By Mike Klein

Georgia Public Policy Foundation

The newest snapshot into Georgia student academic performance shows 67% of the state’s government-run public high schools did not make “Adequate Yearly Progress.” The state says more rigorous academic standards caused the performance to worsen year-to-year.

This is none too good news for educators during an election year when they have been barking about cutbacks to their budgets, salaries and an increased number of students in class.

The Georgia Department of Education report issued Monday (July 19) says 29% of all public schools failed to make AYP, which came into vogue as a No Child Left Behind federal mandate during the President George W. Bush administration.  Twenty-one percent of the state’s schools failed to make AYP last year, so an 8% increase overall is statistically significant.

Nevertheless, the Georgia DOE website sent out a positive spin, pointing out that the number of schools graded “Needs Improvement” actually posted a decline.  DOE also said the failure rate increased by 8% to 29% of all schools in part because of stricter math standards.

Georgia high schools performed worst.  DOE’s statement said, “The percentage of high schools making AYP continues to lag behind.  In 2010, just over 33% of the state’s high schools made AYP, a decrease of almost 14 percentage points from 2009’s initial results.”  This year high schools were required to post an 80% graduation rate, up from 75% last year.

Georgia education budgets, like those nationally, are under siege.  Program cancellations in non-core academic disciplines, teacher furlough days and layoffs of non-academic personnel became more dramatic during the school year that ended in May.  Nevertheless, Georgia’s public school teachers are the highest paid in the Southeast and among the highest nationally.

The Georgia DOE will receive $7.4 billion in the 2011 fiscal year that began July 1.  That is 41.5% of the state’s $17.8 billion budget.  Revenue shortfalls forced Georgia to shrink its budget from nearly $21 billion proposed as recently as January 2009.  Another estimated $1 billion in cutbacks might be necessary during the next budget cycle.

The publicity about failing schools comes during an election year when the state also expects to have three state school superintendents within eight months.  Long-time administrator Kathy Cox unexpectedly resigned in May and was gone in June to a job in Washington, D.C.

Two-term outgoing Governor Sonny Perdue appointed an interim schools boss, and supported his candidacy to earn a four-year term in November elections.  But Brad Bryant, the governor’s appointee, failed to gather the number of signatures he needed to be listed on the ballot.  His term will end after less than seven months on the job.  Someone else will be there in January.

Georgia Democrats lost the governor’s office eight years ago.  Their current candidates include former Governor Roy Barnes who has been busy blaming Republicans for tough times in the classroom.  This report gives Barnes and several other Democrats some new ammunition.