THOMASVILLE —
In less than two weeks, Georgia voters will decide the future of Georgia charter schools via an amendment on the Nov. 6 ballot.
The vote is necessary because of a 2011 decision by the Georgia Supreme Court.
In May 2011, the high court — in a 4-3 vote — 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.
The General Assembly had created the commission, which not only could approve charters, but redirect money so the schools could receive their share of local dollars.
Seven Georgia school systems — Atlanta, DeKalb, Candler, Coweta, Bulloch, Gwinnett and Griffin-Spalding — sued to have the state law that created the Charter Schools Commission declared unconstitutional.
Votes will be cast on the following amendment question:
• Shall the constitution of Georgia be amended to allow state or local approval of public charter schools upon request of local communities?
Two sides of the charter school question were presented at Tuesday’s 15th Thomasville Times-Enterprise citizens meeting.
Julie Smith, representing the Brighter Georgia Education Coalition, said her mission is to educate voters about what charter schools mean for communities and students.
“A lot” of charter schools presented to local boards of education for approval are denied, Smith said. One was approved in 2011, she added.
“An independent charter school is a free public school,” said Smith, a certified teacher.
Dependent charter schools are existing schools that apply to the state for charter status, she explained.
“This amendment has nothing to do with those charter schools,” Smith said.
“There are needs for options in education,” she explained.
Herb Garrett, executive director of the Georgia School Superintendents Association, speaking in opposition to the amendment, said the amendment is designed to get yes votes from people who do not know what they are voting for.
See Thursday's edition for more details.
Local News
October 24, 2012
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