Florida universities decide to admit Clayton students

Gov. Sonny Perdue’s plea to Florida’s 11 public universities has been heard. The schools have decided they will, after all, admit Clayton County students.

Last week, Florida officials said they planned to uphold a policy that says students should have a diploma from a “regionally accredited high school” to attend a state university.

Clayton County schools headlines:

• Photos: Timeline of Clayton schools' woes

• Union members protest Clayton school pick 
• Retired Marine says he's a contender for Clayton schools chief 
• Clayton poised to hire retired Marine as superintendent 
• Clayton schools regain accreditation 
• Clayton schools to get $25M in federal aid 

• AJC editorial: Less hope

• Read the full report to SACS:
  • Part 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 (Large PDFs)



• Read SACS' report (PDF)

Clayton County news

Florida Chancellor Mark B. Rosenberg decided today to overlook that policy for Clayton County students.

Admissions officials at Florida schools will look at students’ grades, SAT scores, extracurricular activities and public service, just as they do any other students, said Bill Edmonds, spokesman for the Board of Governors of the State University System of Florida.

“We’re not holding it against the students the fact that they are coming from schools that lost accreditation,” Edmonds said. “Accreditation is important and the expectation is that Clayton County will work to get its accreditation restored as soon as possible. This will not be a permanent arrangement.”

The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools revoked Clayton’s accreditation effective Sept. 1.