DeKalb schools off probation
The DeKalb County School District is off probation, ending a year of turmoil that saw intervention by the governor after an accreditation agency alleged profound mismanagement.
“The threat of the loss of accreditation is no longer imminent,” said Mark Elgart, the president and CEO of AdvancED, parent company of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
SACS placed DeKalb on probation in December 2012, when Elgart warned that the system was on the verge of accreditation loss. He announced Tuesday that DeKalb was being moved up to the next level — “warned.”
He acknowledged there might be some disappointment that accreditation wasn’t fully restored but said the district should be proud of the progress so far given the turmoil and changes in leadership.
Gov. Nathan Deal, who replaced six of the nine school board members last year, said he was gratified by their stewardship. “You have shown my actions and my confidence in you to be well-placed,” he said, during a 5-minute speech at the school district headquarters.
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.
