AJC.com > Blogs > Get Schooled > Archives > 2005 > September > 09
Friday, September 9, 2005
Grading Georgia Schools
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Superintendent of Schools Kathy Cox said in her recent “state of education” address that the state’s school report cards will include “ratings of schools on a Performance Index.”
That doesn’t sound like Georgia will hand out letter grades like Florida does, but it may make it easier for parents to compare schools. Let’s face it, fair or not, many parents want to know which schools have the highest test scores.
The state will begin phasing in the 2004-2005 Report Card in September, with all components online by December, Cox said.
Should schools get a letter grade? Critics say schools can’t be boiled down to a single letter grade, and a grade of D or F can profoundly hurt a school that’s trying to improve. Proponents say parents don’t have time to sort through the ocean of data that’s out there. If not letter grades, what type of “index” would be fair?
