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Charter schools - IB - AP - BS - something needs to be done (and GA has nothing to brag about):
Stats:
Atkinson County: 64.5% of '05 graduates qualified for our "Hope Scholarship" program (free college tuition and fees for 3.0 average or better). 53.8% of Atkinson's grads (receiving 'Hope' $$$) who enrolled at a GA public college required remedial courses.
Confronted with the above stats: "We've discarded that grading system," say school officials.
Evidence of grade inflation caused by 'Hope': 61.1% of all GA grads get 'Hope' with 3.0 or better GPA.
It's not money, say reputable studies:
GA's teacher compensation: highest in the nation (adjusted for cost of living - costs less to live in GA than most blue states). Gov. is proposing 4% raise for all teachers, and most get an addl. 3% step.
School enrollment up 9.8% '95 - '02. Property tax collections up 70.9%.
We need change. We need a new model.
PS: I am a member of NEA for the benefits, not the politics.
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