And why is Kathy Cox resigning?

Georgia’s fourth-graders rank 35th in the nation for reading proficiency levels, according to a recent study.
The Annie E. Casey Foundation discovered 71 percent of the Peach State’s fourth graders attending public schools scored below proficient in reading levels in 2009. Some of the key challenges affecting reading proficiency across the state are chronic absenteeism, summer learning loss, poor health and nutrition, parental involvement and low-performing schools, according to a news release.
Low-income and minority children disproportionately read below grade level, according to the study. That is “a clear indication of systemic failures that have plagued our education system both statewide and nationally,” the study said.
The study finds that nationally two out of every three fourth graders overall are not proficient in reading, according to the most recent National Assessment of Educational Progress.

Kathy Cox to resign...

The Governor’s office has released a statement on Kathy Cox, who will be resigning her office:
Governor Sonny Perdue issued the following statement today regarding State School Superintendent Kathy Cox’s announcement that she will become the founding CEO of the U.S. Education Delivery Institute (EDI) on July 1. Governor Perdue will appoint a new state school superintendent upon Supt. Cox’s departure, per Article 5, Section 2, Paragraph 8 of the Georgia Constitution.
Below is the Governor’s statement:
“Superintendent Cox has been a passionate advocate for Georgia’s students, committed to improving achievement for every child. She pushed strongly for a more rigorous curriculum, which is preparing our students to compete on the global stage. While we will miss her here in Georgia, I share her excitement in this new opportunity.”