The GaDOE source [Jan. 2010]

S TheGaDOE ource

DEC 09/JAN 10
ISSUE
Kathy Cox, State Superintendent of Schools

Off the Needs Improvement List

17 State-Directed Schools removed from Needs Improvement Status.

State Superintendent Kathy Cox and the State Board of Education recognize 17 principals at the November State Board Meeting.
At its November meeting, the State Board of Education and State Superintendent of Schools Kathy Cox recognized 17 schools for being removed from Needs Improvement status. What's most impressive about that accomplishment is that these 17 schools were in State-Directed status, meaning they were in Needs Improvement year five or more.
As part of Georgia's Differentiated Accountability Plan under No Child Left Behind, a school in Needs Improvement level five and above has a full-time state director that is in the school ensuring that they do what is necessary to make Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP). That includes providing observations and professional development to teachers, academic coaches, and administrators. The state directors work to help the schools implement strategies and policies that can be sustained after the school has been removed from State-Directed status, so the schools continue to make AYP. Working with their state directors, each of these schools focused on high expectations and saw great results in student achievement.
Each of the schools have a similar story-congratulations to all 17 schools!

List of 17 Schools
Kennedy Middle
Atlanta Public Schools
Long Middle
Atlanta Public Schools
Oak Hill Middle
Baldwin County
Bryan County Middle
Bryan County
Henderson Middle
Butts County
Crawford County Middle
Crawford County
Merry Acres Middle
Dougherty County
Franklin County Middle
Franklin County
East Hall Middle
Hall County
Mitchell County Middle
Mitchell County
Clements Middle
Newton County
Pelham City Middle
Pelham City
Morgan Road Middle
Richmond County
Spirit Creek Middle
Richmond County
Tubman Middle
Richmond County
Upson-Lee Middle
Thomaston-Upson Schools
MacIntyre Park Middle
Thomasville City

Congratulations to Georgia's Title I Distinguished Schools and Districts!

Title I Distinguished Districts National Title I Distinguished Schools

Inside
Page 2 Leading the Nation in Improving Student Achievement
Page 3 Improving Student Behavior
Page 3 Online Course Offerings Expanded
Page 4 Supt. Cox: "High expectations lead to high achievement"
Resources
Stimulus Funding www.GaDOE.org/stimulus.aspx
Pandemic Flu Information tinyurl.com/GA-Pandemic-Flu
GaDOE Publications tinyurl.com/GaDOE-Print-Materials
Math Webpage www.GeorgiaMath.org
Graduation Requirements www.GaDOE.org/Graduation
State Curriculum Standards www.GeorgiaStandards.org
State Test Preparation www.GeorgiaOAS.org
Georgia Virtual School www.GaVirtualSchool.org
Media Specialist Newsletter www.GaDOE.org/sia_as_library.aspx
Free SAT Prep Class www.GaDOE.org/SATPrepClass
State Board of Education Update tinyurl.com/nov-09-sbm

Henry County Large District
Marietta City Medium District

Brooks County Small District
Chattahoochee County
Very Small District

Echols County Schools (9-12), Echols County Closing the Gap
Gainesville High School, Gainesville City Meets and Exceeds Performance

Did you know...
...for 3 years in a row, Georgia has had a National Principal of the Year?

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The GaDOE

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In 46% of the comparisons, Georgia is now at or above the national average, as opposed to 29% in 2003.

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Nation Georgia

DEC 09/JAN 10
ISSUE

Improving Student Behavior

Through Positive Reinforcement

Positive Behavior Support (PBS) works.
Instructional Time Regained
Implementing PBS proves beneficial to students and educators.
Positive Behavior Support (PBS) is a general term that refers to the application of positive interventions and system changes to achieve socially important behavior change. It is based on a problem-solving model and aims to prevent inappropriate behavior through teaching and reinforcing appropriate behaviors (OSEP Technical Assistance Center on Positive Behavioral Interventions & Supports, 2007). School-wide PBS fits into Georgia's Response to Intervention (RTI): Student Achievement Pyramid of Intervention as a universal approach

which focuses attention on the set of social skills/behaviors that all students are expected to display. The curriculum consists of specific school-wide expectations developed at each school which are then taught to students and reinforced in every setting. Progress monitoring by teachers and school-based PBS teams guides the application of interventions in a consistent and systematic manner.
Bagley Middle School in Murray County implemented PBS. The results of staff and student time saved by reductions in time spent on student discipline referrals is significant. There was a 52 percent reduction in referrals, which allowed administrators to regain eight days of time and students regained the equivalent of 19 days of instruction time. The chart to the left shows the difference PBS can make.
Other schools have seen similar positive changes in student behavior. For example, Swainsboro Middle School in Emanuel

County reported a 34 percent reduction in student discipline referrals, which saved the equivalent of 33 days of instructional time compared to the previous school year. Lee County Schools implemented PBS in all schools during the 2008-2009 school year. The results indicate that student discipline referrals declined by 25 percent compared to data from the previous school year.
During the 2009-2010 school year, as many as 100 schools in Georgia are implementing PBS. Additional PBS training sessions will be scheduled during the year for schools and districts interested in implementing PBS.
For more information about PBS, including training sessions and implementation, contact PBS Program Manager Ginny O'Connell at 404-657-9953 or voconnel@GaDOE.org.

Online Course Offerings Expanded

Register now for spring semester.
Since the summer of 2005, students across the state have had the opportunity to take courses generally not offered in their local schools. Georgia Virtual School (GAVS) is a program of the Georgia Department of Education and is an online solution for schools and students. The program now offers 21 Advanced Placement courses available to all students in the state. Chinese, Japanese, French, Spanish, German, and Latin supplement the schools' world language offerings. A total of 134 middle and high school courses are offered in the program.
Although GAVS courses are rigorous, almost 9,000 students have successfully earned credit in over 13,000 classes. More than 500 Georgia middle and high schools have participated in the program since its inception. As one Coweta County student said, "This Georgia Virtual School course was academically challenging,

Online courses provide great options for Georgia Students.

and it also taught me the importance of managing my time well. This has been invaluable during my freshman year in college."
GAVS has expanded its course offerings to meet the demands of middle school students as well as those in high school. The courses are aligned with the Georgia Performance Standards and are taught by certified teachers. The courses are preceded by an orientation that familiarizes the student with the online platform.
Students can register for classes in math, science, language arts, Spanish, French, and electives in health care science or career management. Registration is now open until January 4, 2010 for spring courses. For more information, go to http://www.gavirtualschool.org/ or contact the Georgia Virtual School office at 404-657-0574.

The GaDOE

Letter from State Superintendent Kathy Cox

High expectations lead to high achievement.

One of my main goals as State Superintendent has been to ensure that ALL students in Georgia achieve at high levels, regardless of their background, situation, or location. Several changes since 2003, including the new graduation requirements and more rigorous Georgia Performance Standards, have been driven by this idea. I truly believe that all students in this state are able to achieve if we hold them to high expectations and provide the support they need. Higher achieving students are better prepared for postsecondary education and the workplace and will have a positive impact on our economy.
We recently honored 17 State-Directed schools for coming out of Needs Improvement Status this year. Each received the support of the state and had a strong principal. They were laser-focused on the standards and

willing to try new ideas to improve student achievement. In each case, these seemingly simple factors really helped turn these schools around.
I'd also like to recognize our Title I Distinguished Schools. This award is given to schools with a high percentage of economically disadvantaged students that experience great academic success. When we began giving this award in 2003, 116 schools were recognized. This year, 896 schools, including two National Title I Distinguished Schools, received the award. We also recognized four Title I Distinguished Districts. These districts have closed the achievement gap the most between economically disadvantaged students and students who are not economically disadvantaged. This is a testament to the hard work going on in schools and districts throughout our state. We are expecting more

of our students, and they are rising to meet the challenge.
Just as we saw in our 17 State-Directed schools, four Title I Distinguished Districts and the 896 Title I Distinguished Schools, students will achieve at high levels if they are held to high expectations. That is why Georgia has adopted the "no excuses" mindset that our students can and will continue to reach ever-higher levels of achievement. Our future depends on their success!
Wishing you a wonderful holiday season and a joyous new year!
Sincerely,

Kathy Cox

Georgia Department of Education
Communications 2062 Twin Towers East 205 Jesse Hill Jr., Drive SE Atlanta, GA 30334 (404) 463-1487 (404) 656-0966 communications@GaDOE.org

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Kathy Cox, State Superintendent of Schools