One of the most important decisions before Georgia voters will be the amendment to change the Georgia constitution to allow the creation of a state commission to approve state charter schools.
In an effort to inform you of the debate, we have included two opinion pieces - one for and one against the amendment.
This will not be the last issue to focus on this important topic. I hope you will continue to educate yourself and vote November 6 (and take some friends with you!) Happy reading!
For the Amendment
Advocates push charter school amendment
by Colton Campbell
Times-Georgian
August 17, 2012
The founder of 100Dads said Thursday night that academics and fiscal responsibility are among the reasons he supports the establishment of charter schools.
The Carroll County Tea Party Association hosted a meeting to inform attendees on an amendment that will be on their November ballot.
Speaking at the meeting was Rich Thompson of Atlanta, the chairman and founder of 100Dads, a grassroots organization dedicated to promoting responsible fatherhood through civic engagement in education reform policy. Thompson is an advocate of charter schools, which is the subject of an amendment to the Georgia Constitution to be voted on this fall.
The charter schools amendment, if approved by voters, will give the state Legislature the right to establish charter schools, autonomous public schools that provide alternative modes of learning.
Thompson listed three reasons why he is for the establishment of charter schools: academic rigor, fiscal accountability and local control.
"Public charter schools are held to a higher standard in academic achievement in exchange for more freedom from the state bureaucracy," Thompson said.
Thompson responded to critics around the state who say that the state will be given more control if the amendment passes by saying that independent charter schools have the ultimate local control - parents.
"In our regular school boards, we have a small group of people - maybe seven or nine - who are responsible for all our district's brick-and-mortar institutions," he said. "Somehow, that's local control? We believe in having one school with one board who has members with a vested interest and who have a greater appreciation for local control than the state."
Thompson cited several statistics evincing that the U.S. is not performing as well as other developed countries on the international stage in education.
"If people think we're doing such a good job, why are we still in the bottom?" he said. "Not to disparage those who put in a lot of work and sweat at these institutions, but maybe we should go outside the box for an answer."
State Schools Superintendent Dr. John Barge spoke against the amendment Tuesday, becoming the highest profile Republican to break with his party on this issue.
"I cannot support the creation of a new and costly state bureaucracy that takes away local control of schools and unnecessarily duplicates the good work already being done by local districts, the Georgia Department of Education, and the state Board of Education," Barge said in a prepared statement. "What's more, this constitutional amendment would direct taxpayer dollars into the pockets of out-of-state, for-profit charter school companies whose schools perform no better than traditional public schools and locally approved charter schools (and worse, in some cases)."
Leslie McPherson, a Carroll Tea Party member and coordinator of the meeting, said she is "bummed" about Barge's stance.
"He led us to believe he supported the amendment, but he has reversed how he feels," she said. "I understand that he feels beholden to the school systems and wants to keep the superintendents happy. He's protecting the systems, and sometimes that's good, but sometimes it's not."
McPherson spoke on the importance of education reform and how it is the basis for everything the tea party wishes to do.
"Unless we get the educational system straightened out, it doesn't matter what else we do," she said. "Our standards have dropped, and we've been made a lot of promises, but we've gotten nowhere."
McPherson said she wasn't saying the local schools are "loser schools," but that students who require different learning environments and techniques should be given those opportunities.
"We've got great teachers and principals in our local system, but we have to look at the big picture," she said.
An attendee, Mike McPherson, spoke during the question-and-answer period on the difference between dependent and independent charter schools.
"Dependent charter schools are just deregulated public schools," he said. "They still have to abide by a board's rules and a bureaucracy's regulations."
McPherson compared the two kinds of charter schools to "apples and oranges."
"Don't let the government offer you fruit without knowing if it's an apple or an orange," he said. "Don't let them confuse you or obfuscate the issue."
Against the Amendment
School leaders oppose charter amendment
by ABBEY LENNON Calhoun Times
Aug 27, 2012 | 1838 views
Since the recent rejection of the TSPLSOT by Georgia voters in the July primary, the next hot button issue up to vote will determine the fate of the charter school system in Georgia.
State lawmakers are seeking to amend the state constitution to allow the Georgia General Assembly the ability to determine the creation of new charter schools in the state.
In a statement released Tuesday, Aug. 14, Georgia's State Superintendent Dr. John Barge, formally opposed the ballot issue that will appear before voters on Nov. 6 during the general election.
"I fully support the continued creation of high quality charter schools for Georgia's students, but after careful consideration of what is best for all of Georgia's students, I have decided to take a position in opposition to the constitutional amendment that will be on the Nov. 6 ballot," said Barge.
Though Barge is not opposed to state charter schools in practice, an additional authoritative body would not only be costly, but also unnecessary.
"I cannot support the creation of a new and costly state bureaucracy that takes away local control of schools and unnecessarily duplicates the good work already being done by local districts, the Georgia Department of Education, and the state Board of Education," said Barge.
State charter schools are privately operated, but publicly funded schools in which teachers and students are allowed more flexibility in regards to setting academic standards and goals, and currently 100 of these charter schools exist in Georgia.
"Until all of our public school students are in school for a full 180-day school year, until essential services like student transportation and student support can return to effective levels, and until teachers regain jobs with full pay for a full school year, we should not redirect one more dollar away from Georgia's local school districts - much less an additional $430 million in state funds, which is what it would cost to add seven new state charter schools per year over the next five years (the annual average of the Charter Commission that would be revived if the amendment passes)," said Barge.
Funding for state charter schools is already outlined in House Bill 797, granting newly formed state charter schools state supplements, potentially diverting funds from pre existing schools.
In Gordon County superintendents of both school systems have expressed opposition to the proposed amendment to the state constitution, in a joint statement.
"State-chartered schools stand to receive more funding than traditional public schools and I find that to be in contradiction to the state's responsibilities," said Dr. Bill McCown, Gordon County Schools Superintendent. "Both Gordon County and Calhoun City became charter systems in 2011."
Calhoun City Schools Superintendent, Dr. Michele Taylor agrees there could be consequences due to costs.
"State-charter schools stand to receive two and a half times more funding than our local charter systems," said Taylor. "We have strong community support for our schools and we need everyone to be aware of the consequences of this amendment."
With additional oversight determining creation of state charter schools, local boards of education decisions could potentially be trumped.
McCown, and Taylor, strongly oppose state charter schools because of the possibility of diverting away funding from already exisitng who already are forced to cut budgets.
"We have strong boards of education who are committed to providing the best education for our students with a proven track record of success," said McCown. "These system charters allow for more flexibility at the local level. The passing of this amendment would mean less funding for our schools and we have already met enormous obstacles in trying to fund the programs we have in place."
Taylor expressed similar concerns as well as strongly voicing the effectiveness public school systems.
"Proponents feel that public schools are failing and the state does not create enough charter schools," said Taylor. "They feel that state charter schools are cheaper to operate because they can waive state laws. Our system charter already allows us the flexibility to use state funds to meet the needs of our students and our schools are meeting and exceeding state standards."
Funding for charter schools is set forth in House Bill 797 which allows for a state supplement for any newly approved state charter schools, potentially diverting money away from pre existing public schools.
The state charter system debate began when a Supreme Court ruling ended the Georgia Charter Schools Commission's practices were unconstitutional and illegal under Georgia law by taking away local control.
McCown and Taylor both believe Gordon County and Calhoun City Schools "need our community's support now more than ever."
Georgia voters will go to the polls in November to decide if the state will have additional oversight on the establishment of charter schools.
For more information about charter schools, visit www.gacharters.org,
For more information from the Georgia Department of Education visit www.doe.k12.ga.us.
