State grants charter status to three districts

Three of four school districts being considered for charter school status were approved Thursday by the state Board of Education. Decatur, Marietta, and Gainesville city schools become the first of Georgia’s "charter" systems. Chattahoochee County was denied charter status by unanimous vote. The three approved districts join Warren County this fall in going "charter". The new status allows the districts to operate relatively free of state control. The schools however, must show progress or face danger of losing such status.

State education officials consider charter applications

The state’s Board of Education meets today to discuss whether to grant charter school status to four Georgia school districts. The Board is considering applications from Decatur city, Chattahoochee County, Gainesville city and Marietta city school districts. The full Board will vote on the issue tomorrow.

More math and science next year for high schoolers

Next year's high school freshmen will take more math and science than their predecessors. The changes are expected to be approved next week by the state Board of Education. The goal is to increase Georgia’s high school graduation rate and the number of students entering college. The new rules would do away with the state's four-tiered diploma system that required different classes for students depending on their post-graduation plans.

Voucher program for special-needs students active today

Beginning today, parents of disabled children can go online for a list of the private schools participating in Georgia's new tuition voucher program for special- needs students.

More than a hundred private schools are on the list approved Thursday by the Board of Education. But educators say that just because a school is on the list, doesn't mean it has the specialized teachers, curriculum or facilites necessary to give disabled students the best education.

They urge parents to be careful choosing a school because as Board of Education spokesperson Dana Tofig said, "When parents sign onto the program, they are signing away the rights under the Individuals with Disability Education Act (IDEA) which provides protection for students with disabilities who are educated in the public schools."

According to state figures, 186 thousand disabled students from kindergarten through grade 12 attended GA public schools last year.

The average private school voucher is expected be around nine thousand dollars.