More than 79 percent of Georgia’s public schools made Adequate Yearly Progress, according to initial results released today — a 10 point jump from 2008.

Additionally, 58 schools across the state shook the "Needs Improvement" label by having made AYP for two consecutive years.

"The initial AYP results demonstrate that our students are continuing to make excellent progress even as we raise expectations," said State Superintendent of Schools Kathy Cox. "Clearly, our teachers and students are working harder than ever and we’re seeing the results."

Superintendent Cox released the initial 2009 AYP Report this morning while speaking at the Georgia Association of Educational Leaders conference in Jekyll Island. The final AYP report will be released in the fall and will include summer retest scores and summer graduates.

Compared to initial AYP results last year, the 2009 report shows that:

• The percentage of schools making AYP jumped more than 10 points from 68.8 percent to 79.1 percent.

• The percentage of elementary schools making AYP jumped 13.4 points and the percentage of middle schools jumped 10.4 points.