Media Center

Today, Rep. David Scott (D-GA) announced his commitment and continued support to assisting the students and concerned citizens of Clayton County in the wake of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) recent announcement to revoke the accreditation of the Clayton County School District, effective September 1, 2008. Congressman Scott responded to the recent announcement with the following statements:

“Like everyone, I am concerned about this critical situation facing the Clayton County School System and I am committed to assisting all parties involved to help keep Clayton County schools accredited,” said Rep. Scott. “I am working to identify any and all ways in which I can assist Clayton County in order to prevent this disastrous step from occurring. I am also working with the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Education and Labor and the U.S. Department of Education to alert federal officials of this crisis. I recommend that all citizens of Clayton County make themselves aware of the nine mandates that must be met in order to retain accreditation outlined by SACS.”

“A loss of school accreditation will place the futures of more than 52,000 Clayton County students in jeopardy, throwing their plans for further education and employment into turmoil,” stated Congressman Scott. “Without accreditation, college-bound students once eligible for the HOPE scholarship, a state merit-based scholarship, will have their opportunities for a free college education taken away. Students work hard to maintain their eligibility for HOPE and they rely on HOPE and other scholarships like it to help bring down the financial burden of attending college. Additionally, the potential ramifications will also be devastating to parents and the broader community, as the loss of school accreditation will affect the county’s economic climate as well. We must take as many steps as possible to avoid the loss of accreditation.”

The SACS decision, on March 15, 2008, to revoke the accreditation of the Clayton County School District would make Clayton County only the second school system in American history to fully lose accreditation.

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