Partnership names two APS schools as stops on 18th bus trip across Georgia

This just in from The Georgia Partnership for Excellence in Education …

The Georgia Partnership for Excellence in Education has announced that Charles R. Drew Charter School and The New Schools at Carver have been selected as two of seven schools that will make up this year’s annual Bus Trip Across Georgia.  The theme this year is “Greater Flexibility, Greater Focus on Results.”

The tour, which includes a combination of educators, business, government and community leaders from around the state, began in 1993 and has been a fixture in state education circles ever since. Schools selected as stops have a proven track record of academic excellence and sustained performance. There is an emphasis this year on the flexibility provided in charter schools and charter systems, and systems with an IE2 (Investing in Educational Excellence) contract with the state.

Dr. Stephen Dolinger, president of the Partnership, said, “Our 2010 schools will provide Bus Trip participants an inside look at what can be achieved through the use of flexibility in policies and programs.” Each one of these schools has an excellent record of sustained student achievement.” He added, “We always want to showcase exciting education ideas to the influencers who join us from all over the state.

“As the oldest charter school in the city of Atlanta, Drew Charter School has a proven track record of excellent student achievement, instructional innovation, and remarkable community engagement,” Dolinger explained. “The New Schools at Carver, through the implementation of the small schools concept, allows students to choose an academic focus that best matches their interests. This instructional model has helped positively transform the educational experiences for hundreds of students.”

Joining the two schools on the tour will be KIPP South Fulton Academy, Fulton County Schools; the DaVinci Academy, Hall County Schools; Smokey Road Middle School, Coweta County Schools; Marietta City’s Sawyer Road Elementary School and Norcross High School, Gwinnett County Schools.

The event will be conducted Oct. 26-28. Exact dates for each school visit have not been determined. Details will be announced later this summer including the application process to participate as a rider.

Visit the Partnership web site (www.gpee.org – Annual Bus Trip page) for more information about the organization and the event. There are videos of previous trips, and the “Photo Gallery” page on the site also records the visits to previously selected schools.