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13 schools could close with APS redistricting

13 schools could close with APS redistricting

ATLANTA -- School Superintendent Erroll Davis is giving his recommendation for redistricting for the coming school year.  He is recommending the district go to a "cluster" system and close 13 schools. Davis cites lower than expected enrollment across the board and says the district must operate more efficiently.

In the report, Davis said: "Although APS traditional schools serve 47,000 students, we have seats for 60,000 students. Heating, cooling and lighting 13,000 empty seats is expensive."

Davis will present his proposal to the school board Monday. The board votes on a final redistricting plan April 10. To read the plan in its entirety, visit the APS website.

The 13 schools slated for closure are:

Braves, Publix to award 6 scholarships to Ga. seniors

Braves, Publix to award 6 scholarships to Ga. seniors

ATLANTA -- The Atlanta Braves and Publix have teamed up for the 13th year in a row to offer scholarship money to high school seniors throughout Georgia.

Six $2,000 scholarships will be awarded to students who have maintained good grades and strong community involvement throughout their four years of high school.

In order to qualify, a student must be a graduating senior with a minimum 3.2 GPA, and must have plans to attend an accredited college or university in the fall of 2012.

For more information or to apply, visit braves.com/scholarships. The deadline to apply is April 21. All applicants will receive a free Braves promotional item while supplies last.

Poster contest to help combat human trafficking

Poster contest to help combat human trafficking

ATLANTA -- All Georgia high school students are invited to participate in a poster contest to promote a national hotline for reporting and preventing human sex trafficking.

The contest, sponsored by the Georgia Department of Education, is open to students in grades nine through 12.

The posters' primary focus should be the national hotline (1-888-373-7888), presented in a creative way to grab people's attention. Judges will pick two winners -- one for an English poster and one for a Spanish poster -- from each of the state's 16 Regional Education Service Agencies.

Regional winners will receive cash prizes -- $100 for first place, $50 for second place and $25 for third place. The winning posters will also be displayed in schools across the region.

Two state winners -- one in English and one in Spanish -- will each receive $250.

State looking at repealing education spending law

State looking at repealing education spending law

TUCKER, Ga. -- Georgia is considering throwing out a law requiring 65 percent of state funding to be spent in public school classrooms.

A state commission tasked with overhauling how Georgia funds K-12 education voted Wednesday to draw up legislation repealing the unpopular law. The move is part of a larger effort to update the state's educational laws, known as Title 20.

The law was passed in 2006 as part of a national push to make sure schools were spending taxpayer dollars in the classroom, not the principal's office, to help boost student achievement. But state officials say the law hasn't impacted student performance and hamstrings schools.

The education finance commission began meeting in June 2011 after state lawmakers passed a bill calling for the state to study education funding.

Metro Atlanta heads back to school this week

Metro Atlanta heads back to school this week

ATLANTA -- Although four Georgia mountain counties found themselves with an extra day of winter break due to weather, most of metro Atlanta began heading back to school Tuesday.

Cherokee, Gwinnett and Henry counties resumed classes on Jan. 3.

Georgia 9th graders will have to choose career paths

Georgia 9th graders will have to choose career paths

ATLANTA -- Here's a question: Did you know what career you wanted to pursure in night grade?

Next fall, all high school freshman in Georgia public schools will have to determine a career path and take classes tailored to that goal.

"The governor signed house bill 187 into law this past session, which mandates that we have career pathways for all students beginning in the fall of 2012," said State School Superintendent Dr. John Barge. "It's a national model. Many states are already using career clusters and career pathways."

There are 17 careers clusters and each one has a core of subjects students must take. The process is similar to working on a major in college. Students will have the opportunity to switch career pathways throughout their time in high school.

Fulton County Youth Commissioners “Give Back” to the Community

Fulton County Youth Commissioners “Give Back” to the Community

Fulton County Youth Commissioners (from left to right) Claire BeskinCathy Tang and Treva Tam prepare to carry plates of Thanksgiving dinners to homeless citizens and their families during the annual Hosea Feed the Hungry and Homeless dinner.  This year’s dinner was held at the Georgia World Congress Center.  The Hosea Feed the Hungry Thanksgiving dinner is one of several projects taken on by Youth Commissioners to serve those in need in Fulton County.