A Step In The Right Direction

[Guest guest]

Thought this was interesting. While some may have difficulties within these systems, it also seems like they are trying. Let's hope the other school systems do the same.

Kathy Everett

FIVE GEORGIA SCHOOL SYSTEMS RECOGNIZED FOR WORK WITH SPECIAL NEEDS STUDENTS ATLANTA — Five Georgia school systems have been recognized for leadership in raising the achievement levels of special needs students. At the recent Georgia Council for Administrators of Special Education Conference, school systems whose performance data placed them in the top ten percent of comparably sized systems were recognized as "High Achievers." Systems were also recognized as "Most Improved" based on progress compared to systems of a similar size. The five school systems that were recognized in the most categories received the Pacesetter Award in recognition of their leadership and success. The Pacesetter Award Systems were: Buford City Schools, Fayette County Schools, Oconee County Schools, Trion City Schools and Cherokee County Schools. State Superintendent of Schools Kathy and the Georgia Department of Education Division for Exceptional Students have set clear goals for raising student achievement for these special students. They include improving achievement for students with disabilities, lowering the drop out rate, increasing the graduation rate, boosting the rates of employment or post-secondary education for graduates, raising the number of fully certified special education teachers, and increasing the time students with disabilities stay in general education classes with the needed services and support. The Buford City School System was recognized as a "High Achiever" in three areas: for the increasing the percentage of students with disabilities who graduate with a regular diploma, increasing the percentage of graduates who are employed or continuing their education after graduation, and decreasing the achievement gap between students with and without disabilities on statewide achievement tests. The system was also "Most Improved" in two areas, the percentage of students with disabilities who met or exceeded achievement test standards and the percentage of fully certified special education teachers. The Fayette County School System received recognition as a "High Achiever" in six areas: decreasing the drop out rate, increasing regular diploma rate, increasing the time students with disabilities spend in the general education classroom, increasing the rate of employment and post-secondary education for graduates, increasing the percentage of students with disabilities who met or exceeded standards on statewide achievement tests, and decreasing the gap between the achievement of students with and without disabilities. The Oconee County School System was recognized as a "High Achiever" in seven areas: decreasing the drop out rate, increasing the regular education diploma rate, increasing time spent in the general education classroom, increasing the rate of employment and post-secondary education for graduates, decreasing the achievement gap, increasing the percentage of students with disabilities who met or exceeded standards on the statewide achievement tests, and increasing the percentage of fully certified special education teachers. The Trion City School System was a "High Achiever" in five areas: decreasing the drop out rate, increasing the regular diploma rate, increasing the number of graduates who are employed or in post-secondary education, meeting or exceeding the standard on statewide achievement tests, and decreasing the achievement gap. Trion City also was "Most Improved" in increasing the number of fully certified special education teachers. The Cherokee County School System had performance data that put it in the "High Achiever" category in four areas: for increasing the regular diploma rate, increasing time spent in the general education classroom, increasing the number of graduates employed or in post-secondary education, and increasing the percentage of students with disabilities who met or exceeded standards on statewide achievement