Kathy Cox, State Superintendent of Schools

Input Sought on Proposed Graduation Requirements
New Graduation Rule Will Go Into Effect for Freshman Class of 2008-2009

MEDIA CONTACT: Matt Cardoza, GaDOE Communications Division, (404) 
651-7358, [log in to unmask] 
NOTE: To submit comments about the proposed rule, please see the contact

information below. 

   August 2, 2007 -- The Georgia Department of Education (GaDOE) is 
seeking input on revisions to the state's Graduation Rule and will hold 
two public listening sessions via conference call to gain feedback on
the 
current draft proposal.
   "We are excited to receive input from our educators, parents,
students, 
business leaders and the community at large," State Superintendent of 
Schools Kathy Cox said. "This rule is a very important part of making
sure 
our students are college and work ready when they leave high school." 
   The Graduation Rule establishes the minimum academic requirements a 
student must meet in order to graduate from a Georgia public high
school. 
A new Graduation Rule is needed to align with the state's revised and 
improved curriculum, the Georgia Performance Standards. The GaDOE 
anticipates that the new rule will be adopted by the State Board of 
Education at the September meeting and will go into effect for the 
freshman class of the 2008-2009 school year.
   The first draft of the Graduation Rule was created by a committee 
comprised of representatives from local school districts, GaDOE, the 
University System of Georgia, the Department of Adult and Technical 
Education, the Governor's Office of Student Achievement, as well as 
members of education stakeholder groups and the business community. 
Subcommittees were created to discuss and make recommendations for 
specific academic areas as well. 
   "We brought a lot of people to the table to develop the first draft
and 
have received many comments and suggestions that we've used to make 
revisions," Superintendent Cox said. "We want to hear from the general 
public to make any other necessary changes before this becomes a State 
Board rule." 

SUBMITTING INPUT

   Public input can be submitted in the following manner:
 
Public Input Sessions: The GaDOE will hold two listening sessions on 
Monday, August 6.  The first conference call will be held from 3:30 p.m.

to 4:30 p.m.  The second conference call will be from 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 
p.m.  There will be 100 lines available per conference call.  Lines are 
available on a first come, first serve basis.  Callers will have three 
minutes to comment.  Additional comments will be taken as time permits. 
        *     To access the 3:30-4:30 p.m. conference call, dial toll
free 
1-888-373-5705 and enter the passcode 418821.
        *     To access the 5:00-6:00 p.m. conference call, dial toll
free 
1-800-214-0745 and enter the passcode 584805.

Participant information:
- Please dial in 3-5 minutes prior to the conference start time.
- Enter your passcode, followed by the pound (#) sign.
- Your line will be placed on hold with music until the conference call 
starts.

Written Input: Written comments and questions can be sent to the GaDOE's

Policy Division via email at [log in to unmask] or by mail to:

            Graduation Rule Input 
            c/o Georgia Department of Education Policy Division
            2053 Twin Towers East
            205 Jesse Hill Jr. Drive
            Atlanta, GA 30334



GRADUATION RULE PROPOSAL (To see current rule, go to 
http://www.gadoe.org/_documents/doe/legalservices/160-4-2-.47.pdf)