ATLANTA, GEORGIA (BNO NEWS) – New education legislation for the state of Georgia has been introduced by Governor Sonny Perdue on Monday, the Governor’s Office informed.

The legislation will focus on increasing pay for Georgia’s best teachers. The introduction of this new legislation will require a statewide evaluation tool in order to take into account student improvement and peer observation of planning and instruction. The State Board of Education will use this tool for calculating an “Effectiveness Measure” for determining the State’s top educators.

“The legislation rewards our All-Star teachers through higher pay,” said Senator Don Balfour, chairman of the Senate Rules Committee.

Governor Purdue also announced that legislation for the integrity of the state’s education data was being introduced by Rep. Matt Ramsey. Such legislation will make unlawful to tamper with or facilitate cheating on the State Department of Education tests.

“This legislation will make it clear what the penalties are for tampering with tests,” said Rep. Ramsey. “We must do everything we can to ensure our students receive the services they need to progress.”