Monday, October 29, 2012
Kelly Cadman is the Vice President of School Services at The Georgia Charter Schools Association, a former founder of a charter school, and a dedicated charter school mother and public education supporter.
- GOVERNMENT
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Monday, October 29, 2012
Dear Editor: 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 …
Wednesday, September 19, 2012
There are strong opinions on both sides of the Charter School debate. This is the opinion of seven former members of the Georgia Charter School Commission.
- OPINION
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Wednesday, September 19, 2012
What is best for Georgia students? That is the question that should always be front and center when discussing education reform. One-third of Georgia students do not graduate from high school, so our education system clearly needs to be improved—for the benefit of our children, our families, our communities, and our economic future. Too often debates about education reform are centered on money and power. We wish to re-focus the debate toward what is best for students. On November 6, Georgians will vote on a constitutional amendment that would allow parents and other community members to start public charter schools—and to have the decision whether to allow these schools to open made by an independent and neutral observer. Charter …
Saturday, September 8, 2012
An official with the Georgia Charter Schools Commission calls an earlier piece by the co-founder of EmpowerED Georgia "creative writing."
Recently, Matt Jones, a public school teacher in Toombs County Georgia, was provided space in the Athen’s Patch to offer 8 Myths About the Proposed Charter Amendment. The opinion editorial would have better classified as fiction, with just enough facts to deceive and mislead a reader. In his creative writing essay, Mr. Jones argues vigorously against public charter schools and the proposed charter amendment suggesting everything from public charter schools “require students to go through an application process” to suggesting “charter schools are a front to privatizing public education”. While outlandish, the mixture of facts and fiction make for a dangerous brew intended to sway public opinion on the November 6 ballot question; “Shall the…
Jerry NeSmith
11:05 am on Tuesday, September 25, 2012
The article is very informative and seems to give a more balanced view that heard elsewhere. Here is what generates mistrust in the consequences of the amendment and the motives of its backers: The information in the article states: "An individual non-profit organization located in a community and generally comprised of parents, teachers and civic leaders enter into a 'charter' with the state - a… more ›