Writing Samples for February 18, 2016

For February 18, 2016 - ATLANTA DECEASED MAN

      WE'RE GETTING WORD OF A MAN SHOT TO DEATH IN SOUTHWEST ATLANTA EARLY THIS MORNING.
      IT IS BELIEVED TO HAVE HAPPENED ON PINEHURST TERRACE.
      THAT IS IN AN AREA SOUTH OF I-20 BETWEEN DONNELLY AVENUE AND CASCADE AVENUE.
      WE WILL HAVE A CREW ON THE SCENE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.


For February 14, 2016

      STARTING TOMORROW, SCHOOL WILL BE OUT FOR MARIETTA CITY AND COBB COUNTY SCHOOLS.
      MONDAY SIGNALS THE START OF THE WEEK LONG WINTER BREAK FOR THE TWO DISTRICTS.
      TEACHERS, ADMINISTRATORS, AND STUDENTS GET A LONG BREAK BEFORE THEY ALL COME BACK TO THE CLASSROOM.
      SCHOOL STARTS AGAIN NEXT MONDAY, FEBRUARY 22ND.


For February 14, 2016

      SCHOOL MAY BE OUT IN COBB COUNTY, BUT THE STATE LEGISLATURE IS BACK AT WORK ON MONDAY.
       
      EARLIER THIS WEEK, STATE SENATOR LINDSEY TIPPINS INTRODUCED A BILL TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF END-OF-THE-YEAR TESTS GEORGIA STUDENTS MUST TAKE.
      HIS 13 PAGE BILL CALLS FOR LOWERING WEIGHT AND INFLUENCE THOSE TESTS HAVE ON TEACHERS FROM 50 PERCENT TO 30 PERCENT OF THEIR EVALUATION.
      PRINCIPAL EVALUATIONS WOULD DROP FROM 70 PERCENT TO 40 PERCENT.
       HIS BILL ALSO GIVES MORE FLEXIBILITY FOR DISTRICTS TO DECIDE IF STUDENTS ARE READY TO ADVANCE ANOTHER GRADE.
      SENATOR TIPPINS DOESN'T BELIEVE IN ELIMINATING ALL TESTING, BUT HIS BILL COULD BE A BIG HELP FOR TEACHERS AND STUDENTS.

      (State Sen. Lindsey Tippins/(R) West Cobb)  "Overall, our primary objective was to reduce the number of tests that are mandated in the state.  But you can't address just testing without addressing the relationship that changing the testing has to do with the teacher assessment, because by law, they're inextricably linked."

      STATE AND DISTRICT EDUCATION LEADERS SUPPORT SENATOR TIPPINS' NEW BILL, SAYING THE PROPOSED NEW STANDARDS WOULD TAKE THE PRESSURE OFF TEACHERS AND STUDENTS TO SUCCEED IN THE CLASSROOM.