Funston Elementary, as well as the other 2008 bus trip schools, represents what is right in Georgia’s public education system, Dolinger said.

“In the case here, our bus trip participants will see a strong elementary program that is doing an outstanding job preparing students for middle and high school and beyond,” he said.

The annual bus tours bring “much deserved recognition to these schools, their school systems and supportive communities,” Dolinger said, while at the same time providing best practices to influential individuals who might adopt or adapt some of these great ideas for use in their own communities. Another objective is to provide decision makers an opportunity to see how policy impacts the classroom and to highlight where and how Georgia needs to be focusing its efforts in improving student achievement.

“Education decisions made at the state level will ultimately reach the grassroots level. It is important for these leaders to see firsthand the results of their actions,” he said.

The event will be conducted in two three-day increments in October and November. The first leg of the trip will visit six north Georgia schools Oct. 28-30 followed by another five schools on a southern swing Nov. 18-20. The Funston stop is scheduled Nov. 19. More than 200 riders and local site visitors are expected to participate over the entire schedule.

Joining the local school on the south route are Huntington Middle School, Houston County; Schley Middle High School, Schley County; International Studies Elementary Charter School, Dougherty County; Hand in Hand Primary School, Thomas County; and Lowndes High School, Lowndes County.

North route schools include East Jackson Elementary School, Jackson County; the Central Education Center, Coweta County; 12 for Life, Carroll County; Marietta High School, Cobb County; the Hudgens-Gwinnett Tech Early Education Center, Gwinnett County; and Pickens County Middle School, Pickens County.

Traditionally, the tour attempts to provide a wide range of educational programs for riders to experience. Stops will be made at schools and programs from pre-K to post secondary.

Founded in 1990 by the Georgia Chamber of Commerce and the Georgia Economic Developers Association, the Georgia Partnership for Excellence in Education consists of business, education, community and government leaders who share a vision of education excellence. Working to be Georgia’s foremost change agent in education, the independent non-profit, non-partisan organization takes lead roles in efforts to shape policy and reform education, the press release said.

More information about the organization and the event is available at www.gpee.org.