GNB Update

The weekend has arrived...Here's the news...

More eighth-graders received passing grades on state-mandated exams this year compared to last year. That's according to information released by the Georgia Department of Education Friday. The stats show that 70 percent of Georgia's eighth-grade students passed the math portion of the Criterion-Referenced Competency Test in 2009. That's compared to almost 40 percent of eighth-graders failing that part of the test on the first try a year ago. Overall, test scores improved in all areas of the CRCT this year. That includes reading, language arts, social studies, and science. For access to the full CRCT report, click here.

Governor Sonny Perdue reaches a compromise with Georgia's top judge. The Associated Press reports that Governor Perdue reached that compromise with Georgia Supreme Court Chief Justice Leah Ward Sears on Friday. As part of that agreement, Perdue agreed to withdraw his demand that the court's budget be cut by 25 percent for fiscal year 2010. In return, the judicial branch also agreed to defer some costs until the following fiscal year. The agreement comes as the judges were set to vote on whether or not to file a lawsuit in order to prevent those cuts from taking effect.

Georgia will get $39 million in funds for transportation statewide. Macon.com reports that Governor Perdue approved that amount for bus systems and other transit projects. While most of that money will be spent in the metro Atlanta area, smaller areas such as Macon will also benefit, as it will get more than $2 million of those funds. The Macon Transit Authority will use the transit funding to buy new buses, design a new maintenance barn, and purchase other equipment.

That's the news. GNB is available online at georgianewsbeat.blogspot.com, and on Twitter at twitter.com/georgianewsbeat. Have a good weekend.