Federal school funding frozen and other news from around the Chattanooga area

Federal school funding frozen

DOUGHERTY COUNTY, Ga. — The Georgia Department of Education has determined that the Dougherty County School District is not eligible to receive at least $10 million in federal funds because of concerns that the district has inflated the number of students who qualify for federal meal assistance. The agency also said the district has not properly overseen federal grant programs.

Large chunks of the federal funding that goes to school districts is based on the number of poor students in a district who qualify for federal meal assistance.

The department's move is an extraordinary step, one no one at the department can recall being taken before. If a district is found to use federal funds in inappropriate ways, the state is responsible for paying the money back.

"Our teams have been down there and worked with them and worked with them and worked with them," Georgia Schools Superintendent John Barge said. "They're not where they need to be."

The district, which includes the southwestern Georgia town of Albany, has had its share of troubles in recent years. Investigations found that it and the Atlanta Public Schools system were major hubs for standardized test cheating in 2009.

UGA's summer enrollment down

ATHENS, Ga. — Summer enrollment is down at the University of Georgia.

UGA enrolled 13,854 students this summer, a decrease of 958 students. Registrar Jan Hathcote says the economy may have played a role in the decline. Enrollment also was down last year. The school is examining data as it becomes available to determine the reasons.

The decline also affected UGA's extended campuses in Gwinnett, Griffin and Tifton. Enrollment at the school's Buckhead campus increased nearly nine percent.

The school's independent study program also grew over the summer, gaining 17 more students this year for a total of 123.

Groups to feed about 800 families

ATLANTA — Charitable groups planned to team up this weekend to distribute two truckloads of food and essentials to help 800 families.

Organizers identified families who each would receive a 25-pound box of food and a box of personal care items during the distribution Saturday at Atlanta Motor Speedway in Hampton. The items distributed by volunteers were designed to help a family of four for a week.

The effort is part of a national effort by Feed The Children and Speedway Children's Charities to help needy families. The organizations plan to give out about 540,000 pounds of food and supplies this year on behalf of Atlanta Motor Speedway, Kentucky Speedway, Bristol Motor Speedway, Charlotte Motor Speedway, Infineon Raceway, Las Vegas Motor Speedway, New Hampshire Motor Speedway and Texas Motor Speedway.