UPDATED: House Approves State Charter School Resolution
If the Senate passes HR 1162 by a super majority, Georgia voters will decide if the state Department of Education gets to create charter schools.
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UPDATE, 4:30 P.M.: The House passed HR 1162, a resolution that would send the issue of state charter schools to Georgia voters, overwhelmingly today, 123-48.
Sen. John Albers, R-Roswell, said the resolution has to pass with a two-thirds majority in the state Senate also.
Senate Majority Leader Chip Rogers said the resolution will be sent to the Senate Education Committee first. He was asked if he thought the resolution had the necessary support in the Senate.
"We certainly hope so. This is a referendum and the voters should have the opportunity to voice their opinion on this very important matter," Rogers said.
Albers said Gov. Nathan Deal supports sending the question to state voters, "but it does not require his signature because two-thirds is already a super majority."
The Governor made it part of his legislative agenda, Rogers said.
Albers said this resolution assures options for education.
"Students deserve as many high quality options as possible," Rogers said. "Giving students more options is always better than restricting their options."
Fulton Science Academy Middle School, which lost its bid for charter renewal with Fulton County, has applied as a special school, Albers said.
Rogers said it will help current and future charter schools.
"Most importantly, it will help Georgia's children," he said.
A Supreme Court decision had limited the state's ability to create charter schools, which put the sole authority in the hands of local school boards. So lawmakers created HR 1162, which would put a referendum on the state ballot to add the authority to the state by way of an amendment to the state Constitution.
Voters won't get the question until too late for Fulton Science Academy Middle School to receive this type of charter. So the school is relying on a state charter under existing law to stay open.
The issue has been one of local control. Supporters of the stance of the Fulton School Board–and its counteparts in other school districts–say a charter school removes local control. But charter school supporters say it brings the control even closer to the local residents, with each charter school having its own school board from local residents and parents.
MarkMunoz
2:17 am on Thursday, February 23, 2012
Congratulations to the Gulen Managed Fulton Science Academy and their manipulation of politics. Once again, you Georgians have been had. These schools are nothing unique or special. Right down to the curriculum and emphasis on Turkish culture it is the same worldwide with these Gulen schools. They may win this, then again most cannot vote as they are not American citizens. Lets see what Americans decide. http://www.gulencharterschools.weebly.com
Concerned Alpharetta
9:49 am on Thursday, February 23, 2012
I agree with Mr. Munoz...I had the opportunity to meet, as a group, with the headmaster of FSA. He was unable or unwilling to provide answers to questions asked of him regarding curriculum, funding of the school and construction of the school. His air was that of arrogance. FSA has challenged building codes, permitting processes, etc. and, yet continues to move forward with the new construction of the school. It appears that as long as the school gives our legislators awards and allows them to parade around on stage in exchange for their support, protocol is cast to wind.
Lisa Machado
12:12 pm on Thursday, February 23, 2012
No matter how you slice or dice it (claim Gulen all you want), the administrators, teachers at Fulton Science Academy Middle have been nothing but professional and pleasant to work with. The Georgia State mandated curriculum is being followed. The teachers - every single one of them - are willing and able to meet with me about my child almost upon immediate request. Every single one of them have shown a sincere interest in my child and have set a positive example through their words, their actions and their professionalism. As a parent, I could not ask for more - not even a better building.
As conservative practicing Catholics, I can assure readers that my child is not being "secretly converted to Islam."
I have children in traditional and charter public schools. I recognize a large school system will never be perfect. But when something goes very wrong at a particular school, and supportive, rational, parents are willing and able to step in, it is essential that someone in the system - anyone - pays attention. Otherwise, a parent runs the risk of losing that child - emotionally, physically, academically. Been there.
High performing charter schools, give parents this out. How fortunate for any parent who has not needed this option!
Marvin in Milton
5:13 pm on Thursday, February 23, 2012
The title of your article should be Unsupervised Schools 1, Taxpayers 0.
It’s not about the children; it’s about the bill-payers. The current level of supervision of charter schools by the local boards of education is abysmal. And there appears to be no funding for the supervision of state chartered schools by the state.
We all know this dust up started with the failure of the Fulton Science Academy to receive a charter renewal. The North Fulton elected officials been in vapor lock. But the documented facts are that FSA’s management has been arrogant and operated at the edge of the law, perhaps beyond.
This is not the type of school that deserves any taxpayer funding, regardless of the scores of the students. FYI, this school takes very few if any special needs or behavior problem kids. Obviously this influences the school’s test results in a very positive manner.
Taxpayers first.