Charter Amendment HR 1162 - Dr. Barge Gave Us the "CARFAX!"
Top Ten Reasons to Vote "NO" on HR 1162 - #1. The ballot question is deceptive. The wording on the ballot you will see Nov. 6th is intentionally confusing. Here it is:
Shall the Constitution of Georgia be amended to allow state or local approval of public charter schools upon the request of local communities? YES NO
Why is this deceptive? The voter is led to believe that the state does not currently have the authority to approve public charter schools. This is not true. In 2002 the Charter Schools Act of 1998 was amended to create a new category of charter schools termed state chartered special schools. Georgia Code (O.C.G.A. 20-2-2064.1 (c) states clearly that if a local board of education denies a charter petition, the petitioner may seek approval from the State Board of Education to create a state chartered school.
The enabling legislation for HR 1162, HB 797, also reaffirms the State Board of Educations existing authority to authorize state charter schools when stating "the State Board of Education shall review and may overrule the approval or renewal of a state charter school by the commission." 20-2-2083 (a) (1) 94-95. In January of 2012, Fulton Science Academy MS, applied to become a state charter school after being denied a charter by the Fulton County BOE. No one said it was illegal to do so. They were also denied a state charter.
Are the legislators who sponsored this bill trying to pull a "fast one?" Certainly looks like that to me. One thing is certain - the money spent on lawyers by the state and charter advocates to assert their authority over local boards of education in the past 10 plus years could probably have built several new schools. Wouldn't you like to know that dollar figure?
Certain state legislators and charter advocates see everything in "free-market" terms. Parents, students, voters...we're all in essence, consumers. We really need to be smart shoppers when it comes to voting on HR-1162. Dr. Barge gave us the "carfax" on August 14th (see previous post). Vote "NO" on HR 1162 - it's a LEMON!
Frank Jones
10:18 am on Monday, August 20, 2012
Elizabeth...nice piece. Keep up the good work. Unfortunately, the pro-charter folks are spreading misinformation and outright lies.
One thing I find amazing is that the state will start funding charter schools disproportionately compared to traditional public schools. That should be illegal! Further, by providing the extra funding, the end of local charters is ensured since they could keep their local money and have charters with no pain.
As such this bill ensures that public education will shift from local control to state control.
Elizabeth Hooper
1:30 pm on Wednesday, August 22, 2012
Thanks Frank,
I decided to write this blog because I was so alarmed at the propaganda that I have been hearing for the past year and want to do my part in countering it. It never ceases to amaze me how politicians can spin an issue. It appears that certain factions in the General Assembly have done everything in their power, with unfunded mandates and austerity cuts, not to mention the federal governments mandates, to make their foregone conclusion that privatizing education is the only answer to education reform, become a reality. Parents and taxpayers of course have not had the opportunity to weigh in because we haven't been paying attention. I have been guilty as charged. Not anymore. The General Assembly deserves an "F" on this test and should be kicked out of school for lying to the voters on the true effect and intent of HR 1162. Dr.Barge gave the voters the facts - if they don't want to know the facts, I guess we'll get what we deserve. Thanks for reading!
Steely Dan
6:18 pm on Wednesday, August 22, 2012
Mrs. Hooper, I am curious - what is your background?
In terms of propaganda, it's a myth that increased-funding leads to a better education. If that was so, our state's educational ranking would match our per-child-spending national rank (which is in the middle). Instead, we annually have to fight Mississippi for Cellar Dweller status. We've increased per-child spending over 100% the past 30 years and all we've got to show is a bottom-5 national ranking.
I also see the propaganda of 'austerity cuts', even though CCSD is giving blanket 3% raises in 2013, even as the superintendent threatens parents with picking up more educational costs. Real 'austerity' is what's happening in the failed, liberal entitlement nation of Greece, where people are being laid off, not being given raises.
I also see the propaganda of 'austerity cuts' in regards to state funding...but that has increased every year since 2010, including a $25M increase this year to Cherokee County alone. Last I checked, a spending "Cut" is a spending decrease, not a $25 Million Increase. I wish someone would give me such an 'austerity cut'.
You're right - there's lots of propaganda out there.
Elizabeth Hooper
6:34 pm on Thursday, August 23, 2012
Steely Dan,
I'm a parent and a taxpayer from Alpharetta. I became very involved in the Amana Academy re-zoning issue in Windward and the Fulton Science Academy charter renewal petition. I became very concerned when virtually every North Fulton legislator was signing off the same song sheet. The song goes like this; all school boards are a monopoly, public education in Georgia is a failure, all superintendents are "educrats," competition in pubic education can only produce better results, therefore, charter schools, tax credits for private schools, virtual schools and vouchers eventually are what we, the general assembly, will promote. HR 1162 is a blank check for an appointed committee to remove my voice from public education. No one knows what's on the other side and there has been no attempt by any legislator to inform the public what their vision of a free market in education looks like. Do you really think the state and "for-profit" operators can fix the central determinant of success in public school - a students level of poverty? I you have a vision of what privatization in education looks like, please let me know. That is what we're really talking about.
Elizabeth Hooper
6:37 pm on Thursday, August 23, 2012
Steely,
Meant "singing" and "if" thanks!
Truth is all that matters
8:26 pm on Thursday, August 23, 2012
Mrs Hooper<
Currently all state charter school are operating at a budget 67% less than the traditional local school systems are. So yes they can do it, and they are doing it.
The need for 1162 only arose out of the denial of a charter in 2 counties in Georgia.
The charters in one of those counties I know is operating and educating it students well below the cost per student of a neighboring school.
The traditional school system has given GA 48 th rank in the nation, if that is your meaning of success then I don't want to see your meaning of failure.
This is not about red or blue, this is about giving the student of our state the best that money can buy. For some that is what ever the county or state can provide, shall you deny that with your biased stance towards a change that allows the parent to the affordable choice to go to a different school?
Truth is all that matters
8:28 pm on Thursday, August 23, 2012
By the way when you say "privatization in education" you know you are not talking about any charter school, they are public school. not private.
Steely Dan
3:40 pm on Friday, August 24, 2012
Mrs. Hooper,
Sincere thanks for your reply. I am in near-total agreement with you that a student's poverty level is a huge determinant in their education. However, this makes me even more a fan of alternatives to the traditional public school model that is already failing many of these types of children.
There are some extremely-successful charters in inner-city Atlanta servicing these exact demographics fantastically. Why should those schools be closed because a few members of a BOE hold some sort of grudge against charters, or are in the back-pocket of local public education? With the passage of 1162, parents of kids in that situation would have the chance to contest such a decision.
The passage of 1162 would not affect local funding, since no local $$ would be used in that situation (where a local board denies a charter). 1162 is a signed check that makes your voice heard over the sometimes-corrupt,often-crony-filled local BOEs across the state. Why should your choices be limited by the vote of someone you may not have even elected? Why shouldn't the State, already in control of state and fed.$$ being funneled to local districts, be in charge of the decisions that 1162 would allow?
Being against 1162 comes across as being For Keeping Children In Failing Schools. Why be in favor of something that only ensures that a child's poverty level will continue to be a determinant in their parent's pursuit of a quality education?
Truth is all that matters
8:51 pm on Thursday, August 23, 2012
Ms Hooper;
Can please site your sources of the blog content?
It would help us all to see the same sites you are getting your information from.
Elizabeth Hooper
12:32 pm on Friday, August 24, 2012
Truth,
Please see my other response - I am first and foremost opposed to charter advocates stating misleading numbers - 48th in SAT scores do you mean? That is a meaningless number. Illinois ranked number 1 - 5% of students in the state took the SAT. Georgia ranked number 48, 80% of the states students took the test. Why would you even use that as a measure of meaningful performance? I have documented any claim I have made in my blog so far and will do so with regard to privatizing education when I get there. Thanks for reading!
Me
5:06 pm on Sunday, August 26, 2012
Elizabeth, From the comments here, it is evident that the propaganda machine has been at full throttle, I agree totally that something in the vein of the anti-TSPLOST effort will need to take place, at least in October, to hopefully re-educate the masses. Hopeful to see the Patch putting in an education-politics effort; parents looking for school news will hopefully be updated and share wtih their neighbors.
Me
5:18 pm on Sunday, August 26, 2012
Here is one propaganda machine tied to a taxpayer scam (that is actually generating a bipartisan effort to rectify a wool-pulled-over-eyes situation): http://georgiataxcreditscholarship.org/
Me
5:28 pm on Sunday, August 26, 2012
This would not be a dollar-for-dollar loss to local districts, but a spread-the-pain loss to all districts in the state, including those districts (like Fulton) who actually have approved a number of charters. There is one pot of money for K12 ed in GA. This would, as Dr. Barge reported, create a new bureaucracy to be funded with part of that money. Therefore, allotments would be decreased, proportionately, to all school systems. If school systems are denying valid charters repeatedly (looking perhaps to subsequent state approval), the voters in those systems should demand answers from their BoEs. The rest of us in the state shouldn't bear the burden of a few recalcitrant BOEs.
Think about it, Truth: "The need for 1162 only arose out of the denial of a charter in 2 counties in Georgia. " REALLY? We need a state-wide referendum because some people in Cherokee and Gwinnett didn't get their local charter funding? We need to add a new level of bureaucracy for THAT? I know the Senate Majority Whip has this bee in his bonnet, but... COME ON!
Juan Dela Cruz
2:57 pm on Friday, September 28, 2012
I think Senor Barge gave us the lemon! I read all about this. It seems some snooty North Fulton people want no investment in charter schools. Did you you know that less than 15 school out of 180 in Georgia have ever approved a charter school. That is very pathetic. This is why we had the commission before and we need it again. Powerful people in these districts think the money in their systems is theirs. It's not. It's our kids. And we want something more. Something better. And we should be able to get it. Thank goodness the state is will to look at our ideas and if denied unfairly by the districts, we can be granted a charter to build a school, without funds coming from those local districts.
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