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| Trouble for Charters in Georgia? |
| posted by: Alix | May 19, 2011, 03:11 PM |
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As reported in the AAE State Policy Update this week, a Georgia law clearing the way for new charter schools in the state was struck down by the Georgia Supreme Court in a high-profile decision on Monday. The decision overturned the Georgia Charter Schools Commission, which allowed the state to approve and fund charter schools over the objection of local school boards. The court's ruling will undoubtedly affect thousands of students, reshaping the face of funding for public education in the state, and perhaps set a precedent that could affect other states' emerging charter movements. When the legislation was adopted in 2008, there was an immediate backlash from local school districts, which filed a lawsuit a year later, claiming the commission broke the law by moving millions of local tax dollars without the approval of local taxpayers. Since the initial controversy over funding, the state has approved over a dozen charter schools for incorporation under these guidelines. On Tuesday, stakeholders in the charter debate descended upon the state's capitol in Atlanta, protesting the decision that has the potential to interrupt the education of thousands of students. "The fight has only just begun," Representative Jan Jones, speaker pro tem of the Georgia House of Representatives, said at a rally in Atlanta. "One size doesn't fit everyone," she added, arguing that charter schools provide more choices. Education experts warn the ruling's reach could extend beyond Georgia, as other states seek to augment similar charter school authorizers. Georgia is considered to be a leader by many in the charter school movement. The decision sparks a national debate about the viability and funding of charters and the current role they play in public education. Proponents of charter schools assert they provide more choices to students and teachers alike while critics maintain that charter schools drain public funding. Some argue that charters could be a potential solution to the overall national public school outlook. Charter schools are essential to turning around our nation's ailing public schools system. "Innovation thrives within the walls of charter schools across the country. With close to 5,000 charter schools nationwide, serving more than 1.6 million students, this innovation leads students, teachers, and parents to work together to develop an educational program that teaches students to excel in K-12," said Congressman Buck McKeon, recent recipient of the National Charter School Champion Award. The court decision doesn't currently affect the 65,000 students enrolled in charter schools approved by local school boards. But the status of the 16+ schools whose applications were denied by school boards and allowed by the state commission is now questionable, as they, too, have been deemed unconstitutional under the decision. The fates of the thousands of students enrolled in such state-approved charter schools also remain uncertain. What do you think of this ruling? Is it a setback for the charter movement? Comment below.
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