Posted inGeorgia Department of Education

State Board of Education considers change to minimum percentage requirement for End of Course Assessments

The State Board of Education meetings held on June 14th and 15th heard two rule changes that will impact students in grades K-12 this upcoming school year. The first rule was focused on waiving the promotion, placements, and retention rule for the Georgia Milestones Math Assessments for students in grades 5 and 8. The second rule […]

Posted inGeorgia News

Black students in Effingham County sue the school district for racial discrimination

ATLANTA—The ACLU of Georgia and the law firm Troutman Pepper filed a federal lawsuit today in the Southern District of Georgia on behalf of current and former Effingham County School District (ECSD) students who, along with other Black students in ECSD, have experienced pervasive racial discrimination, violations of their freedom of speech, and a hostile educational environment […]

Posted inUncategorized

Seven organizations awarded funds to provide extended learning opportunities for students in foster care

ATLANTA – The Georgia Department of Education is awarding $321,500 in Building Opportunities in Out-of-School Time (BOOST) grants aimed at providing extended learning opportunities for students in foster care, State School Superintendent Richard Woods announced last week. The BOOST grants were made possible through federal stimulus funds under the American Rescue Plan (ARP-ESSR). “The BOOST grants align with […]

Posted inCommunity

Spelman College announces Dr. Pamela E. Scott-Johnson as new provost

Spelman College recently announced the appointment of Dr. Pamela E. Scott- Johnson as the College’s new provost and vice president for Academic Affairs. According to the press release, Scott-Johnson currently serves as provost and senior vice president for Academic Affairs at Monmouth University in West Long Branch.“We are pleased to welcome alumna and former faculty […]

Posted inDecatur City Schools

Decatur City Schools swears in Dr. Gyimah Whitaker as superintendent

Dr. Gyimah Whitaker was sworn in as the new Superintendent of Decatur City Schools tonight, surrounded by colleagues, friends, and former board members from Fulton County Schools. The ceremony was held in the Elizabeth Wilson Student Support Center board room. Decatur Chief Municipal Judge Rhathelia Stroud gave Whittaker her oath of office. Previously the Deputy […]

Posted inAtlanta Public Schools

Atlanta Public Schools Board of Education will not extend the superintendent contract past 2024

In an announcement on Friday, the Atlanta Public Schools Board of Education announced their decision not to extend the contract of superintendent Dr. Lisa Herring beyond June 30, 2024. In a prepared statement, the board reiterated their commitment to students, families, and employees of Atlanta Public Schools and the “laser focus on student achievement through […]

Posted inForsyth County Schools

Forsyth County Schools created a hostile environment for students with books bans

The U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) ended an investigation this week on Forsyth County Schools that alleges that the removal of books from Black or LGBTQI+ authors from school libraries created a hostile environment for students based on sex, race, color, or national origin under Title IX of the Education Amendments […]

Posted inDekalb County Schools

Dekalb County Schools offer new hire incentives for teachers and staff

Dekalb County Schools Board of Education announced a new initiative aimed at hiring teachers in hard to fill hard to staff positions that include areas: math, science, special education, bus drivers, and school resource officers. These compensation increases come after the Dekalb Board of Education tentatively approved the 2023-2024 budget that focused on including a […]

Posted inFulton County Schools

Fulton County Schools names graduation schedule

Fulton County Schools has released its 2023 Graduation schedule. Graduations are being held in a variety of venues, including The Gateway Arena, Ameris Amphitheater, and Gas South Arena. Alpharetta High SchoolAmeris Bank AmphitheatreThursday, May 257:30 PM Banneker High SchoolGateway ArenaFriday, May 1911:00 AM Cambridge High SchoolAmeris Bank AmphitheatreTuesday, May 237:30 PM Centennial High SchoolAmeris Bank […]

Posted inGeorgia Politics

Professional Standards Commission dumping ‘diversity’ from teacher preparation rules

by Dave Williams | May 11, 2023 | Capitol Beat News Service ATLANTA – The Georgia Professional Standards Commission voted unanimously Thursday to remove the word “diversity” from the state’s educator preparation rules despite an outpouring of opposition. The request to delete diversity and several other words came from the University System of Georgia, which was seeking to clarify expectations […]

Posted inHenry County Schools

Henry Board of Education approves the final version of the 2023-2024 budget

On May 8, the Henry County Board of Education approved its 2023-2024 budget, which focused on compensation and strategic programming. The $510 million general funds budget maintains the consistent millage rate, an increase in per-student spending of $11,677, and more than 40 new teachers’ positions, with six dedicated to an increase in exposure to middle […]

Posted inGeorgia Department of Education

Georgia Professional Standards Commission set to vote on removing diversity, equity, and inclusion requirements from educator training

The Georgia Professional Standards Commission (GaPSC) is scheduled to vote on May 11, 2023, to remove language for diversity, equity, and inclusion language from requirements for educator training. The Georgia Professional Standards Commission (GaPSC)  was established in 1991 to assume full responsibility for the preparation, certification, and professional conduct of certified personnel employed in Georgia […]

Posted inPost Secondary

Spelman College installs 11th President

On Thursday, Spelman College formally installed Helene D. Gayle, M.D., MPH, as its 11th President at the investiture ceremony, at the Morehouse College Martin Luther King, Jr. International Chapel. The ceremony focused on honoring the great leaders who have led the college and introduced the vision of Dr. Gayle for Spelman. During her inaugural speech, […]

Posted inDekalb County Schools

Former Dekalb County Superintendent to lead Achieve Atlanta

On Thursday, Achieve Atlanta announced their new incoming President/Executive Director, Dr. Cheryl Watson-Harris. Achieve Atlanta is a nonprofit that awards need-based scholarships to Atlanta Public Schools students who pursue various post-secondary paths after high school. Watson-Harris, the former Superintendent of Dekalb County Schools, was fired from the board in April 2022 after a controversy that […]

Posted inGeorgia Department of Education

The science of reading undergirds Georgia’s new literacy-education laws 

by Rebecca Grapevine | Apr 21, 2023 | Capitol Beat News Service ATLANTA – Georgia is gearing up to implement a new approach to teaching reading in the early grades.   Gov. Brian Kemp recently signed into law two literacy bills passed during this year’s legislative session.   About 36% of Georgia third graders read below grade level, according to the state’s 2022 Milestones test results, […]

Posted inDecatur City Schools

Decatur City Schools confirms Dr. Gyimah Whitaker as next superintendent

In a special called meeting, the Decatur City School Board approved Dr. Ghyimah Whitaker as their next Superintendent. “Dr. Whitaker has a long track record of being a results-oriented educational leader with the proven ability to create sustainable outcomes by leading through impact and influence,” said James H. Herndon III, Chair of the School Board […]

Posted inGeorgia Department of Education

Georgia class of 2022 ranked 15th in nation for Advanced Placement pass rates

by Rebecca Grapevine | Apr 5, 2023 | Capitol Beat News Service ATLANTA – More than one-fifth of Georgia’s public high school graduates earned passing scores on at least one Advanced Placement examination, putting the state in 15th place nationally, according to new data out this week.   The AP program allows students to take college-equivalent courses while still in high school. Each course […]

Posted inDekalb County Schools

Dekalb County School District names sole finalist for the top job

This afternoon. Dekalb County Schools announced their sole finalist for the superintendent role, Dr. Devon Horton- the current Superintendent of Evanston/Stokie School District 65- north of Chicago. Horton was hired by District 65 as Superintendent in June 2020 with a contract extension from 2022 through 2026. A native of Chicago, Horton has worked previously as […]