Friday, January 23, 2004
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Friday, January 23, 2004 |
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Work continues for Cox’s Student Advisory Council The work continues for 35 Georgia high school students taking part in the new Student Advisory Council established by State Superintendent of Schools Kathy Cox. Among the councilmembers are two from Sandy Creek High School, and the only ones from Fayette County — junior Megan Smelley and senior Kamila Triche. The second of four meetings has been scheduled for Monday, Jan. 26, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Emory University. The agenda is still being formalized. During the group’s first meeting in November at Zoo Atlanta, no topic was off limits. The students engaged in thoughtful discussion on the “No Child Left Behind” Act, rewards and consequences for schools making and failing to make AYP, and the Georgia High School Graduation Test. They also talked about “big picture” issues such as diversity and tolerance in Georgia’s schools, dropout prevention, and raising SAT scores. “The students are amazing. They were open, honest and eloquent,” said Cox. “Every decision we make at the state level has a direct effect on them so it makes perfect sense to listen closely to what they have to say.” The meeting concluded with the students receiving a homework assignment: Cox asked them to meet with fellow students, school administrators and members of the community to get input concerning the HOPE scholarship, educational funding issues, and testing and bring it to the Jan. 26 meeting.
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