Panel studying social studies curriculum working on its report

ATLANTA - A committee looking at problems with Georgia's social studies curriculum after dramatic drops in test scores this year is expected to make recommendations in coming weeks.

State Schools Superintendent Kathy Cox hastily formed the 28-member panel after education officials found that less than 30 percent of sixth- and seventh-graders passed the social studies portion of the Criterion-Referenced Competency Tests. Cox threw the scores out, saying the state's curriculum didn't match the questions on the test.

The committee - composed of teachers, curriculum experts and state education officials - is wrapping up three days of meetings in Atlanta on Friday.

The high failure rates surprised students and angered parents, who say their children weren't prepared properly for the test.