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As school starts, parents angle for the best teachers

The first day of class for metro Atlanta schools really has gotten earlier. Cobb County students go back to school July 31. Atlanta's first day is Aug. 1. DeKalb, Fulton and Gwinnett start Aug. 7.
By Ty Tagami
July 24, 2017

“I wanted the best,” one parents tells The Atlanta Journal-Constitution when talking about why he asked that his child be assigned to a specific teacher he was familiar with.

That’s a normal parental reaction when it comes to kids and their education. The grown ups know the advantages of having a great teacher and want that for their students.

That type of finagling begins to go on at this time of year as parents begin to learn about which classroom their child has been assigned to.

The process of asking for classroom assignment changes becomes a balancing act for principals, teachers and families, with some schools making some concessions as they try to balance need, desires and resources.

Read what those involved think about "the ask," in our story on myAJC.com.

About the Author

Ty Tagami is a staff writer for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Since joining the newspaper in 2002, he has written about everything from hurricanes to homelessness. He has deep experience covering local government and education, and can often be found under the Gold Dome when lawmakers meet or in a school somewhere in the state.

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