Public Schools in Georgia: the Numbers Just Don’t Add Up

Dec. 14, 2010 - PRLog -- Author and Early Learning Authority Dr. Bisa Batten Lewis, affectionately called ‘Dr. Bisa’, managing partner of Ideal Early Learning, LLC --an education consulting firm based in Atlanta, is sounding off in her latest blog about the fallout in the Atlanta Public School system’s alleged cheating scandal and performance of schools throughout the state of Georgia.  Ideal Early Learning, LLC, is one of a few chosen firms leading the way in Georgia to revamp the state’s education system starting with the professional development of early childhood educators and the eligibility requirements effective 2012 by Bright from the Start: Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning.  

Georgia has ranked among the lowest-performing states over the last decade in education. The Georgia Budget and Policy Institute’s 2005 report on Georgia’s rankings showed that Georgia ranked 48th in teen high school dropouts and 49th in public high school graduation. Keep in mind that these rates are from lowest to highest. The most recent reports show that Georgia is now 47th, which has only occurred due to its record number of high school dropouts. With a 10% increase in high school dropouts, Georgia ranks the highest in dropouts among states its size (KIDS COUNT Data Center, 2009).

Dr. Bisa comments in her latest blog post, Public Schools in Georgia: The Proof is in the Pudding, “Media attention on education in the state of Georgia has been heightened due to the spring reports on schools cheating on standardized tests and the resignation of State Superintendent Kathy Cox. While finger-pointing continues to be redirected, the victims (our children) continue to suffer from a lack of quality educational experiences.”  Dr. Bisa home schools her sons ages 9 and 13 and made this decision mainly because of disappointment with the quality of education offered in Georgia’s public school system. She reflects:

"As an educator myself and preparer of teachers, I am very aware of what should occur in the classroom; however, over the years, I have closed my eyes and covered my ears choosing my battles to prevent my sons from suffering their teachers’ wraths due to my sharing of concerns. After my third grader’s science and social studies work was falsified last year following my request to see his graded papers and recorded grades during a parent-teacher conference and my sixth grader’s unbelievable experiences at a middle school that lacked administrative control, last year was one of the worst school years ever. Although God blessed me to be able to home-school my children, I have the professional obligation to fight for parents who can’t. Every parent is not able to home-school or afford private school. We pay taxes, so we shouldn't have to. I don’t blame the teachers or principals for the mess we are in; they are only doing what they are mandated to do –often against their own better judgment. It’s the system at-large that needs to get its priorities in order –at both the state and local levels."

With education budgets continuing to be cut, educators being increasingly furloughed, school districts increasing class sizes and contemplating reducing the school week, it is clear that quality education is not at the top of the legislative agenda.  “All too often, parents feel comfortable with reports they read regarding school progress, which often illustrate more of the positive than the negative,” Dr. Bisa states.   For instance, one of Georgia’s premier counties reports that their students scored almost perfectly on the writing test—99% of the children in their school system passed the writing test. Translation: Out of every 100 children in this county, only one child failed the writing test? “Is that really possible?  Those numbers don’t add up! Do you really expect for readers to believe that?”

As a parents advocate, Dr. Bisa offers teaching strategies, parenting advice, educational tips and resources, and feel-good messages on her weekly blog, “I’m Just Sayin’”, addressing everything from education reform to healthy living habits.
With over 20 years of education and experience, Ideal Early Learning and the WINGS Curriculum, led by Dr. Bisa, have been making an impact in Georgia this year with innovative learning techniques being adopted from the state of Georgia all the way to New Mexico.  Dr. Bisa’s children’s books are adored and recognized internationally all the way to Japan.

For more information, please visit www.idealece.com and www.WINGScurriculum.com.

About Dr. Bisa

Dr. Bisa Batten Lewis, affectionately called “Dr. Bisa”, is Founder and Managing Partner of Ideal Early Learning, LLC and WINGS Curriculum, LLC. She is a published author of education and parenting articles, college textbooks, children's books, early childhood curriculum, early learning handbooks and more. Dr. Bisa is a diversely experienced and highly respected Early Care and Education authority. Having supervised multiple child development centers and college lab schools, provided education for learners from preschool to the university level, and lead programs from state licensure to national accreditation, she offers realistic methods of implementing quality early learning practices.

Dr. Bisa earned the Doctor of Education Degree in Adult Education at the University of Georgia and the Bachelor of Science and Master of Education Degrees in Early Childhood Education at Albany State University. Professing as a life goal to advocate for children, she is actively committed to upgrading the quality of early learning settings around the world.

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