October 5, 2007

The Honorable Kathy Cox
State Superintendent of Schools
Georgia Department of Education
2062 Twin Towers East
Atlanta, Georgia 30334

Dear Superintendent Cox:

I am pleased to approve Georgia’s assessment system under Title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA), as amended by the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLB). I congratulate you on meeting this important NCLB requirement.

My decision is based on input from peer reviewers external to the U.S. Department of Education (the Department) and Department staff who reviewed and carefully considered the evidence submitted by Georgia. I have concluded that the evidence demonstrates that Georgia’s standards and assessment system satisfies the NCLB requirements. Specifically, Georgia’s system includes the administration of grade-level assessments and the Georgia Alternate Assessment (GAA), an alternate assessment based on alternate academic achievement standards, in each of grades 3-8 and high school in reading/language arts and mathematics.

Accordingly, Georgia’s system warrants Full Approval. This status means that Georgia’s standards and assessment system meets all statutory and regulatory requirements for reading/language arts and mathematics.

Please be aware that approval of Georgia’s assessment system under NCLB is not a determination that the system complies with Federal civil rights requirements, including Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act, and requirements under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. Finally, please remember that, if Georgia makes significant changes in its assessment system, the State must submit information about those changes to the Department for review and approval.

We have found it a pleasure working with your staff on this review. Please accept my congratulations for your State’s approved standards and assessment system under NCLB. I wish you well in your continued efforts to improve student achievement in Georgia.

Sincerely,

Kerri L. Briggs, Ph.D.

cc: Governor Sonny Perdue
Jeff Gagne
Melissa Fincher