Georgia Cyber Academy Unanimously Approved by State Charter Commission

/PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Today (February 17), the Georgia Charter Schools Commission unanimously approved a charter for the Georgia Cyber Academy (GCA), the state's largest online public school. The approved charter enables GCA to expand its operations to grades K-12 to meet the growing demand from families across the state. The Commission also established an equitable funding level that will allow the school to provide more teachers and offer art, music, foreign language and other elective classes to its students.

"Today's decision gives thousands of Georgia students and their parents a new option for a first-class education," said Ryan Mahoney, chairman of the GCA Board. "We thank the Commission for recognizing GCA's strong track record in Georgia, and we look forward to welcoming new students this fall."

GCA is in its third year and currently serves over 6,000 students in grades K-9. The school has demonstrated consistently strong academic performance, student academic gains and high parent satisfaction. GCA also made Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) the past two years.

GCA uses the award-winning curriculum and academic services provided by K12 Inc., America's largest provider of proprietary curriculum and online school programs for students in kindergarten through high school.

Prior to today's vote, GCA received a strong recommendation from the Georgia Charter Schools Commission review panel. The panel noted the school's strong and flexible academic program, which enables students to receive a customized education. The report also stated that the interview panel was "pleased to see the high academic performance of the GCA," noting that GCA students averaged more than one year of grade level growth in Math and Reading in all grades.

The Commission also cited the growing enthusiasm for GCA and the high demand for enrollment. The report stated: "GCA's waitlist for enrollment, which consistently numbers in the thousands, illustrates the demand for their services and the good reputation they are building among Georgia families seeking alternative educational opportunities for their students."

Online learning is one of the fastest-growing areas in education, according to the International Association for K-12 Online Learning (iNACOL). Online public charter schools, like GCA, are growing steadily across the country as their popularity continues to rise with parents, students and educators. A national report titled Keeping Pace with K-12 Online Learning shows that more than half the states in the U.S. now have full-time online public school options.

More information about Georgia Cyber Academy can be found at www.k12.com/gca/.

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Deal to act quickly on APS probation

Gov. Nathan Deal will take an active role in helping Atlanta Public Schools prevent loss of its accreditation. Upon the announcement today that the system's high schools are on probation, the governor has reached out to Mayor Kasim Reed and has called a meeting tomorrow with the entire Atlanta legislative delegation.

"I will make every effort to ensure that Atlanta's children are not harmed by the adults who have failed them," Deal said. "I have begun the process of working with Atlanta's leaders, including my friend Mayor Reed, to implement corrective action immediately. The high schools are on probation but they have not lost their accreditation. We must do everything possible to stop an embarrassing situation from snowballing into a destructive situation.

"Children's futures are at stake. My budget showed the priority I place on education. My actions in this situation will demonstrate similar resolve. In addition to working with Atlanta's leaders, I announced today that I've asked the team investigating the APS administration of the CRCT to continue its work. I'm determined to get to the bottom of what happened, so we can guarantee the integrity of testing in Atlanta and throughout Georgia."

The report from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools details a dysfunctional city school board that has failed to serve the students of Atlanta. Current state law allows the governor to remove board members in such a scenario, but the law does not apply in this case because all of the board members were in office before the law took effect.

The probation of Atlanta high schools will have no impact on the HOPE scholarship eligibility of the Class of 2011.
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National Alliance for Public Charter Schools Issues a Statement on the Selection of Round Two Race to the Top Winners

/PRNewswire/ -- The National Alliance for Public Charter Schools today released the following statement from its President and CEO, Peter Groff, on the states selected for funding by the U.S. Department of Education in the second round of the Race to the Top competition:

"We are pleased to see five states that are strongly supportive of public charter schools among those awarded Race to the Top grants today. According to the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools' annual rankings of state charter laws, the District of Columbia has the second strongest law in the country. Georgia has the fourth strongest, followed by Massachusetts, New York and Florida, with the fifth, eighth and eleventh strongest charter laws, respectively. These states are boldly incorporating public charter schools into their overall efforts to improve public education.

However, we are concerned that the selection of three states - Maryland, North Carolina and Ohio - sends the wrong message. They have clearly shown a resistance to embracing the role of public charter schools in education reform. Even the U.S. Department of Education scored theses states among the lowest of those awarded grants. Sadly, these states are still being rewarded for actively limiting public-education options for the families that need them the most. Maryland has the worst charter law in the country, North Carolina has a cap of 100 charters that it reached almost 10 years ago, and Ohio has some of the most arbitrary caps in the country.

Since the Race to the Top grants competition was announced in June 2009, 15 states have lifted their caps on charter schools and one state has enacted a charter law. We applaud the Obama Administration for its role in encouraging these positive changes. Overall, six of the 12 winners in the first and second rounds have removed restrictions on growth: Delaware, Hawaii, Massachusetts, New York, Rhode Island and Tennessee.

As we approach the potential third round of funding, we urge the Administration to recommit to only awarding grants to those states that are truly committed to all facets of education reform."

The National Alliance for Public Charter Schools (http://www.publiccharters.org/) is the national nonprofit organization committed to advancing the charter school movement. The Alliance works to increase the number of high-performing charter schools available to all families, particularly low-income and minority families who currently do not have access to quality public schools. The Alliance provides assistance to state charter school associations and resource centers, develops and advocates for improved public policies, and serves as the united voice for this large and diverse movement. More than 1.6 million students attend nearly 5,000 charter schools in 40 states and the District of Columbia.

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Governor Names Former DeKalb DA Bob Wilson, Former Attorney General Mike Bowers as Special Investigators

Governor Sonny Perdue today announced that he is appointing former DeKalb County District Attorney Bob Wilson and former Georgia Attorney General Mike Bowers as Special Investigators to look into testing irregularities on the 2009 CRCT administration at Atlanta Public Schools and Dougherty County School System.

Governor Perdue told the State Board of Education on Wednesday that he would take this step after the reports submitted by Atlanta Public Schools and Dougherty County School System were deemed to be incomplete.

Michael J. Bowers

Michael J. Bowers former Attorney General of Georgia, is a Partner at Balch & Bingham LLC. He joined the firm in September of 1998, concentrating in general civil litigation. He became Partner in January of 2000. Georgia Trend Magazine named Mike as one of the 100 Most Influential Georgians from their beginning in 1990 through 1997 and again in 2003. Mike currently serves as Chairman of the Georgia Judicial Nominating Commission. Upon obtaining his law degree, Mike accepted a position with the State of Georgia Attorney General’s Office, where he worked until he was appointed Attorney General of Georgia in 1981. Mike was reelected four times and served as Attorney General until June of 1997, when he resigned from office in order to seek the Republican nomination for Governor. Bowers served in the United States Air Force from 1963-1970, when he joined the Air National Guard, from which he retired in 1997 at the rank of Major General. >From 1994 to 1997, he served as Chair of the National Guard Bureau’s Counterdrug Board in Washington, D.C. Mike and his wife, Bette Rose, are the parents of three grown children and reside in Commerce.

Robert E. “Bob” Wilson 

Bob Wilson received a B.S. degree from the University of North Carolina in 1970 and is a 1974 graduate of Emory University School of Law. In 1978, Wilson was appointed Chief Public Defender for DeKalb County, a position he held until resigning to run for District Attorney. Bob was first elected District Attorney for the Stone Mountain Judicial Circuit in 1980 by defeating an incumbent. As District Attorney, Bob was twice re-elected without opposition. While District Attorney, Bob established Georgia’s first Child Abuse Prosecution Unit, first Career Criminal Prosecution Unit as well as one of Georgia’s first Victim Assistance Programs. In 1998 Bob was one of the founders of the firm of Wilson, Morton & Downs, LLC, located in Decatur, where he practices law today. In 1992 Bob was appointed by then Governor Zell Miller as a Special Assistant Attorney General to investigate the business practices in Georgia of Fleet Finance, Inc., a subsidiary of one of America’s largest financial institutions. After conducting one of the most extensive civil investigations ever undertaken by the State of Georgia, Mr. Wilson negotiated a settlement valued in excess of $100 million between the State of Georgia and Fleet Finance. At the time, this settlement was the largest by any state against a single company under an unfair and deceptive acts and practices statute in United States history. During his legal career, Bob has served the State of Georgia and his local community in many capacities and received numerous awards and honors. Bob was co-founder and first Chair of the Board of Directors of the Georgia Center for Children, Inc., a non-profit organization that provides counseling for sexually-abused children (now known as the Georgia Center for Child Advocacy). He was also a founding member of the DeKalb Rape Crisis Center, Inc., a non-profit organization that provides assistance and counseling to adult sexual assault victims, and served as first Chairman of its Board of Directors. Bob is an active volunteer in the Boy Scouts of America and has served on the Executive Board of the Atlanta Area Council since 1983. In 2001 Bob was a founding member of the Decatur Education Foundation for the City Schools of Decatur, a non-profit organization that nurtures and supports enrichment opportunities and educational achievement for children and youth, and served as its first Chair of the Board until the Spring of 2004. Bob and his wife Lynda live in Decatur and have two sons, Alex and Matthew, and a daughter, Sarah Elizabeth.
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Parents to Charter School Commission: Obey the Law on Virtual School Funding

/PRNewswire/ -- A coalition representing more than 5,000 public virtual charter school students, parents, teachers, and supporters from across Georgia charged the state's Charter School Commission (Commission) with ignoring state law by refusing to create a funding formula based on sound research and actual costs of public virtual charter schools. As a result, for the third consecutive year, over 6,000 students in Georgia's public online schools will receive only a fraction of funds the law provides for their education.

Georgia Families for Public Virtual Education released a letter today demanding the Commission immediately reconsider its decision to fund virtual public school students at one-third of the allotment of other public school students. Students at traditional brick-and-mortar public schools and brick-and-mortar charter schools receive an average of $8,800 per pupil. The letter, penned by Georgia attorney Douglas Rosenbloom, requests a meeting with the Commission to review the arbitrary and unexplained decision to fund virtual public school students at less than $3,200.

"In 2008, the Legislature passed and Governor Perdue signed HB 881, mandating public funds follow each student from one public school to another, ensuring every public school student receives fair and equitable funding," said Renee Lord, President of the Georgia Families for Public Virtual Education and parent of a student at Georgia Cyber Academy (GCA), the only statewide virtual charter school.

"Students in public charter schools-both brick-and-mortar and virtual-were promised full and fair funding," Lord continued. "We expected the Commission, which was itself created by HB 881, to follow the law, do the research, and provide our students and teachers the resources they need and deserve. Instead, the Commission members chose to ignore the law, ignore the data, forget about research, and deny our schools the funds they need-funds that already exist in the system but are still being sent to the public schools our children previously attended."

"We are asking the Commission to do the right thing, look at the research and actual costs of fulltime virtual charter schools. Set a funding formula that allows some of the funds already allocated for our students to follow them to their new public school. It may be too late to open any new public virtual schools for the upcoming school year. But the Commission can and should ensure students at the state's only operating statewide virtual public school finally get the fair and equitable funding promised by the law."

In the letter to the Commission, attorney Rosenbloom notes that, under HB 881, a virtual charter school student's funding could be reduced only if the Commission followed a four-step process that included research and study into the actual costs of virtual education and identified any specific savings or efficiencies unique to the virtual education model.

"The 2008 passage of House Bill 881, which created the Commission as a charter schools authorizer, had the explicit purpose of providing equitable funding for charter school students. The average per pupil funding in Georgia for traditional brick-and-mortar schools is $8,800. The Commission announced last month to provide only $3,200 per pupil. This decision, it appears, was not supported by any legitimate cost study. In response to [the Coalition's] request for the basis of this funding decision, the Commission has provided only a one-page spreadsheet reflecting no research or investigation into virtual education costs... We hope the Commission (1) reconsiders its unwise funding decision and (2) re-visits its illegal and incomprehensible decision-making process."

According to Rosenbloom, the Commission conducted no analysis of "actual costs" or "efficiencies" to support its low funding decision for virtual charter schools. The result, he concludes, is a new school year beginning without any new public virtual school options in Georgia. Last month, two virtual charter schools withdrew their applications following the Commission's decision to provide inadequate funding.

Students at GCA will be under-funded for the third year in a row; they currently receive around $3,200 per pupil. While they await the additional funding promised by HB 881, school officials have been forced to increase class sizes and eliminate art, music, and foreign language classes from the planned curriculum. Despite funding challenges, GCA continues to make significant gains in student achievement, outperforming Georgia state (brick-and-mortar school) averages.

Rosenbloom points out that despite common misconceptions that quality virtual schools are significantly less costly than brick-and-mortar schools, data-driven research concludes the costs of operating a virtual school are about the same as those of a regular brick-and-mortar school.

He adds that none of the virtual charter school applicants, nor the state's existing Georgia Cyber Academy, ever requested the full funding allocation available under the law. Most of the new applicants, as well as Georgia Cyber Academy, have sought to operate at around two-thirds of the full funding legally available-around $6,500 per pupil.

GCA, the only statewide virtual charter, teaches 6,000 students and is the largest public school (brick-and-mortar or virtual charter) in Georgia. The Academy also looks to add ninth grade in August with approximately 600 new students.

Virtual public charter schools are statewide, full-time public schools that employ state-certified public school teachers to oversee and guide students' work. Under this program students are able to work at home via computer and Internet connection under the guidance of a parent or responsible adult.

Accountability requirements are the same for virtual public charters as for every public school in the state. Students participate in state assessment tests and are required to meet attendance protocol. The school uses an established curriculum that consists of thousands of lessons in the typical core subjects that align with state standards and all of the teachers are also publicly certified.

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National Alliance for Public Charter Schools Finds Eight Race to the Top Finalists Supportive of Charter Schools

/PRNewswire/ -- The National Alliance for Public Charter Schools today released the following statement from president and CEO, Peter Groff. This statement is in response to the announcement of 19 finalists in the second round of competition for Race to the Top funding under the U.S. Department of Education.

"We are pleased to see strong representation from states supportive of charter schools as finalists in the second round of the Race to the Top competition. Eight of the finalists rank among the top 10 states shown to support the growth of high-quality charter schools in our annual examination of state charter laws. We commend these states for the commitment they've shown to education reform by enacting legislation that supports high-quality charter schools.

They are: Arizona, California, Colorado, the District of Columbia, Georgia, Louisiana, Massachusetts and New York. Two of the other finalists, Florida and Pennsylvania ranked eleventh and twelfth out of forty states with charter laws. We wish them success in their continued pursuit of a high-quality charter school sector within a healthy public education system.

Six states have raised or eliminated caps that hinder the growth of high-quality charter schools in response to Race to the Top. We are pleased to see Hawaii, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Illinois, New York and Rhode Island advanced to the final stage of the competition.

Unfortunately, three finalists fail to meet at least one Race to the Top guideline because they continue to block charter school growth. They are: Kentucky, North Carolina and Ohio. Despite education reform efforts that may exist in these states, they are keeping high-quality charter schools from bringing parents another public school option. Kentucky, in particular, has yet to pass a charter school law.

Maryland, also a finalist, was shown to have the worst charter school law in the country according to our rankings.

The remaining states, New Jersey and South Carolina, have charter laws that could be improved, but do not restrict the growth of high-quality charter schools with caps.

The Obama Administration and the U.S. Department of Education have created an unprecedented opportunity for reform with the Race to the Top. We applaud the Department's efforts to date and urge them to reinforce their commitment to the growth of high-quality charter schools by awarding grants only to those states with a track record of supporting high-quality charter schools."

The National Alliance for Public Charter Schools (http://www.publiccharters.org/) is the national nonprofit organization committed to advancing the charter school movement. The Alliance works to increase the number of high-performing charter schools available to all families, particularly low-income and minority families who currently do not have access to quality public schools. The Alliance provides assistance to state charter school associations and resource centers, develops and advocates for improved public policies, and serves as the united voice for this large and diverse movement. More than 1.6 million students attend nearly 5,000 charter schools in 40 states and the District of Columbia.

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Online School Options for Georgia Parents, Students Face Major Setback

/PRNewswire -- Georgia Families for Public Virtual Education raises strong concerns that two approved online high schools were forced to withdrawal due to low and unfair funding from the state. This week both Kaplan Academy of Georgia and Provost Academy Georgia will no longer provide virtual high school curriculum to students.

In 2008, Georgia passed landmark legislation HB881, requiring the Georgia Charter School Commission to provide fair and equitable funding for online public charter schools. The typical student in Georgia receives over $8,000, yet virtual charter schools only receive around $3,500 --among the lowest of any state.

Thousands of public school children are being denied funding despite a law mandating equal treatment. According to the International Association for K12 Online Learning (iNACOL), the national average of funding provided to online public schools is $6,500 per pupil. Still significantly less than the average child receives in brick and mortar schools.

"It is concerning that two new online schools set to provide high-level education to Georgia students are forced to close because the state refuses to uphold a law providing equal funding for virtual schools," said Rene Lord, Chairman of the Georgia Families for Public Virtual Education. "Experts and national studies all say funding for virtual schools should be at or near the national average. The Commission has failed the children by its disregard for their education and future."

The unenforced law creates a serious lack of options for parents and children. Currently, Odyssey School operated by Georgia Cyber Academy, is the only statewide virtual charter school alternative for kindergarten through middle school students and their parents.

Odyssey teaches around 6,000 students and is the largest public school (brick and mortar or virtual charter) in Georgia. The Academy is also looking to add ninth grade in August with approximately 600 new students. Odyssey continues to make significant gains in student achievement, outperforming Georgia state (brick and mortar school) averages.

Virtual charter schools are statewide, full-time public schools that employ state-certified public school teachers to oversee and guide students' work. Under this program students are able to work at home via computer and internet connection under the guidance of a parent or responsible adult.

Accountability requirements are the same for virtual charters as every public school in the state. Students participate in state assessment tests and are required to meet attendance protocol. The school uses an established curriculum that consists of thousands of lessons in the typical core subjects that align with state standards and all of the teachers are also publicly certified.

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Georgia Virtual School Registration Open for 2010-2011 School Year

The Georgia Department of Education today announced that registration for the Georgia Virtual School (GAVS) 2010-2011 school year is now open to public school students.

"The Georgia Virtual School is a great way for students to take courses that may not currently be offered in their school," said State Superintendent of Schools Kathy Cox. "I encourage parents and students to look into all of the courses available and enroll today."

Georgia Virtual School offers a complete high school curriculum with Advanced Placement and college prep level courses. The courses also offer a perfect solution for students who are hospital/home bound or working in an alternative school environment. GAVS gives public school students access to challenging courses and the opportunity to make up credits through the Georgia Credit Recovery Program so they can graduate on schedule. All GAVS courses are fully accredited and taught by certified teachers.

During Fall 2009, over 3,000 students successfully completed courses, including the Advanced Placement courses the Georgia Virtual Schools offers. This program gives all Georgia students options and opportunities often not available at their local school.

The most popular course offerings are six world languages including: Latin, Spanish, French, German, Japanese and Chinese. The program continues to offer Quality Core Curriculum Math courses including: Algebra I, II, III, Geometry, and Advanced Algebra/Trigonometry. The program also offers a limited middle school curriculum on a tuition basis.

High School Career, Technical & Agricultural Education (CTAE) courses (Marketing, Engineering and Technology, Public Safety, Agriculture, and Health Care Science) and Math II and Math III courses are currently in development.

State funding is available for a one unit course or two half unit courses per student per semester for high school level courses. Students may also pay tuition of $300 per half unit class. All courses must be approved by the student’s local school.

Private and home schooled students may begin registration for 2010-2011 GAVS courses on May 1, 2010.

Nine week mini-semester courses are also still available for spring 2010. These courses begin in March. Parents and students may contact the guidance counselor at their school for registration information.

For more information about Georgia Virtual School, visit the website at www.gavirtualschool.org or call 404-657-0574.

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Charter Schools 'Market Share' Growing; Exceeds 20% in 14 Communities

Georgia has over 62,000 students enrolled in charter schools.

PRNewswire/ -- Public charter schools' presence in K-12 schooling continues to grow, according to the latest Top 10 Charter Communities by Market Share report by the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools. In fact, charters now enroll more than one in five public school students in 14 communities - including major cities like Detroit, St. Louis, and Kansas City.

Demand remains strongest in urban areas - and as a result, charter "market share" is growing rapidly in cities and adjacent suburbs, even while the overall number of students remains a modest portion of nationwide enrollment.

"Charter schools are working at scale in a growing number of American cities," according to Nelson Smith, President and CEO of the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools. "Chartering is becoming well-established as a key component of the public education delivery system," he added.

The report finds:
-- Charter Growth Remains Strong: There are 14 communities where more
than 20% of public school students are enrolled in charters, up from
six in 2005-06. 72 communities now have at least 10% of public school
students in charter schools, 27 more than three years ago.
-- 10 Districts Enroll 22% of Charter Students: The 10 districts with the
largest number of students in public charter schools represent 22% of
the total public charter school population nationwide, a total of
304,494 students out of roughly 1.4 million in 2008-09.
-- More than 1/3 of Public School Students in Charters in Three Cities:
Public charter school market share breaks 30% of students in Detroit
(at 32%), Washington, D.C. (36%), and New Orleans (57%).
-- New Orleans Remains at #1 in Market Share Percentage: Not only are
charters in New Orleans serving a higher percentage of public school
students - 57% - than anywhere else in the nation, they are also the
highest performing sector of public schools in the city. More
importantly, the city's public schools as a whole are outperforming
the pre-Katrina system.
-- "In a city like Washington D.C., which has the second highest market
share of charter enrollment, the number of students choosing charters
is impressive," said Anna Nicotera, Director of Research and
Evaluation for the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools.
"Audited D.C. public charter school enrollment has jumped by eleven
percentage points from 25% in (2005-06) to 36% in (2008-09) and
charters there now enroll 43,035 students, which is about 25,000 more
students than four years ago."

The "Top 10" largest market share public charter school communities (including ties) are: New Orleans, LA (57%); Washington, D.C. (36%); Detroit, MI (32%); Kansas City, MO (29%); Dayton, OH (27%); Youngstown, OH (26%); St. Louis, MO (25%); Flint, MI (24%); Gary, IN (23%); Phoenix Union High School District, AZ (22%); and Minneapolis, MN (22%).

The "Top 10" communities with the greatest number of students enrolled in public charter schools are: Los Angeles, CA (59,122), Detroit, MI (43,035), Philadelphia, PA (32,579), Houston, TX (29,889), Chicago, IL (28,973), Washington, D.C. (25,729), Miami-Dade County, FL (23,865), New York City, NY (21,367), New Orleans, LA (20,068), and Broward County, FL (19,867).

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'The Number Two Pencil Solution': One Public School Teacher's Fight to Fend off Forces Bent on Destroying Public Education for Good

/PRNewswire/ -- Author Harry Ernest Fitch is proud to announce the release of his new book, "The Number Two Pencil Solution" (published by iUniverse), a book that takes readers inside the ever-changing face of the U.S. public education system. Follow along as Dan Wilder, a public school English teacher, dedicated to overseeing merit and achievement in his language arts students, interacts with many of the new mandates and policies created by the likes of the No Child Left Behind Act. Discover for yourself how these new policies make it more of a challenge for educators to teach in the public school system.

From ever-increasing regulations and mandates, to opponents of public school funding, to rigid administrators and indulgent parents, Wilder faces a mounting battle against a relentless bureaucracy that he believes he fights alone, especially as he deals with his disintegrating marriage to Mary Elizabeth, a third grade teacher.

"Every child can learn!" The words burst from his lips in unbridled anger. "Let us do our jobs! The effective way we know how! The way education is headed, every child will pass. But their so-called success will be hollow. And the so-called brighter students will lose motivation. That's what dumbing down like this does."

As Dan Wilder senses the education he loves is vanishing and may be a symptom of the inevitability of change, he revisits his hometown, where he realizes the futility of his situation, leading him to commit his final symbolic act of defiance.

Dedicated to all teachers who strive for excellence against the rising tide of mediocrity within public education, Fitch welcomes all readers to read his book and realize what our underpaid and overworked staff of public educator's face each and every day they set foot into their classrooms.

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University System of Georgia Fall Enrollment Increases 4.8 Percent

Enrollment Reaches All-Time High Approaching 283,000 Students

When the University System of Georgia (USG) Board of Regents adopted a new strategic plan in August 2007, the plan predicted an additional 100,000 students enrolling in Georgia’s 35 public colleges and universities by 2020. The numbers in the board’s fall 2008 enrollment report, released today, show the system is on track to reach and perhaps surpass that prediction, with a record 282,978 students.

And 46,711 of those students this fall are first-time freshmen. This group increased 9.6 percent over fall 2007 and is evidence of the increasing demand on public higher education resources by Georgians.

The overall numbers represent a gain of 12,956 students from fall 2007, or an increase of 4.8 percent. This follows a gain of 10,077 students from fall 2006 to fall 2007. To put the gains in perspective, the USG has grown by 32,319 students, or 12.9 percent, in the last five years.

“We have added the equivalent of another University of Georgia to the system over the past five years,” said USG Chancellor Erroll B. Davis Jr. “This represents significant growth, during a period in which we are challenged to serve more students at a high level of quality with diminished resources.” For example, a new USG analysis shows that the number of faculty and staff in the system to serve students has decreased by 18 percent per 1000 students from fall 2000 to fall 2007, while over the same period, enrollment increased 31.5 percent.

An analysis of the numbers shows two key developments, says Dr. Cathie Mayes Hudson, vice chancellor for Research and Policy Analysis. “First is that the regents’ strategic goal of meeting capacity by increasing enrollment at the state and two-year colleges is producing results. And second is that the System increasingly reflects the state population in terms of the diversity of the student body.”

In the first example, Hudson is referring to a decision by the board to increase access to the System’s eight state colleges and eight two-year colleges. State college enrollment grew by 6.1 percent, while two-year college enrollment grew by 8.4 percent, both well above the USG average of 4.8 percent. Some of the biggest enrollment percentage gains were at these types of institutions. For example, from fall 2007 to fall 2008, enrollment growth was in the double-digits at:

Atlanta Metropolitan College, up 19.1 percent to 2,241 students;
Bainbridge College, up 16.2 percent to 3,091 students;
East Georgia College, up 28.6 percent to 2,555 students;
Gainesville State College, up 10.2 percent to 8,238 students; and
Georgia Gwinnett College, up 98.4 percent to 1,563 students.

Two state universities also have experienced double digit growth from fall 2007 to fall 2008. Fort Valley State University is up 21 percent to 3,106 students and Georgia Southwestern State University is up 13 percent to 2,717 students.

But overall in the System’s 13 state universities, growth was smaller, at 5 percent, which is in line with the Strategic Plan that calls for more modest enrollment growth in this sector. And at the two regional universities – Georgia Southern University and Valdosta State University, enrollment grew 4 percent from fall 2007 to fall 2008, for a combined student body of 29,254.

Enrollment increased at the four research universities by just 2.6 percent – again, right in line with the objectives of the Strategic Plan to shift enrollment to the System’s four- and two-year institutions. Among the four research universities, Georgia State University posted the largest percentage increase, of 4 percent, to a fall 2008 enrollment of 28,229 students. Right behind Georgia State in the percentage increase in enrollment is the Georgia Institute of Technology, with a 3.6 percent increase in enrollment, to 19,424 students. The Medical College of Georgia saw its enrollment increase 2 percent, to 2,919, and the University of Georgia’s enrollment grew 1 percent, to 34,180 students.

The increasing diversity of the USG student population is central to the board’s second goal in its strategic plan. According to 2000 U.S. Census data, Georgia’s African-American population was 29.2 percent, and Hispanic population was 5.3 percent, with the Asian population at 2.4 percent. The numbers in the fall 2008 enrollment report reflect progress in increasing access to the USG by underserved groups, said Hudson.

African-American enrollment increased by 7.5 percent, or 4,878 additional students from fall 2007 to fall 2008. African-American enrollment now stands at 69,771 students, or 24.7 percent of the total enrollment. And African-American student enrollment growth rates have exceeded the total student growth rates for several years: the five-year growth rate is 18.7 percent, and the 10-year rate is an increase of 60.7 percent.

Likewise, the report shows Hispanic enrollment up 12 percent in fall 2008 over last year, to a total this fall of 9,874 students. This year’s gains mirror a 12.6 percent increase from fall 2006 to fall 2007, and reflect the continued growth in the number of Hispanics seeking greater opportunities through higher education. Hispanics now represent 3.5 percent of all USG students.

The enrollment of Asian/Pacific Islander students increased by 6.5 percent, or 1,087 students from fall 2007 to fall 2008 to a total of 17,805 students. This group represents 6.3 percent of all students.

Looking at gender, 57.7 percent – 163,320 students – of the USG student body is female. However, the growth rate for male students, at 5.3 percent from fall 2007 to fall 2008, exceeded that of female students, at 4.4 percent. Eleven USG institutions have more than 65 percent female enrollment.

The system’s full-time equivalent enrollment (FTE) for fall 2008 is 247,168, an increase of 5.1 percent over fall 2007, adding 11,982 more FTE students. This increase is above the overall enrollment increase of 4.8 percent, which indicates that more students are taking additional hours of courses, compared to students in fall 2007.

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Arts Across Georgia

Tony Roberts of Georgia Elected Chairman of the State Leaders Council for the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools

PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Georgia State Charter Schools Chief Executive Officer Tony Roberts has been elected as the Chairman of the State Leaders Council of the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, it was announced today. "We congratulate Tony Roberts on his election by the members of the State Leaders Council," said National Alliance for Public Charter Schools President and CEO Nelson Smith. "Tony has demonstrated tremendous leadership and a record for getting things done in Georgia. I know he'll bring to the Council that same kind of dynamic energy to build a strong working relationship with the Alliance."

"It is crucial that we be united in our efforts to advance the charter school movement on the state and national level," said Roberts. "We must use our collective organizational strength and experience effectively to ensure that charter schools have equitable funding, access to facilities and the capacity to deliver on the promise of a high-quality education for all students." Established by the NAPCS Board of Directors in June 2008, the Council serves as a liaison between state organizations serving the country's more than 4,300 public charter schools and the Alliance, the national organization dedicated to expanding school choice through high-quality charter schools. As Chair, Roberts will also serve on the Alliance Board.

As CEO of the statewide organization representing 71 public charter schools in Georgia, Roberts led the effort to help enact four important bills into law earlier this year, including the establishment of the Georgia Charter Schools Commission, a new public statewide authorizer for charter schools. Roberts also recently led the creation of "Georgia School Choice," a parent and student advocacy organization for charter schools.

Roberts received his undergraduate degree from Carson-Newman College in Jefferson City, Tennessee and M.Div., Th.M., and Ph.D. degrees from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky. He is a member of the American Society of Association Executives and the Association for Fundraising Professionals.

One of five candidates, Roberts received a first-ballot majority of the votes cast by members of the State Leaders Council. His term will expire in June 2010.

The National Alliance for Public Charter Schools (www.publiccharters.org) is the national nonprofit organization committed to advancing the charter school movement. The Alliance works to increase the number of high performing charter schools available to all families, particularly low-income and minority families who currently do not have access to quality public schools. The Alliance provides assistance to state charter school associations and resource centers, develops and advocates for improved public policies, and serves as the united voice for this large and diverse movement.

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