There are moments in education when it feels as if we, as the “Wicked” song suggests, are all defying gravity. The weight is real: the responsibility for the futures of young people, the expectations of families, and the ever-changing demands of a modern workforce. And yet, in schools and districts across Georgia and the nation, leaders, educators, and students are proving every day that it is possible to rise higher than the pull of the challenges around us.

That truth is reflected in the most recent graduation rates. In Georgia, we have reached a historic high of more than 87%. These results did not happen by chance. These numbers reflect the hard work of educators, students and families who refused to give up, even if the odds said otherwise.

The responsibility, which I have whole

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