Fulton County Schools Future Focus Fair

Fulton County parents wondering how to prepare their children for life after high school are encouraged to attend a special free event – the 2013 Future Focus Fair – on Saturday, October 19, at Georgia Tech’s Student Center. The four-hour event begins at 9 a.m.

Hosted by Fulton County Schools’ Counseling Department, the Future Focus Fair aims to educate parents of middle and high schoolers about the many opportunities awaiting their children after graduation and how they can help prepare them today. The event is more than a college fair – it’s a preparation fair to share information about a multitude of post-secondary options facing students.

Representatives from several of metro Atlanta’s top colleges and universities will explain the college admissions process and other entry requirements through a panel discussion. Following the discussion, parents can attend small group, breakout sessions with other organizations to learn about classes and other courses their children should take in preparation for college or the workforce.

Panelists are confirmed for:	Confirmed Breakout Sessions:
University of Georgia Georgia Institute of Technology Georgia Perimeter College Georgia State University Emory University Morehouse College Atlanta Metropolitan College Gwinnett Technical College Kennesaw State University	Fulton County Schools Counselors/Graduation Coaches Fulton County Schools Career & Technical Education Dept. Georgia Student Financial Commission Princeton Review Test Preparation The College Board Armed Forces Georgia Career Information System

While middle and high students are not excluded from the Future Focus Fair, the information is targeted primarily toward Fulton County parents and guardians. The event is free but registration is encouraged through www.futurefocusfair.eventbrite.com. Parents should be advised that increased parking fees will apply on the Georgia Tech campus ($20 fee per car due to gameday parking) on October 19.


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Georgia Department of Education releases College and Career Ready Performance Index

Today, the Georgia Department of Education released its first-ever Georgia College and Career Ready Performance Index (CCRPI). The CCRPI is the new accountability system that replaces the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) measurement in Georgia.

The CCRPI measures schools and school districts on a 100 point scale. In Fulton County, 60 of the 104 schools measured scored 80 or above on the new index, with 43 schools of those schools earning scores in the 90s or higher. Three elementary schools – Crabapple Crossing, Findley Oaks and Hembree Springs – earned near-perfect scores of 99.2, 99.2 and 100.3 respectively. CCRPI scores for all Fulton County Schools are attached as an Excel spreadsheet.

Interpreting CCRPI results
The CCRPI will help parents and the public better understand how schools are performing in a more comprehensive manner than the pass/fail system previously in place under AYP.  The Index includes scores that easily communicate how a school is doing. Each school receives a score out of 100 points, just like what students receive in their classes.

A school and district’s overall score is made up of three major areas: Achievement (70 points possible), Progress (15 points possible) and Achievement Gap (15 points possible). In addition to the three major areas, some schools receive “Challenge Points” to add to their score (up to 10 points). They receive these points if they have a significant number of Economically Disadvantaged students, English Language Learner students and Students with Disabilities meeting expectations. They also receive points for going beyond the targets of the CCRPI by challenging students to exceed expectations and participate in college and career readiness programs.

What is college and career readiness?
The Index has been designed around a comprehensive definition of college and career readiness, or the level of achievement required in order for a student to enroll in two- or four-year colleges and universities and technical colleges without remediation, fully prepared for college-level work and careers. This means that all students graduate from high school with both rigorous content knowledge and the ability to apply that knowledge.

NCLB Waiver
As part of the waiver, the Georgia Department of Education began identifying Priority Schools, Focus Schools, and Reward Schools. Achievement data from all core content areas and graduation rate data were used to identify these schools. These Priority Schools and Focus Schools replaced Needs Improvement schools. Reward Schools –highest performing and high progress – replaced the Distinguished Schools designation.  

Georgia also identified Alert Schools in three categories:  Subgroup Alert Schools, Subject Alert Schools, and Graduation Alert Schools.  These Alert Schools were identified based on a more detailed evaluation of subgroup performance.  

Survey Says Teachers Unsatisfied with Their Jobs

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