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 […]
Author Archives: Zelda Andrews
We used to teach now we write full-time about all things education in Atlanta.
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 […]
Posted inGeorgia House
School voucher measure narrowly fails in state House
by Rebecca Grapevine | Mar 29, 2023 | Capitol Beat News Service ATLANTA – Legislation to offer private-school vouchers to Georgia students attending low-performing public schools failed Wednesday night in the state House of Representatives. The bill would have created $6,500 vouchers for Georgia students to use for private-school or home-schooling expenses if they were assigned to attend a public school […]
Posted inGeorgia House
Public asked to weigh in on new English and language arts standards for Georgia
by Rebecca Grapevine | Apr 3, 2023 | Capitol Beat News Service ATLANTA – The state Board of Education has posted a new set of English and language arts (ELA) standards and asked the public to weigh in by May 1. The public comment period is the next step in a lengthy process of revising the state’s standards for ELA […]
Posted inGeorgia State
Teacher planning period bill passes
by Rebecca Grapevine | Mar 30, 2023 | Capitol Beat News Service Rep. John Corbett, R-Lake Park, sponsored a successful bill guaranteeing teachers a daily planning period. ATLANTA – The General Assembly has approved a bill guaranteeing Georgia public school teachers a daily planning period to use for lesson planning, grading and other tasks. The new measure will apply to […]
Posted inAtlanta Public Schools
Atlanta Public Schools drops plans for redistricting
In a communication to parents and staff on Wednesday, Atlanta Public Schools Superintendent Lisa Herring shelved the potential rezoning plans for the Midtown and Maynard Jackson cluster. This comes after 200 students at Midtown High School staged a peaceful protest last Friday after accusing the district of unfairly targeting 200 black students and sending them […]
Posted inFulton County Schools
Dr. Gyimah Whitaker named sole finalist for City Schools of Decatur Superintendent
In an announcement to teachers and staff, the City Schools of Decatur (CSD) Board of Education announced Dr. Gyimah Whitaker has been named the sole finalist for the role of superintendent for City Schools of Decatur. “Dr. Whitaker has a long track record of being a results-oriented educational leader with the proven ability to create sustainable outcomes […]
Posted inGeorgia Politics
News Brief: Amendments and substitutions added to SB 233 Georgia Promise Scholarship Act
With the passing of SB 233, it is noteworthy to highlight the additions to the substitutions and three amendments added before the bill was passed. The SB 233 includes several substitutes, including- the amount per student per year was changed from $6,000 to $6,500, dual enrollment was clarified, and funds can only be used for core courses, […]
Posted inGeorgia Department of Education
Several metro schools districts receive Opportunity Grants from GaDOE
Georgia Department of Education announced its second series of Opportunity grants aimed at expanding options and opportunities for students in Georgia. These grants will support more programming in fine arts, health, physical education, world languages, and summer bridge programs for rural school districts. This second round of funding totaling $1,820,804 is made possible through federal […]
Posted inDekalb County Schools
Dekalb County Schools approves $8 million dollars for enhanced security measures
Dekalb County Schools approved $8,000,000 + for the Evolv Weapons Detection system for forty middle and high schools throughout the county. This comes after an uptick of weapons confiscated in the district this year. According to Dekalb County Schools, as of February 2, 2023, a total of 16 handguns, 38 knives, and 13 other weapons for […]
Posted inGeorgia Department of Education
Georgia voucher bill seeks to give $6,000 to eligible students
If some Georgia lawmakers have their way, more parents will have options regarding where their kids are educated. On Day 28, better known as Crossover Day, the Georgia Promise Scholarship Act, better known as SB 233, passed in a 33-23 vote after an intense debate on the Senate floor. SB 233 would create a voucher […]
Posted inHBCU
Morehouse College and the Ida B. Wells Society for Investigative Reporting partner to support journalism on campus
Morehouse College announced its partnership with the Ida B. Wells Society for Investigative Reporting- the Society. This partnership focuses on increasing and retaining journalists and editors of color in investigative reporting. Formerly at The University of North Caroline at Chapel Hill, The Society will be based on Morehouse’s campus with co-founder Nikole Hannah-Jones and staff […]
Posted inHBCU
Spelman College to open learning hub focused on technology and art
Starting in fall 2023, Spelman College will open a learning hub focused on technology and art titled the new Mary Schmidt Campbell, Ph.D., Center for Innovation & the Art. The Center was made possible by a $10 million gift from Rosemary K. and John W. Brown and will serve as a learning hub for entrepreneurs […]
Posted inCobb County Schools
Cobb County Schools to pay for advanced degrees for 500 educators
In a unanimous vote at Thurday’s regularly scheduled board meeting, Cobb County School Superintendent Chris Ragsdale announced a partnership with the University West Georgia that would allow Cobb County teachers to apply for the opportunity to pursue a master’s through a doctorate in education at no cost. “We have worked hard to recruit the very […]
Posted inDekalb County Schools
Dekalb County Schools sets aside $700 million for capital projects improvements
In a special called meeting on February 1, Dekalb County Board of Education announced plans to spend over $700 million in tax-funded E-SPLOST funds for facilities renovations and upgrades to a variety of school sites. Dekalb votes approved the E-SPLOST VI on November 2, 2021, with an overall 80% approval rating. The funds allow the […]
Posted inDekalb County Schools
Dekalb County Schools given next steps by accreditation group
The Dekalb County School board still has work to do to be a functioning governing agency for the students in the district. In a Monitoring Review Report released on Friday, January 20, by the non-profit Cognia, Dekalb County Schools was given specific recommendations to address findings related to Board Governance after meeting with key district […]
Posted inCommunity
University of Georgia football player recruiting staff member killed in an early morning car crash
On Sunday at 2:45 a.m., a car crash involving a 2021 Ford Expedition claimed the life of 20-year-old Georgia offensive lineman Devin Willock and Chandler LeCroy, a Georgia recruiting staffer, passed away. The Ford Expedition, driven by LeCroy, was traveling southbound in the land of Barnett Shoals Road when the vehicle left the roadway, striking […]
Posted inGwinnett County Schools
Mill Creek High School Standout, Caleb Downs, was named Georgia Gatorade Football Player of the Year
Gatorade today announced Caleb Downs of Mill Creek High School is the 2022-23 Gatorade Georgia Football Player of the Year- the first Gatorade Georgia Football Player of the Year to be chosen from Mill Creek High School in Gwinnett County. The award, which recognizes not only outstanding athletic excellence but also high standards of academic achievement and exemplary character demonstrated on […]
Posted inCommunity
Two area high school bands to perform at HBCU All-Star Battle of the Bands in Atlanta
Two of Atlanta’s top high schools, Pebblebrook High School – the Mighty Marching Machine and Westlake High School – the Mighty Marching Lions, will perform at the HBCU Battle of the Bands at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium on February 4, 2023. Showcasing more than 35,000 student musicians over the last 17 years, HBCU All-Star Battle of […]
Posted inFayette County Schools
Fayette county public schools seek input on math textbook adoption
Fayette County Public Schools is looking for feedback from parents and the community as they adopt K-5 mathematics textbooks for the 2023-2024 school year. The two textbook vendors are Savvas (formerly Pearson) enVision and Curriculum Associates iReady Classroom, which the textbook committee recommended. While the district office’s mathematics department is expected to present to the […]
Posted inFulton County Schools
Metro area school districts dealing with the aftermath of water damage
Due to record-high temperatures this past week throughout the Atlanta area, several metro school districts have reported damage from record-low temperatures and blistering winds throughout district offices and schools. As indicated through social media, districts have spent the week assessing water damage. In Marietta City Schools, water damage was reported at the Emily Lembeck Early […]
Posted inMarietta City Schools
Parade for Marietta High School cross country team postponed
A parade scheduled to celebrate the Marietta City Schools varsity boys and girls cross country teams have been postponed until Friday, January 6th at 1:00 pm. The celebration comes after both the varsity boys and girls team won the state championship. According to the mcsk12.org website, the parade will begin at the corner of Winn […]
Posted inAtlanta Public Schools
Ciena and Digital Promise team up with three Atlanta Public Schools to provide learning opportunities to students
Three Atlanta Public Schools have been awarded a $45,000 grant to provide digital tools and resources to engage students in the Ciena Solutions Challenge. As a result, students from Benjamin E. Mays High School, Coretta Scott King Young Women’s Leadership Academy, and B.E.S.T. Academy will solve real-world problems identified in the United Nations 17 Sustainable Development Goals that impact […]
Posted inSports
Grayson football coach resigns to take head coaching job at Lowndes
Grayson head football coach Adam Carter resigned Tuesday morning to become head football coach at Lowndes County Schools. Carter has spent the last four seasons with the Grayson Rams with a 45-9 record, winning the Class AAAAAAA state championship in the 2020 season and making the 2021 semifinals and quarterfinals in 2019 and 2022. Before […]