The East Central Georgia P-16 Council received a Round II Challenge Grant in the amount of $200,000 for a three year period, July 1997 through June 2000. The grant supported implementation of plans to achieve Purpose 5 of the Georgia P-16 Initiative: To focus the co- reform of teacher education, advanced educator preparation programs, and public schools towards practices that result in all children and youth meeting high academic standards. The plan focused on

• standards
• instructional models
• teacher recruitment, and
• professional development.

The approach to co-reform proposed by the successful grant is a collaborative model based on shared responsibility for teacher preparation and student learning. Bulloch County Schools, Effingham County Schools, Emanuel County Schools, and Jenkins County Schools are active partners with Georgia Southern University to implement the plan of action. Under the grant, three other school systems, Dublin City, Houston County, and Pulaski County Schools, will also partner with Georgia Southern in aligning curriculum and practice across educational levels and in developing linkages for college and career opportunities.

The Co-Reform Steering Committee provides guidance and oversight to assure that the grant's goals and objectives are achieved. 

Task Forces were established by the Steering Committee to accomplish the grant's various actions and serve as agents for sustained change. The following Task Forces began work during the 1997-1998 year.

Teacher Education Program Standards	P-12 Standards	Technology Standards
Literacy Methods	Demonstration Teachers	Partner Schools/School Renewal
Recruitment/Alternative Programs	Teacher Induction	Assessment

Other activities implemented under the grant include:

• Disciplinary Alliances comprised of teachers at every level and across systems meet to look at curriculum articulation.
• The College's program advisory committees have been expanded into Program Action Teams to bring shared responsibility and systemic change to each teacher preparation program.
• Opportunities for collaborative professional development are being provided.

All of the grant activities were designed to address the concerns and recommendations of the Georgia community in the ECG P-16 Council's region. Through these activities and the efforts of many individuals, we have begun the process of co-reform and, more importantly, co-reform with the intent of having students in the region achieving at high levels, benefitting from good teachers, and succeeding after high school.