Georgia gets $122M to help failing schools, 14 in NE Ga.

ATLANTA - Georgia is getting $122 million in federal money to turn around its lowest performing schools... 14 of them in northeast Georgia, including two in Gainesville-Hall County.

The money will go to failing schools willing to take up one of four dramatic reforms: firing the entire staff, converting into a charter school, replacing just the principal or closing entirely. The "school improvement grant" program is designed to help states raise achievement at their worst schools.

Of those in northeast Georgia, seven are in Athens/Clarke County: Clarke Central High, Burney-Harris-Lyons Middle, Coile Middle, Clarke Middle; Hilsman Middle; Barnett Shoals Elementary; and Cedar Shoals High schools. Also on the list: Elbert County High School, Gainesville Middle School, Towns County High, South Hall Middle School (Hall County) and, Richards Middle, Bermark High, and Meadowcreek High schools in Gwinnett County.

Every state will receive money from a $3 billion fund set aside for the bottom five percent of schools. The money is part of the federal stimulus program.