments, the MFPE takes more than half of what the school tax brings in. In counties having high assessments, it take~ less than half. Economic Index What is the Economic Index? It is an index which enables us to determine how much money the local system is able to pay toward the cost of its own schools. It is used to measure the tax-paying ability of each county. The local school tax is based on property assessm 'nts. But we do not use this basis because property asscssments vary so much throughout the state. We usc the Economic Index instead. What factors are included in this Economic Index? There are six: state income tax, motor tag tax, retail sales effective buying power or per capita income, public utilities, and property digests. (Note: The property digest has been given less weight each year recently, and in 1958 will carry one point weight only, and then be out of the Index completely.) These factor indicate the wealth there is in the county. The idea of the Index is to find out how much school tax paying ability exists in each county, and how much, 22 therefore, a county IS able to pay on its school costs. Give an example. Take Appling county, for instance, since it comes first in the alphabetical listing. Appling county has .2% of the total school-tax paying ability of the state, according to the Economic Index. During 1956-57 school term, all of the city and county chool ystems in Georgia collected approximately $39,200,000 of school tax. Half of this amount$19,600,OOO-is the total "hargeback" of all school systems for the 1957-58 school term. Appling county's portion of this $19600,000 i determined by taking .2% of this amount. That is Appling county's "chargeback" or the amount which the Economic Index shows that it is able to pay toward the cost of its own school program. This is $40,227.00. In Appling county, this $40,227.00 could represent half, more than half, or less than half of the school tax collected, depending on the tax assessment policies of Appling county. Local Tax Levy How much local tax is levied for school purposes? In county school systems, it is not less than 5 mills and not more than 15. Some systems have obtained special laws to enable them to levy more. Any county school system can raise its school tax levy if the local school board proposes it, and this is ratified by local voters. In independent systems, the tax levy is governed by the provisions of the city charter. These charters were granted individually to the cities. Each is different. City assessments are always higher and millage lower than in the counties. The school tax is not the only source of rev nue for city school systems. The City Council frequently allots a lump sum out of the total city revenue, for school purposes. One Georgia city gives all of its property tax to its schools. It finances other city busine s with money that comes in from business licen e , profits from the operation of its light and water system, and such other sources. At what value is property supposed to be returned for tax? Property you own on ] anuary 1 is by law required to be returned "at fair market alue". What you could sell your house for-that is "fair market 23 .. GeorRia's taxable wealth has doubled in the last 10 years. 24 value". Few people do thi. Most returns are very low. If Georgia property were really returned at fair market value, we could provide the funds to finance an adequate program of education. What property is exempt from taxes? A home occupied by its owner i exempt up to $2,000, except for taxes levied to payoff bonds. Personal property up to $300 is exempt from any and all taxe . Is there a ceiling on local taxes for roads, hospitals, welfare and the other county purposes? o. The local chool tax is the only one that has a "ceiling" or limitation on it. Is there any uniformity in the tax digest among counties? o. Some counties that han; high millage and low property assessments, g t much less local tax money for school purpo e. If they have low millage and high asses ments they get more school revenue. What is tax "millage"? A mill, of course, is a ten th of a cen t. It i used in making the tax levy. For in tance, if your automobile was as es ed at $600 and your county was collecting its full 15 mills for school tax, you would ha\'e to pay $9 school tax on your car. (If beside thi 15 mill. ehool tax, your county levied 30 mill for general purpose you would pay $18 more on your car). Do people support their schools as well as they are able to? o. We talk a lot about our belief in education, but American sp nd more money on cars, refrigerators, and liquor than they do on education. Haven't we become more prosperous financially in Georgia in recent years, and better able to support our schools? Yes. Our taxablr wealth has doubled in the past 10 years. Our p I' capi ta annual income has increa cd to 1400. What is "current financing?" Attendance is checked at the end of the first five months. If it hows that mol' ' teachers are needed than are currently allotted and paid by the state, these teacher can be employed at state expense. 25 If they have already been employed, the State will pay them-plus $368 per teacher "M & 0" money and $50 per teacher sick leave-from the date of employment. If the extra teachers are earned by increa d attendance in the egro schools, they must be used in the Negro schools. ( ote: Allotment will OT be reduced during a year.) What travel allowance do those employees engaged in educational work get, if they are entitled to travel? Those who are required to have a car to carryon their work get 6 a milc travel allowance. Federal Fund How much money comes from the federal government ta or through the State Department of Education? Here is the list. Note that (1) some of this is in goods, not in money, and (2) money for building and maintenance of schools in federally impacted areas goes directly to the individual school systems and does not come to the Department of Education. Below is the 1956-57 allotment, and the allotment or estimate for 1957-58. See question below for details. For 1956-57 1. Vocational Education ___ $1,109,921.97 2. Building Schools in FederallyImpacted Area (Public Law 815) $2,335,950,00 3. For operating these Schools (Public Law 874) $3,539,-1-65.04 -1-. Libraries (for extending rural program) $ 40,000.00 5. School Lunch $2,80 I ,481.00 6. Special Milk Program $ 785,953.42 7. Surplus Commodities $7,125,000.00 8. Vocational Rehabilitation $1,939,514.00 9. War Surplus $6,072,000.00 10. Library for the Blind (Talking Books, Braille, machines, difficult to evaluate.) 1957-58 $1,186,179.49 About the same About the same $ 137,000.00 $2,649,317.00 $ 866,800.00 $8,000,000.00 $2,159,983.00 $7,000,000.00 What does a "federally impacted area" mean? One in which some federal project or military installation brings workers and their families in, and increases the school enrollment. 26 These are the Georgia systems that qualified for money to build during 1956-57: Cobb, 2 projects, $569,250; Dougherty, 3 projects, $419,400.00; Houston, 1 project, $201,150.00; Liberty, 3 projects, $261,000.00; Muscogee, 4 projects, $659,250.00; Glynn, 1 project $134,550.00; Moultrie City System, 1 project, $91,350.00. How do systems qualify for money to operate these schools? Public Law 874. If 3~ of their average daily attendance are children of families that work and/or live on federal property, they qualify. If the child's parents work A D live on such property, the school gets $145.50 for the child in 1956-57 and $151 in 1957-58. If they either work OR live on such property, the school gets half that amount for the child. Here is a list of the 70 Georgia school systems that had qualified as of Sept. 26, 1957, for such operating money in 1956-57. Note that the federal project does not have to be located in the county. Many workers commute from some distance. Public Law 874 70 Systems Total Amount Listed Below: $3,539,465.04 List of Georgia School Systems receiving federal funds for maintenance and operation of schools in federally impacted areas: (1956-57) 1. Bartow _ _ $ 21,417.00 2. Berrien __ 16,117.20 3. Bibb _ .' . . 335,663.00 4. Calhoun (County) 5,372.40 5. Camden .. . . 9,946.20 6. Chatham 135,533.70 7. Chattahoochee . .. 7,986.00 8. Cherokee 34,848.00 9. Clay _.... 3,194.40 10. Clayton (County) .. 50,808.60 11. Cobb 389,587.90 12. Columbia 35,428.80 13. Crawford .. 6,534.00 14. DeKalb _ 133,293.60 15. Dodge ""'.. . 13,944.00 16. Dooly (County) 13,503.60 17. Dougherty................ .. . 221,186.25 18. Douglas (County) _ 16,988.40 19. Henry.. .. 13,576.20 20. Houston . .. 330,039.60 21. Jones. 9,728AO 22. Lee _ _.... 5,953.20 23. Liberty _................................ 76,375.20 27 24. Long . .. 9,438.00 25. Lowndes .. . .. 23,232.00 26. McDuffie .. . 13,866.60 27. McIntosh .. 8,566.80 28. Muscogee . 463,768.80 29. Peach . . . . . 57,789.60 30. Richmond . . 312,615.60 31. Wilcox. .. 9,989.00 32. Macon (County) . 10,962.60 33. Glynn. .. .. 41,702.99 34. Lanier. 11,398.20 35. Lincoln .. 5,735.40 36. Monroe (County) . .. . . 10,381.80 37. Tattnall . .. . 14,520.00 38. Worth .... . .. 14,229.00 39. Gwinnett . . . .. 15,754.20 40. Twiggs . . . 5,953.20 41. Ja per. 3,847.80 42. Marion 5,808.00 43. Laurens . 12,342.00 44. Gordon (County) 6,679.20 45. Haralson. .. ..... .. 5,227.20 46. Dawson (County) 7,114.80 47. Fulton ... 88,354.20 48. Stewart 10,817.40 49. Polk .. .. . 10,309.20 50. Jeffer on (County) 12,414.60 51. Cook . .. . 5,880.60 52. Miller .. .. . . . 5,517.60 53. Putnam. 5,299.80 54. Paulding... .. . 26,862.00 55. Harris. .. .. .. 6,171.00 56. Bleckley . . . 10,672.20 57. Pickens. .. .. . 10,309.20 58. Forsyth (County) 7,840.80 59. Colquitt (County) 23,885.40 60. Decatur (County) 32234.40 61. Taylor .... .. 9,510.60 CITY SYSTEMS: Buford Cartersville Calhoun (City) .. Cochran . Dublin . . Hawkinsville .. .. Marietta. . Moultrie .. Valdosta .. .. $ 4,210.80 11,253.00 .. .. 5,154.60 .. 12,777.60 . 25,264.80 .. 14,955.60 150,499.80 28,822.20 . 56,773.20 28 First we shape our buildings, and then our buildings shape us.Churchill. -, BUILDINGS Does the State provide money for building schools? Yes. It did not before 1951 when the Minimum Foundation Proaram \Va activated. ow each year, 14Y2 million is provided annually in the state education budget to pay for the schools that are being built. Don't local systems still have an obligation to build school buildings? Indeed they do. The state makes no provision for building auditoriums or gymnasium. There is also no state provi ion for building classrooms beyond those planned for the number of students who were in school in 1951-52. What was the local system's share of the original building program? It was this: in order to complete the original building program (classrooms plus essen tial service and administration facilities) each system was to furnish money equal to half of its local bonding capacity as of July 1, 1951. Have all systems done this? No. All ystems have not met their responsibility for completing the program. Some have dragged their feet. Has yours? Who decided what new schools a local system needed? Local people got their facts together. The local system invited in a professional sun"ey committee to make recommendations; then the system made the decision, on the basis of the surveys. Supplementary surveys are now being made. 29 Does the State fur"ish architects? No. The architects are employed by the local system. The Department has architects who check the educational soundness of the proposed architectural plans. Is it true that the buildings have been built at remarkably low cost? Yes, for an average of $7.50 per square foot. Rising costs will make future classrooms with related facilitie cost about $15,000 each. What does the State Department of Education do in the building program? The Department checks plans and disburses checks to pay for the buildings. Will there be any permanent one-room schools? 0, but there will be two 2-room Negro schools. (One in Chatsworth and one in Dahlonega) aTE: In orne Georgia counties there are no egroe . How much of this building money was spent on Negro schools? About half. Some of Georgia's largest and most beautiful new chools are for Negro children. One third of the school children in Georgia are Negro. Doesn't Georgia have very few school fires? Yes, from July 1, 1956 to June 1, 1957, we had 32 fires. The average state has 110. Our fire losses that year were only $135,635.57. The smallest loss: $19.20. The large t was an elementary school, $35 664.38. Two no loss fires were reported. Note: Our new school buildings are non-combustible, but we still have many old school buildings. What are custodial clinics? Meetings held by the department for school custodians, principals and superintendents. Its purpose is to help them learn ways of caring for the buildings. What is the total value of our school property? In 1957 it wa more than ~ of a billion dollars. Are all our school children adequately "school housed?" No, by no means. We needed 3,342 classrooms at the end of 1956-57. It would cost $57,000,000 to 30 build them. We also need] 2 million dollars worth of additional lunchrooms, and 10 million dollars to bring old buildings up to date. How do the new buildings differ from old school buildings? One floor buildings better lightinu , color, seIfcontained classrooms, laboratories, libraries, lunchrooms, play space etc. How many buildings were built with local money? About 2 700 cia srooms have been built with local money. The state building plans do not include gymnasiums or auditorium. These must be locally furnished. Many have been built. How much school building was done with federal funds? By July 1, 1956, 1,400 classrooms had been built at a co t of approximately $24 million dollars in federal funds. Others have been completed since or: are being built. The e are in federally impacted areas where erviee men or civilian workers and their families live. What did the three cent sales tax have to do with the building of the new school buildings in Georgia? It enabled us to activate the Minimum 'Foundation Program which puts 1411 million dollars into the tate sehool budget annually for the purpose of building chools. This was the first time state money had been provided to build chools in Georgia.. When you pay 3 on every dollar you spend, you would do it willingly if you could look out the store' window and see the new school building that 3 made it po ible to build for your and your neighbor's children. Are schools consolidating throughout the nation, or only in Georgia? The trend is nation-wide. There are now 49,477 school districts in the U. S. Twenty-five years ago there were 127,244. People have found that with good roads, buses, and good planning they can have bigger schools where their children have better libraries, bigger cience labs, more courses and in general a better chance for a good all-around education. Current Status How much money is allotted for maintenance and operation of schools? $368 per teacher unit. 31 Does every county in Georgia have some new school buildings? There will be some new school building in every county in Georgia when the present building program is completed in 1959-60. School Building Authority What is the State School Buildin:! Authority? This is an Authority created by the Legislaturc in 1951 to enable the' State to finance the build ing of much needed school buildin;gh school effective the school year 1960-61. This new rulinp; is made with the following provisions: that teachers and guidance officers work with parents and principals, who may make ~ubstitutions if stunents are not adapted to this prop"ram of mathematics and science: and that schools not capable of offering such courses may be excused by the State Board of Education until such courses are available. 82 What is the minimum Ip.ngth of the school year for teachers? The minimum length of the school year for teachers is 190 days; 180 days of teaching plus 10 days -five days for pre-school planning and five days for post school planning. What is the minimum length of the school day for teachers? The minimum length of the work day for teacher is eight hours. The minimum teaching load is four one-hour periods or five 45-minute periods per day. How many holidays maya school have during the year? Any number approved by the local Board of Education. However the school year mu t include a minimum of 180 school days. I Is it permissible to allow a holiday for pupils to attend a fair? A Fair Day can be counted a school day only if condition are the same as those for a field trip planned and upervised by the teacher. . Are days when 'School is suspended to allow teachers to attend professional meetings to be counted as teaching days? The school calendar should provide time for teachers to attend professional meetings but time so provided should not reduce thc minimum number of 180 teaching days. Bulletin of the Stote Department of Education 1958 83 INDEX FOR 'BULLETIN Absences .. . number of .. reasons for religious holidays .. .. . .. . 46-48 46 46, 48 48 Administrative Personnel.................... .. 4 Adult Education 52 Attendance-(See Enrollment) average daily attendance c?~pulsory school attendance law vISIting teacher attendance records auditing records. ... . .. .. school day . . holidays 45 45 45 46 . 46 46 46 Audio Visual Service 65 Blind-(See Voc. Rehabilitation) academy for ...... . 80 library for. 62 Bookmobiles . 60 Boards of Education state .. local......... 5 8, 9 Buildings, state school building authority 29, 30 32 Business Education (See Voc. Office Training) Colleges 51 Curriculum . course requirements electives history health educ alcohol educ driver edue. .. math sCience spelling 53-57 53 53 54 54 54 54 54 54 55 Deaf-(See Voc. Rehabilitation). school for deaf .. 80 Distributive Education 75 Drop-Outs, 48-(See Enrollment) Economic Index 22, 23 Equivalency Certificate . 81 Exceptional Children-(See School for Deaf and Acad- emy for Blind) Definition of 49 N umber of. . 49 Teachers of 51 Enrollment .. . current enrollment estimate for future . first grade enrollment . . drop-outs Federal Funds Guidance Homemaking Education Instruction, Supv. of Instructional Materials textbooks audio visual television 43-48 44 44 44 48 26-28 56 74 14, 15 58-66 62 65 66 84 > Libraries-{See Instructional Materials) School 59 Public 58 Bookmobiles 60 Local Superintendent .. 10, II Lunch, School Program of surplus food commodities 76, 77 78 Milk, Special Program of 78 Minimum Foundation Program of Education 19, 21, 22 Money................ .. 17, 18 Principal 12, 13 Pupils 43-45 Rehabilitation, vocational school for deaf academy for blind 79-80 80 80 State Supt. of Schools how selected qualifications salary 6 6 . 6 State Dept. of Education function of ~. organization of .. 7 6 Tax Levy 23, 25 Teachers '" certificates . . areas of teaching allotment . .. contracts shortage . . .. number of in-service training , salary schedule merit pay. .. sick-leave ,.. . retirement '" .. 34-42 . 34 34 .. 34 36 . 35 35 36 41, 42 .. 37 37 37 Television , .'" .. 66 Testing 56 Textbooks .. .. 63 Transportation bus ownership . .. bus drivers .. .. .. cost per child .. . mileage of . . 67-68 . . . . 67 . 67 67 .. 68 Trade and Industrial Educ. .., Trade Schools . 70, 71 71 Unit Credit 55 Vocational Agriculture . 72 Vocational Education 69-78 Vocational Office Training . . 76 Vocational Rehabilitation 79-80 85 '1 " N eve r h a ve p e 0 pie demanded so much of schools as have Americansand never have schools done more for people." -Henry Steele Commager DR. M. D. COLLINS State Supt. of Schools Emeritus MILESTONE "Education do s not co t-it pays!" That ha bcen the oft repeated counsel of the wise and well-belovcd Dr.. M. D. Collins who on January II, 1958, fini hed 25 year a State Superintend nt of Schools, and 55 years in education in Georgia. From a beginning in 1902 as teacher of 81 pupils in a one-room mountain school at Choestoe, he ro e to the Stat' top spot in education. He was dean of all state chool uperintendents in the nation. He was for 23 year an EA director. Progres in his long regime included the Minimum Foundation Program of Education, a salary schedule for teachers the free textbook program, xpanding vocational education, the schools for the deaf and the blind th program of vocational rehabilitation, trade hool, the Program for exceptional children Visiting Teachers, Supervi ors of Instruction, a multimillion dollar school building program regional libraries pilot projects in cducational TV. He has worked tirelessly for a half century for the hildrcn of Georgia, to pro ide for them brighter, b ttcr opportunities for education than they had ever known. G orgia' gratitude to him is great. He resigned b cau c of hi wife' failing health, and his family's urgent wish that he take a less strenuou position. The Governor praised his achie ment, named him Superintendent Emeritus for Lif , and n:lmed Dr. Claude Purcell Georgia's 14th State Superintendent of Schools. Dr. Collins is being b sieged with requests to write his rem mberings of what happ ned in education in Georgia this past half-century. You can write him at the State Department of Education.