More Atlanta Public Schools students will be eligible for academic help under a revised plan to help address learning deficiencies that were overlooked because of widespread cheating.
Monday, the district announced it would offer remediation to all students struggling in math and reading, even if they passed state exams. Originally the district was planning to offer assistance to students in grades 3-9 who failed the Georgia Criterion-Referenced Competency Tests, and 10th graders in math support classes.
Students will receive additional math and English instruction during the school day through May and the summer months , said Karen Waldon, deputy superintendent of instruction. Saturday and before and after school tutoring sessions will depend on funding.
“A number of students would be excluded from support if we didn't cast a wider net,” Waldon said.
Last month, the district said it would use existing intervention programs to target students who failed to score at grade level in reading and math on the 2011 CRCT. Teachers will be given additional training, and the district is planning to reach out to parents to increase help at home.
Officials originally estimated about 5,500 students will need help in math and 3,000 in reading, but said its impossible to know for sure how many were affected by cheating because the state investigation focused on testing that took place two years ago. A state investigation released in July named about 180 educators as participants in cheating. The report claims educators erased and corrected mistakes on students' answer sheets or gave verbal cues on test day at at least 44 schools.
The district also announced tweaks to the process of reassigning teachers to balance enrollment, known as "leveling."
Earlier this year, the district angered parents who got incorrect information about the transferring of teachers to other schools. Monday, Superintendent Erroll Davis said the district is trying to improve the process by making enrollment projections later in the school year.
The district had about 170 teaching positions after the start of the school year.
"This year, in addition to having a shortage of teachers, there were some glitches," he said. "It’s never going to be perfect. But we think it is going to be better."
Grady High parent Debbie Williams asked the board to address the four vacancies at the school, one in math and three in special education.
"I ask that you help us have an effective teacher, in every classroom every day starting on the first day of school and guaranteed throughout the school year," she said.
In other board news, early projections show the district will have to trim about $60 million in 2012-13 to balance the budget. Officials said they are hoping for additional revenue to decrease the cuts.
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