What Comes Next for Georgia's Schoolchildren After Passage of the Charter Schools Amendment?
Charter schools may be part of a reform package, but they can't be the only reform.
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The fight over the Charter School Amendment is over. Come January, the Georgia General Assembly will re-authorized the Charter Schools Commission that had been declared un-Constitutional by the State Supreme Court.
And, says Maureen Downey in a blog post in the Atlanta Journal Constitution, that may be all the legislature does for public education this session, believing that choice is a solution to funding problems for public education.
"Lawmakers can relax and let choice work its magic. If students don’t do well, it will be blamed on their parents failing to make the right choice," says Downey. "In elevating choice to their top legislative priority, lawmaker shirked what ought to be their main concern: Ensuring that existing public schools in Georgia remain viable and have sufficient resources to educate students to increasingly higher standards."
MP
5:03 pm on Monday, November 26, 2012
You know, that's just absurd. Why is it that folks believe that it has to be all or nothing? Lawmakers have not given up on public education - they are, perhaps, holding local districts more accountable for results and are pushing for some healthy competition through choice options, but the need for public education exists, and our General Assembly and other policy makers want to see a healthy and vibrant public education system in Georgia.
Rebecca McCarthy
6:49 pm on Monday, November 26, 2012
Is that why they have slashed funding? Just sayin'. If you can explain, I would love to hear an explanation. Thanks!
Rae Harkness
6:32 pm on Monday, November 26, 2012
Like there is a way Georgia lawmakers could fix every school in one session! In our dreams. These comments are full of sour grapes.
Rebecca McCarthy
6:51 pm on Monday, November 26, 2012
Dear Rae,
Since you don't know what a top notch reporter and editor Maureen is, and since you may have never read anything she has written, you don't know how fair and balanced she is in her reporting. She has been bemoaning the reduction in public money for public education for years. There are no sour grapes, just fears that may be realized. Stay tuned.