Nearly half of Georgia’s high school students failed the end of course math tests this year. It’s the first measure of a tougher curriculum.

The good news is that the score makes up just 15 percent of a student’s entire math grade, and 52 percent of students did pass the state test.

Several years ago, Georgia started a tougher math curriculum for all public school students.

But teacher training for the new curriculum wasn’t implemented as planned. Matt Cardoza with the Georgia Department of Education says budgets were cut.

“Early on we were able to provide more training face to face and due to budget difficulties we had to rely more on training via technology. “

Cardoza says Georgia doesn’t have enough math teachers and a state plan to attract more with higher pay also fell through with budget cuts. Now the Department is considering allowins students to take a special Math course so they can get all their necessary credits to graduate from high school.

Tags: Georgia, Atlanta, Matt Cardoza, Math curriculum