State Supt. Kathy

Cox of Peachtree City, who in August launched her own statewide initiative

to raise SAT scores based on an approach developed by Fayette County school

administrators, is supporting Perdue's effort.

"I promised the

people of Georgia I would not settle for having SAT scores that rank 50th

in the nation because we all know that our education system is better

than what these scores re�ect," Perdue said Monday in announcing

the program from Midtown Atlanta's historic Grady High School, with

Kathy Cox by his side.

"However, we

also know that our education system does need improvement, and this competition

will take us further down the path toward educational success."

Here's how Perdue's

contest would work: Region Champion trophies and $1,000 grants will be

awarded to each of 40 high schools that show the best improvement in each

of the state's athletic regions. The eight region winners in each

class would then compete for one of five Class Championships.

Each of those five

high schools will be awarded a Governor's Cup trophy and receive

a $2,000 grant. In addition, the �ve class champions will be featured

on a television program to highlight the unique strategies used to improve

their SAT scores. Students taking the test at the �ve winning schools

will also receive tickets to a Braves game at Turner Field.

Turner Broadcasting

is the primary sponsor of the competition and will fund the regional and

class grants, to be used for SAT preparation classes and materials. Turner

is also donating an SAT Preparation CD-ROM to each high school in the

competition, another resource to improve SAT scores.

The idea has not been

without its critics, but Perdue dismisses the naysayers.

"We are using

friendly competition to spur a renewed attentiveness to SAT success, and

I know that Georgia students and educators will rise to this challenge,"

he said.

Cox took the opportunity

Monday to again highlight the initiatives she and her staff are implementing,

which include hiring former Starr's Mill High School teacher Charlotte

Robinson as statewide SAT coordinator and making PSAT exams widespread

among 10th-graders.

"The Governor's

Cup taps into our true spirit of competition in an effort to get students

focused on improving their SAT scores," Cox said. "It also supports

the mission of the Georgia Department of Education, to lead the nation

in improving student achievement."

WHO COMPETES AGAINST

WHO?

The GHSA classifies

schools by enrollment from A to AAAAA, and then groups them into one of

eight geographical regions, for a total of 40 regions statewide. Due to

shifts in enrollments, schools will be in new classifications starting

next fall, where they will remain through 2006. Here are the current and

proposed regions that involve Fayette public schools. Landmark Christian

and Our Lady of Mercy compete in 5-A and will not change.

4-AAAAA CURRENT

Fayette County

McIntosh

Starr's Mill

Newnan

East Coweta

Carver-Columbus

Riverdale

Lovejoy

PROPOSED FOR 2004-06

Fayette County

Starr's Mill

East Coweta

Newnan

Lovejoy

Mundy's Mill

Union Grove

4-AAAA CURRENT

Sandy Creek

Woodward Academy

Douglas County

Pebblebrook

Northgate

Chapel Hill

Lithia Springs

North Clayton

Alexander

Forest Park

PROPOSED FOR 2004-06

McIntosh

Sandy Creek

Whitewater

Alexander

Chapel Hill

Creekside

Douglas County

Haralson County

Lithia Springs

Northgate

Villa Rica

Woodward Academy