Atlanta Public Schools in the post-No Child Left Behind era
Many education issues are affecting Atlanta area schools. These issues range from loss and recent clearing of accreditation in local area schools to the well-publicized Georgia Criterion-Referenced Competency Tests (CRCT) cheating scandal and subsequent investigation results, as well as the ever-present goal to improve local area schools.
These education issues and others remain hot button topics and the subjects of fierce debates in many metro area assembly town halls, classrooms, and homes of lawmakers, education professionals, parents, and students alike.
One such education issue affecting metro Atlanta schools is the standards and performance issues that stem from the federal law, No Child Left Behind. Georgia is one of 10 states that has been granted a waiver from the Obama administration from the tough federal education law.
Under the waiver, Georgia agrees to raise the standards of its schools, make all necessary plans to improve teacher efficacy, and improve accountability of the school systems, in exchange for not being held to the current federal government standards set by No Child Left Behind.
Many locals speculate that No Child Left Behind is the catalyst of the Atlanta Public School cheating scandal, as teachers reportedly changed competency test answers to meet what many consider unattainable requirements of No Child Left Behind.
With the waiver, Atlanta area schools can now expand student evaluation beyond the federal law’s requirements for standardized testing in only math and reading and furnish their own methods of student evaluation, as well as explore testing evaluation in more than just math and reading subjects.
Another issue affecting Atlanta area schools is the cuts in education funding. It’s no secret that the struggling economy has taken its toll on nearly every aspect of society and local schools are no exception.
Georgia schools have cut approximately $1.1 billion, according to Atlanta Journal-Constitution education blogger, Maureen Downey. Students are now experiencing cuts in the classroom ranging from reduction in faculty and facilities, technology, books, departments and course offerings, after-school programs, and cuts to the popular HOPE scholarship.
The HOPE scholarship is yet another issue that students must deal with in the metro Atlanta area. Members of the Georgia Legislative Black Caucus are proposing changes to the popular scholarship plan including changes in eligibility for the state’s wealthiest families and also loosening HOPE requirements for the poor.
These proposed changes to HOPE would be the latest in what has been a string of recent changes to the scholarship program, including the elimination of full payment of tuition, elimination of book allowance, elimination of mandatory fees, among several others.
County school board redistricting is also a notable issue for several metro Atlanta counties. With Gwinnett County and Henry County already redrawing their districts and DeKalb County school district still under consideration for redistricting, many families in the metro Atlanta area will be affected by the changes.
These education issues will continue to affect metro Atlanta area schools for the foreseeable future until much-needed improvement is achieved in local schools.
