Low Georgia test scores prompt new programs - WALB.com, Albany News, Weather, Sports

June 22, 2006

Valdosta - In the next week and a half, sixty teachers will become math and science students.  Middle school teachers from 11 South Georgia counties gathered at Valdosta State University to learn new ways of teaching their classes.

Lowndes Middle School 7th grade life science teacher says, "If you stop learning, they stop learning so to continue in the classroom, you've got to get out in this field and learn yourself so you can portray a person who's inquiry based as well."  The teachers will use what they learn to develop new curriculums that will promote hands on learning for students.

Although these teachers must sacrifice two weeks out of their summer, they are enthusiastic about attending programs like these.  They know their lost will lead to the students' gain.  "Currently our school is in need of improvement so we are trying to get as many teachers in these programs as we can so that we can increase our students performance," said 7th grade science teacher Royce Thomas.

The program is part of the MathScience Partnership, a project funded by a grant from the Department of Education.  The success of this program has led to the possibility of creating more programs for elementary and high school teachers as well.

Math and Science teachers will finish their first string of classes Friday and begin unit and lesson plan writing next week.

• Here's a closer look at how Georgia ranks with the rest of the nation.

According to Georgia's Kindergarten through twelve-education report card, the state scored 272 in mathematics on the 2005 National Assessment for Educational Progress. The national average was 278.

In the 2004-2005 annual report cards for public schools, Georgia's average ACT score in math and science reasoning was 19.8, while the national average was 20.7 in math and 20.9 in science reasoning.

Georgia's average math sat score was a 495. The national average was a 515.