Second Georgia county likely to lose school accreditation

AJC:

For the second time in as many years, a regional agency intends to revoke the accreditation of a Georgia school system.

 

Monday's announcement by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools that Warren County could lose accreditation follows a November review. It also comes two years after the association pulled its affiliation from another system, Clayton County, making that suburban Atlanta system the nation's first school system to lose accreditation in nearly 40 years.

Warren County is a rural system located about 40 miles west of Augusta and serves 800 students in three schools: elementary, middle and high school. It previously was put on probation for governance issues the agency summed up as a school board in a state of "perpetual paralysis."  

The review team's visit found no substantial changes or improvements. Problems cited were the five-member board's professionalism and decorum at meetings, and its relationship with and demands on the superintendent.

The agency's governing body meets at the end of January to consider the recommendation, which likely will  be upheld. Once official, the agency will revoke Warren County's  accreditation on July 30 -- a timeline that allows this year's seniors to graduate with accredited diplomas. The agency gave the system nine recommendations for reinstatement.

Accreditation by a nationally recognized association such as SACS essentially validates a school or system and affirms its policies and procedures to educate students. Colleges and universities often look for students to have graduated from an accredited school when considering admission. State officials also have factored in accreditation when making students eligible for Georgia's HOPE college scholarships.

Posted via email from Jim Nichols