Monday, November 5, 2012
Tuesday's ballot includes a Georgia constitutional amendment to re-establish a state commission to approve charter schools. Your job is to decide if that's a good idea.
There aren't a lot of statewide issues on the ballot Nov. 6, but one has the potential to affect school districts, parents and children throughout Georgia. It's Amendment 1, and the ballot will say it "Provides for improving student achievement and parental involvement through more public charter school options." The question voters will answer yes or no to is, "Shall the Constitution of Georgia be amended to allow state or local approval of public charter schools upon the request of local communities?" So what does a yes vote mean? If the amendment passes, the state will create a commission that can approve charter schools in local communities, even if local school boards oppose them. Supporters of the amendment believe this is necessary …
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Kelly Cadman, the vice president of School Services at The Georgia Charter Schools Association, and a former founder of a charter school, says districts are spending big bucks in central offices.
- GOVERNMENT
-
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
By Kelly Cadman There has been an awful lot of energy expended by opponents of the Charter Amendment. The opposition to the Amendment claim that the state can “already” act as an appeals body for charter schools. Those supporting the Amendment wonder, if the state can already approve charters, why is the Education Establishment fighting THIS hard against affirming that on the ballot on November 6? Most of the arguments posed against the Amendment are related to the enabling legislation, which establishes a Commission. The ballot question, however, ONLY reaffirms the state’s role in K-12 general education, so why the nasty battle against the Amendment? At the heart of the argument employed by the school districts and affiliate associations…
Thursday, October 25, 2012
Speaker Pro Tem says she trusts parents more than government to make the best decisions for children.
- OPINION
-
Thursday, October 25, 2012
By Jan Jones As a mother of four children currently enrolled in or graduates of Fulton County Schools, I care deeply about public education in my community and Georgia. I know public education changes lives by giving young people opportunities to fulfill their potential and achieve the American dream. In this regard, I support Amendment One on the Nov. 6 election ballot to give Georgia's students more educational options through public charter schools. I support all the ways that our young people can get a leg up, including charter schools, traditional schools, dual enrollment at technical schools and colleges, virtual schooling, homeschooling, and private schools. I trust parents more than I trust government to make the best decisions for…
MCurrie
11:14 pm on Wednesday, October 31, 2012
Good article Kelly! I have already voted "YES" for Amendment One because I believe in real local control. I have seen firsthand the results of dumping millions of dollars into poorly performing schools, and I can say with absolute certainty that it doesn't work. Why? Because nothing really changes. I don't care whether the "new" program is Reading First, America's Choice or any of the other … more ›