Pupil-teacher

ratios in first grade were lowered to maximum of 20-1 two years ago, and

to 20-1 in second grade last year.

The board is

continuing to meet those class size standards this year, with first and

second grade classes maintaining a maximum students enrollment of 20 students

to one teacher this year, with some schools having even less than that

amount (again, depending on enrollment).

This year,

third grade classes were lowered from a maximum class size of 23-1 to

a maximum class size of 20-1, and kindergarten classes, which had a maximum

class size of 241, with a paraprofessional in every class, was lowered

to 20-1, with a paraprofessional in each class.

Those maximum

class sizes in grades K through three exceed the requirements for early

grade class sizes required under state law.

Maximum class

sizes in grades one through three are set at 23 under state law, and Coweta

County's class sizes in grades four and five also exceed state requirements.

One major new

program this year at Coweta County High Schools is the Ninth Grade Academy

at all three high schools, and the freshman focus class.

Ninth Grade

Academy is a new approach for entering high school students in Coweta

County Schools. Ninth grade students will not occupy separate wings or

buildings, but ninth graders will have separate orientations, and follow

a specific curriculum during their first year in high school.

For example,

all ninth graders will attend freshman focus classes during their first

year in high school, as well as a core of classes including English 9,

biology, civics, math and various electives.

Freshman focus

classes will provide students with the factual information and study skills

necessary to be successful in high school.

The class is

intended to reduce common first-year student difficulties.

Instruction

will focus on enhancing literacy and study skills, time management, team

building, conflict resolution, career guidance, programs of study and

high school graduation requirements.

The new seven-member

school councils at Arnco-Sargent Elementary School, Smokey Road Middle

School and Northgate High School are perhaps the major new pilot effort

in the Coweta County School System. State law the 2000 A-Plus Education

reform Act created the councils, and required pilot councils this year.

At least half

of all the schools in state school systems must have councils by the 2002-2003

school year, and all schools will have the councils by the following year.

Coweta County

School System may require all schools in the county to have the councils

by 2002-2003, however.

The councils

are made up of two parents, two teachers, two members of the business

community, and are chaired by the schools principal. They can serve a

number of roles, but are given the principal mission of finding ways to

improve academic performance at their schools.

There will

be no new school openings during the 2001-02 school year, and no changes

in districts or classrooms, except for the Maggie Brown Pre-Kindergarten

Center, which will be reopened as a school this year, and will serve five

pre-K classes.

The Central

Educational Center also will open 65,000 square feet of new space when

two new wings are opened there Aug. 9. The new space will allow expansion

of a number of new labs and programs at the seamless education charter

school, will allow expansion of existing technology programs at CEC, and

will help the school accommodate an expected enrollment of 2,200 students

this year, up from 1,300 last year.

Construction

has begun on the new Willis Road Elementary School, at the intersection

of Willis and Bob Smith Roads near Sharpsburg. The school is slated to

open in the fall of 2002, and that will require a redistricting process

during the spring of 2002 for new district lines for the 2002-2003 school

year.