Back-to-School throughout Metro-Atlanta!

School bells ring for Atlanta City, Gwinnett County, Douglas County, Henry County, Coweta County, and other Metro Atlanta schools today. Atlanta Public School Superintendent Erroll Davis says education starts on day one in APS schools. He says, “Gone are the days when the first day of school was an occasion for day-long greetings and get acquainted sessions. Everyone is expected to hit the ground running on the first day of classes.” He encourages all students to come to school prepared because “learning begins immediately.” Hundreds of APS students are returning to new schools this year as a result of the system’s redistricting and closing of 7 schools in April 2012.

Among the focus for student learning this year will be the Common Core Georgia Performance Standards (CCGPS). Georgia joins 46 states and three U.S. territories to develop a set of core standards for kindergarten through high school. The goal is to not only make sure students are better prepared to succeed beyond high school, but also to ensure some level of consistency in what is taught from state to state. The Georgia Department of Education says, CCGPS for English language arts, mathematics, and literacy in science, history/social studies, and technical subjects will ensure that all Georgia students have an equal access and opportunity to master necessary skills and knowledge. The National Governors Association (NGA) and the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) were involved in developing Georgia’s plan. The state officially adopted CCGPS in 2010, and educators have been preparing to implement it since March 2011.

State School Superintendent Dr. John Barge says this year parents and students should expect less attention placed on a single test and more rigorous focus on classroom subjects. Barge says the plan also calls for parent and teachers to work together on shared goals.

Gwinnett County has the largest number of students returning this year with a reported nearly 163,000 students. Gwinnett County spokesman Jorge Quintana told Wsbradio.com the numbers are actually lower this year than pass years. He says there are only 265 new students this year compared 7,000 six years ago. While the system is not building new schools, Quintana says Gwinnett’s Online Campus is expanding.

Students in Bartow County and Hall County will return to school on Friday, August 10th. Students in Clayton County, Cobb County, DeKalb County and Fulton County schools will start classes on Monday, August 13th.