Richard Woods

Worked with policymakers to require school safety drills, school safety plans, and law enforcement review of all new school building plans.

Expanded dual enrollment, fine arts, computer science, ag, STEM/STEAM, CTAE, world language, and advanced coursework opportunities.

Fighting to modernize the K-12 education formula so students have the resources and supports they need to succeed.

Supported cursive writing, personal finance, post-secondary options, special education supports, and play.

Provide a school resource officer and crisis alert system in every Georgia school.

• Strengthen immediate response capacity.
• Use statewide safety standards.

Worked to require school safety drills, school safety plans, and law-enforcement review of new school building plans.

• Standardize preparation.
• Integrate safety into facility design.

Established a state school-safety team and a Ready Georgia preparedness designation with emergency-management partners.

• Build statewide support for local preparedness.

Replaced Common Core English-language-arts standards with Georgia-developed standards.

• Center state-owned academic standards.

Expanded literacy coaches, teacher training in reading science, and public literacy-achievement data.

• Target lower-performing elementary schools.
• Improve instructional support and transparency.

Reports strengthening work-based learning, entrepreneurship, apprenticeships, and business partnerships as Georgia State School Superintendent.

Required personal-finance education for Georgia students.

• Make practical financial knowledge part of graduation preparation.

Expanded dual enrollment, fine arts, computer science, agriculture, STEM, career-technical, world-language, and advanced-course opportunities.

• Offer multiple academic and career pathways.

Established Georgia's Office of Rural Education to expand opportunities in rural schools.

• Give rural districts dedicated state support.

Modernize Georgia's K-12 funding formula so students receive needed resources and supports.

• Align funding with present-day student needs.

Worked with policymakers to enact a Parents' Bill of Rights.

• Increase family access to information and participation in education.

Protect student data and support distraction-free learning environments.

• Limit inappropriate data exposure.
• Reduce classroom distractions.

Reduced the amount of high-stakes testing in Georgia schools.

• Limit testing burdens while maintaining accountability.

Continue pursuing higher pay for Georgia educators.

• Build on prior raises.
• Improve recruitment and retention.

Extend Georgia's teacher salary schedule beyond 21 years of service.

• Recognize and retain experienced educators.

Pursue lower class sizes and duty-free lunch periods for educators.

• Improve classroom and workplace conditions.

Expand Georgia BEST to cover the cost of quality teaching degrees.

• Reduce financial barriers to entering teaching.

Reports protecting teacher retirement and health benefits as Georgia State School Superintendent.

Oppose federal education mandates and testing requirements the candidate views as excessive.

• Preserve state and local education authority.

Ensure proper oversight of education funding and transparent access to district financial information.

• Give the public clear financial data.
• Reduce redundant administrative requirements.