Schools

Atlanta School Board Not Making "Substantive" Progress Yet on Accreditation, AdvancED CEO Says

Mark Elgart says APS taking expected initial steps but needs to continue progress to meet September deadline

The Atlanta School Board has not yet made "substantive progress" toward meeting conditions to maintain accreditation, although the board has taken the expected initial steps, AdvancED President and CEO Mark Elgart said at a press conference Friday.

The organization, the parent organizaton of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, in January placed the APS high schools on accreditation probation because of dissension on the school board. The accreditation organization gave the school board six conditions to meet by a September deadline.

Here is Patch's live blog from the news conference, held at the AdvancED headquarters in Alpharetta:

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AdvancED CEO Mark Elgart at podium. Talking about Cobb County, which is on advisement. Inclusive governance needed, he says.

Turning attention to APS, he says when APS has submitted the required report needed on the first of May. Submitted report on May 2. The report clearly indicated that APS had taken intial steps to lay groundwork but no substantive steps taken. Not a surprise, he said. Knew APS would need to take further significant steps.

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School board is working weekly to meet conditions. Taking steps to hire superintendent. The APS will remain  on probation until September.

"We believe they are working in authentic way to address the issues." Can't say if school board members need to be removed, as SB 79 mandates. That's a state matter.

APS has taken initial steps but not substantive progress, but is  on their way. Can't give grade. Are making effort to move forward. What we expect at this stage. 

They've not met  six goals yet. Need to secure superintendent. Have hired outside firm for mediation, one of steps. Elgart didn't comment on further steps, saying he needed to review what they are and didn't want to give incorrect information.

They've taken initial steps. "Progress is too strong a word," Elgart says. 

From our advantage point, does not matter who chair of APS board is or who's on board. Even if in theory governor removed the school board in July, we would still need to see that board make progress. Doesn't matter to AdvancED who's on board, they still need to take the required steps by September to maintain accreditation.

Behavior of school system now is what we normally expect at this time. Our expectation doesn't change no matter who's on board.

The removal of board is a state matter.

"We're looking for results. We're not looking for intentions. We're looking for actual results that they can act effectively as a board," Elgart says.

We meet with new superintentdents when they do arrive. Anytime school system hires a new superintendent, it changes the dynamic. It's a new culture. We will look at ability of system to continue to move forward in an impressive manner when new APS superintendent is hired.

Turns to Clayton County, which receives accreditation after two years. Clayton board present and is applauded. "A great day for Clayton County," school leader says.

Clayton has met all nine of its mandates. County will now move forward, school official says.

Advice for Atlanta? Atlanta will do what it has to do, Clayton superintendent Edmond Heatley says. In Clayton," we linked arms, we had crying spells and disagreements, but we worked very hard. We're excited today and we're going to celebrate."

Elgart concludes the press conference.


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