Now that we're into September the big guns will be rolled out to get you to vote "YES" on HR 1162. This innocent sounding amendment to our state constitution will ask the following question:
Shall the Constitution of Georgia be amended to allow state or local approval of public charter schools upon the request of local communities?
First of all let's clarify what type of public charter school we're talking about. Pro-school choice advocates want more independent, "start-up" charter schools. These schools could be authorized by an appointed State Charter Commission if denied by a local board of education. They would not be governed by a local board of education or by the state, but by an autonomous non-profit board of directors. Parental representation on this governing board is not required. They can contract with a "for-profit" education management company if they want to. Tuition is free, paid by state tax dollars primarily, thus the designation "public" applies.
In Alpharetta, for example, Amana Academy is and Fulton Science Academy MS was, a "start-up" charter. They were authorized by the local board of education. Fulton County Schools has converted to a "charter system" - that is not what HR 1162/HB 797 is about - all Fulton County Schools will have increased flexibility and parental involvement, but governance and the operation of all schools will remain with the Fulton County BOE.
Governor Deal is for HR 1162. He has started making the rounds saying things like, "In many parts of our state, students are stuck in schools that are failing...in schools that are not making adequate yearly progress," - remarks to the Gwinnett Chamber on August 23rd. I'm not really sure if Gov. Deal has actually read HR 1162 and the legislation you will get, HB 797, if you vote for it. He signed HB 797 into law on May 3, 2012. I'm hoping he hasn't read the bills because then he can claim, "he didn't know."
Here's the bottom line - anyone who states or insinuates that HR 1162/HB 797 will improve Georgia's low graduation rate or help kids in failing schools is MISLEADING YOU! How do I know? Because I read the darn legislation!
I challenge you to find any of the following words or phrases. Email back on this blog and tell me precisely where any of the following words are mentioned in either HR 1162 or HB 797:
Ready? Here are the key words or phrases: improve, failing school, "at-risk", succeed, drop out, adequate yearly progress, disadvantaged, achievement gap, special needs, learning, innovative, low-performing, professional, English language learners, or graduation rate. HB 797 is only 13 pages and pages 8 - 13 are all about money. The only valid bill must match the final versions located on the Georgia Legislature's website or here; http://1.usa.gov/PFwngj, http://1.usa.gov/ThnBZE
Guess what - if those words are not written down, charter schools which actually address any of those issues aren't necessarily going to be started. To all of you who have trusted your legislators to write a bill that was concise and targeted to actually improve failing schools or foster innovation in education, you have been misled.
The State of Maine is rated #1 by the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools by virtue of its charter school law http://bit.ly/TVGq1S. Here is the paragraph describing the type of state charter school the Charter Commission in Maine is supposed to be looking for;
"Charter schools may be established as public schools pursuant to this chapter to improve pupil learning by creating more high-quality schools with high standards for pupil performance; to close achievement gaps between high-performing and low-performing groups of public schools students; to increase high-quality educational opportunities within the public education system; to provide alternative learning environments for students who are not thriving in traditional school settings; to create new professional opportunities for teachers and other school personnel; to encourage the use of different, high-quality models of teaching and other aspects of schooling; and to provide students, parents, community members and local entities with expanded opportunities for involvement in the public education system."
Here is Georgia's Charter Commission mission statement from HB 797;
"State charter schools do not supplant public schools operated by local boards of education but provide options to enhance public educational opportunities... Develop, promote, and disseminate best practices for state charter schools in order to ensure that high-quality schools are developed and encouraged. At a minimum, the best practices shall encourage the development and replication of academically and financially proven state charter school programs."
INSPIRATIONAL right? Sounds more like a clinical trial to encourage the growth of a virus!
Here are the key words in HB 797; enhance, high quality, replicate, efficient, financially proven.
Reason #4 to vote "NO" on HR 1162: it's an engraved invitation to "for-profit" education management companies to replicate in Georgia.
My direct answer to your question - I have not chosen to support the Amendment which means I can not justify an appointed State Charter Commission. I'm not dodging your question - I simply can't justify what I do not support. With that said; I can not confirm what you assert as "authority" (law) regarding legal authority of the SBOE to over ride a local board. Please cite "precise" source in O.C.G.A so I can verify SBOE has legal authority to CURRENTLY over ride the local board granting a special and non-special charter school. My verification of your assertion would go a long way toward my decision. Your turn to answer: do you [Elizabeth] have a solution to improve Georgia's public education within current tax constraints? I am in hope you can give me a workable alternative and not pose another deflection.
The "special" charter schools of which you speak are defined in lines 160 - 165, I believe. It seems, in my opinion, to give a large parameter of what constitutes a the definition of "special." The legislation wording is that a potential charter school, "Demonstrates that it has special characteristics, such as a special population, a special curriculum, or some other feature or features which enhance educational opportunities, which may include the demonstration of a need to enroll students across multiple communities or an alternative delivery system; provided, however, that the petitioner shall demonstrate a reasonable justification for any proposed special curriculum that has a narrow or limited focus." Many denials have funding as the reason, not the whether or not they are "special." Those denials are saving tax payers the burden of paying for another system run by appointed officials. Rather than LOCAL "short-sighted, crony-filled local BOEs".(your words), would you rather have STATE and FEDERAL "short-sighted, crony-filled BOEs" running the show? It's hard enough to be heard at the local level, let alone at the state level - and I'm talking about those who were ELECTED. You cannot get an appointed person out of control as easy. That's what is troubling to me. I can't find anything on the appeal process, so I might be wrong, but appointed vs. elected is a pretty major point to think about. It's the main point for me with regards to this issue.
Further, under your market forces assumption parents would want their children in the charter schools "perceived" as better; however, there would be a limited number of "better seats" (in business some businesses are run better and produce a better product than others). Under the market forces model, a lucky few would have the "better seats" while the rest receive an inadequate education. The inadequate charter would be guaranteed income for the remainder of the year or years until funding could be withheld. The inadequate charter may lose students, but where would they go? To another charter already at capacity? To a traditional school already at capacity? Charters aren't Utopia! They're just rhetoric used by anti-gov't, pro-business pundits.
For-Profit simply means, less money for the kids!
Please refer to my post on August 16th. O.C.G.A. 20-2-2064.1 charter schools act of 1998 was amended in 2002 to include a state chartered school. Funding for this class of chartered school was amended on July 1st 2012. Fulton Science Academy ms applied to become a state charter school in January 2012. They were denied. This is a legal can of worms. The voters are being placed smack in the middle. Do you think this amendment has anything to do with education reform? It's about power and I do not want to cast my vote with an appointed commission under the circumstances.
And stop the "no accountability" stuff. Teachers are inundated with paperwork and testing to keep them "accountable." But, all that "accountability" has hamstrung them from doing the actual job- teaching.
I've said it before and I'll say it again, if relieving the restrictions on charters is the way to improve education, then why aren't Rogers, Jan Jones, Fran Millar, et al. pushing to do that for ALL schools??? In my opinion, it's because people want a "special" school for their kids, and if all the schools got in on the act, their school would be less "special." And, they could not care less about improving all schools for all kids.
Read O.C.G.A. 20-2-2064.1 the state BOE can currently grant a petition to a charter that was denied by a local board. They don't have to be a special school to apply. They become a state chartered special school. Ivy prep is one, Fulton Science could have been one. Why isnt that process which is already in place good enough for you?
There's plenty of funding available if we stop overpaying admins and superintendents. $7 Billion is more than enough to run our state's Education. Any charter denied by a local BOE (i.e. most of 'em) won't received a dime of local district money. That's clearly written in 1162. If you pro-status-quo folks don't trust the State and Fed, then you should stop taking their (OUR!) money. I find it amusing and thoroughly hypocritical that all the status-quo lovers, admins, and superintendents hate the State and Fed but LOVE the endless stream of govt cash they're providing.
O.C.G.A. 20-2-2064 was made null & void last May. Please keep up with current events and stop spreading disinformation. Here - let me help you: http://blogs.ajc.com/get-schooled-blog/2011/05/16/breaking-news-supreme-court-strikes-down-charter-schools-commission-in-4-3-vote/ "In a long-awaited ruling released this morning, the state Supreme Court struck down a state commission that could approve charter schools over the objection of local boards of education and direct local funding to the schools."
First, you make a few assumptions in your post that I find a bit condescending. How is it that you presume to know anything about me based on our conversation here? "If you pro-status-quo folks don't trust the State and Fed, then you should stop taking their (OUR!) money." I find it amusing and thoroughly hypocritical that all the status-quo lovers, admins, and superintendents hate the State and Fed but LOVE the endless stream of govt cash they're providing." Second, you state that "1162 will allow parents and communities (i.e. parental control) to appeal the decision of a Local BOE." True. But to whom will they appeal? The politically APPOINTED commission who, in some cases, might be "tempted" to vote in favor of a particular Charter based on "factors" other than educational ones. Third, you state that "Any charter denied by a local BOE (i.e. most of 'em) won't received a dime of local district money. That's clearly written in 1162." I can't seem to find that written in the legislation. The money for state chartered schools comes from state educational funds ("OUR money", as you say). Therefore, it might not directly "'RECEIVE'" a dime of local district money" but that local money will be DIVERTED from local districts/charter schools to help fund non-local disctricts/charter schools the same way it's already occurring. (BTW, there's no underline font, so I'm not yelling in all caps, I'm simply putting emphasis on certain points..
From reading 1162, parents and local communities would appeal to a State board. A State board that cannot possibly be more corrupted than APS, Bibb County, Dekalb County, or Cherokee County's back when it faced a loss of SACS accreditation. And yes, 1162 makes clear that when local BOEs deny a charter, that charter (if approved by state) won't take a penny of local (property tax) money. Why shouldn't those schools therefore receive state money? Their parents have already paid their taxes - why should their children be forced to attend crappy, failed public schools? I am all for diverting $$$ from traditional public schools, seeing how poor a job they're doing with $7 BILLION annually. The traditional pub. school model is failing too many students for it to be taken seriously as an excellent provider of education. Continuing to shovel our tax $$ into its black hole and expecting results to improve is insanity.
The charter commission's authority was ruled unconstitiutional, the state BOE's authority REMAINS - please read this http://bit.ly/RpNSjQ. Also, in HB 797, it specifically says on lines 94 and 95 "The State Board of Education shall review and may overrule the approval or renewal of a state charter school by the commission within 60 days...." I will repeat for the 10th time - Fulton Science You have been misled - please stop trying to confuse everyone.
Holly J - as if the local BOEs are just going to hand over money and let the parents who are paying attention [of academically successful kids] pull their kids out of schools that would fail AYP if just that happened.
Fulton Science was stupid and should've accepted the deal they were given. If you're going to paint all charter schools with the Fulton Science brush, then I get to paint all GA public schools with the APS brush. Deal?
Your thinly-veiled support of our mediocre public schools is too obvious for me to trust your information, as your side has a history of bullying those who are in favor of school choice into silence. Every single argument you make is in regards to funding, funding, funding...rather than educating. Attempts at obfuscating damning statistics is another tactic. Failing that, it's Shoot the Messenger. It's the dead giveaway to all your arguments. The traditional status-quo fans care more about funding than educating. That's been illustrated repeatedly, even in the face of a global recession, and another of many reasons I'm voting YES for 1162. Any alternative is superior to what passes for public education in most of GA and should be supported by all taxpayers.
Here's the real question about this entire proposed amendment. Do any of you find it as upsetting (to put it mildly) as I do that we would be amending the Constitution to allow our Governor (any Governor, not just Nathan Deal) to APPOINT a commission? Do we want to give them the power to do something that the State Supreme Court ruled unconstitutional? This isn't about the state of education, whether it be public, private, online, homeschool, or anything else; it's about a fancy worded power grab, and it involves all of us, no matter how we feel about education.
Here's an excellent article that explains why 1162 is needed: http://chronicle.augusta.com/opinion/editorials/2012-04-21/saving-our-children