Wednesday, October 1, 2003
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Wednesday, October 1, 2003 |
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Cox offers her support to Perdue's SAT contest Gov. Sonny Perdue on Monday announced details of his own statewide program aimed at improving SAT scores, an initiative that throws a little friendly competition into the effort to pull Georgia’s scores above 50th place nationally. The contest, called the Governor’s Cup Challenge, groups high schools into the same athletic regions and classifcations assigned by the Georgia High School Association for football, this time competing to see which can post the largest numerical improvement in SAT scores from one academic year to the next. State Supt. Kathy Cox of Peachtree City, who in August launched her own statewide initiative to raise SAT scores based on an approach developed by Fayette County school administrators, is supporting Perdue’s effort. “I promised the people of Georgia I would not settle for having SAT scores that rank 50th in the nation because we all know that our education system is better than what these scores reßect,” Perdue said Monday in announcing the program from Midtown Atlanta’s historic Grady High School, with Kathy Cox by his side. “However, we also know that our education system does need improvement, and this competition will take us further down the path toward educational success.” Here’s how Perdue’s contest would work: Region Champion trophies and $1,000 grants will be awarded to each of 40 high schools that show the best improvement in each of the state’s athletic regions. The eight region winners in each class would then compete for one of five Class Championships. Each of those five high schools will be awarded a Governor’s Cup trophy and receive a $2,000 grant. In addition, the Þve class champions will be featured on a television program to highlight the unique strategies used to improve their SAT scores. Students taking the test at the Þve winning schools will also receive tickets to a Braves game at Turner Field. Turner Broadcasting is the primary sponsor of the competition and will fund the regional and class grants, to be used for SAT preparation classes and materials. Turner is also donating an SAT Preparation CD-ROM to each high school in the competition, another resource to improve SAT scores. The idea has not been without its critics, but Perdue dismisses the naysayers. “We are using friendly competition to spur a renewed attentiveness to SAT success, and I know that Georgia students and educators will rise to this challenge,” he said. Cox took the opportunity Monday to again highlight the initiatives she and her staff are implementing, which include hiring former Starr’s Mill High School teacher Charlotte Robinson as statewide SAT coordinator and making PSAT exams widespread among 10th-graders. “The Governor’s Cup taps into our true spirit of competition in an effort to get students focused on improving their SAT scores,” Cox said. “It also supports the mission of the Georgia Department of Education, to lead the nation in improving student achievement.” WHO COMPETES AGAINST WHO? The GHSA classifies schools by enrollment from A to AAAAA, and then groups them into one of eight geographical regions, for a total of 40 regions statewide. Due to shifts in enrollments, schools will be in new classifications starting next fall, where they will remain through 2006. Here are the current and proposed regions that involve Fayette public schools. Landmark Christian and Our Lady of Mercy compete in 5-A and will not change. 4-AAAAA CURRENT Fayette County McIntosh Starr’s Mill Newnan East Coweta Carver-Columbus Riverdale Lovejoy PROPOSED FOR 2004-06 Fayette County Starr’s Mill East Coweta Newnan Lovejoy Mundy’s Mill Union Grove 4-AAAA CURRENT Sandy Creek Woodward Academy Douglas County Pebblebrook Northgate Chapel Hill Lithia Springs North Clayton Alexander Forest Park PROPOSED FOR 2004-06 McIntosh Sandy Creek Whitewater Alexander Chapel Hill Creekside Douglas County Haralson County Lithia Springs Northgate Villa Rica Woodward Academy
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