Comments on: Charter school association: Districts have no case http://blogs.ajc.com/get-schooled-blog/2009/11/01/charter-school-association-districts-have-no-case/ Your source to discuss and learn about education in Atlanta, Georgia and the nation Sat, 11 Feb 2012 01:13:01 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Bk http://blogs.ajc.com/get-schooled-blog/2009/11/01/charter-school-association-districts-have-no-case/comment-page-2/#comment-54016 Bk Sun, 09 May 2010 04:27:36 +0000 http://blogs.ajc.com/get-schooled-blog/?p=2678#comment-54016 I totally agree that anyone who makes decisions with our tax money has to be accountable to the voters. This commission is a sham because it is not accountable to the taxpayers. Authority has been usurped and given to the commission, thanks to the bill Jan Jones wrote and supported. If this is to be the case, then as a taxpayer, I would like vouchers for my child so that I can choose the type of school my child goes to without having to try to get in a charter through a lottery. Oh, but I forgot, the ADL poured money against the voucher system for Georgia and it didn't pass. So, let's see, I am left with supporting charters which take away money from my child's district or try to vie for a position in a charter that's not near my home, or, as I have found during my research, run by turkish citizens. As a citizen, I want accountability for my money or I want it to follow my child where I want it to follow my child, not where an unaccountable board deems it proper to follow. I totally agree that anyone who makes decisions with our tax money has to be accountable to the voters. This commission is a sham because it is not accountable to the taxpayers. Authority has been usurped and given to the commission, thanks to the bill Jan Jones wrote and supported.

If this is to be the case, then as a taxpayer, I would like vouchers for my child so that I can choose the type of school my child goes to without having to try to get in a charter through a lottery. Oh, but I forgot, the ADL poured money against the voucher system for Georgia and it didn’t pass.

So, let’s see, I am left with supporting charters which take away money from my child’s district or try to vie for a position in a charter that’s not near my home, or, as I have found during my research, run by turkish citizens.

As a citizen, I want accountability for my money or I want it to follow my child where I want it to follow my child, not where an unaccountable board deems it proper to follow.

]]> By: Charterstarter, too http://blogs.ajc.com/get-schooled-blog/2009/11/01/charter-school-association-districts-have-no-case/comment-page-2/#comment-16685 Charterstarter, too Wed, 04 Nov 2009 03:37:33 +0000 http://blogs.ajc.com/get-schooled-blog/?p=2678#comment-16685 I suppose I just don't understand. We HAVE elected officials...and they passed charter school legislation that establishes a Commission and other specifics of chartering. We elected them and gave them the authority to do this. Now, when a decision is made that folks don't agree with, suddenly you want to pull out the LOCAL board official's rights to having a say so in a matter...and truth be told, in most cases, they HAD a chance to give a charter a fair shake the first go 'round. If the laws passed are not favored by the local districts, then why don't they just lobby to have them changed? Why drag children through the muddy process, jeopardize their ability to at least have equitable funding for a proper education until the matter is decided by the grown ups? Why stick their fork in the sand over authority, and worse, over money? Why would anyone who truly, truly cares about the best interests of children and the growth of the community on the whole, take this route? I don't know about all of you, but I expect our local school board officials to make decisions for the good of the children and the continued growth of the community, not to protect their "authority" and right to control tax dollars. The Commission provides a mechanism to ensure the fairness of the petitioning process. Schools serving under 5 districts MUST go through their local districts first. If districts don't like the Commission, then all they need to do is provide a fair process for charter review, sans the politics and sans the self established caps that many, many, many charters have experienced. They should select strong petitions, schools that the state BOE and the Commission could also agree to be a safe bet. Those truly abysmal petitions won't be approved by the Commission anyway - they've already shown themselves to be quite tough. This way, everybody wins. It's just about the districts being willing to play ball - to be fair minded and see the absolute GOOD charters can do for the district. The charters are here to HELP educate kids - yes, help. Nobody, nobody wants cruddy charters in operation (particularly the charter sector); however, quality charter schools should have a chance to make a difference in education. And thankfully, our ELECTED officials have provided this opportunity and the state Board of Education is monitoring. I suppose I just don’t understand. We HAVE elected officials…and they passed charter school legislation that establishes a Commission and other specifics of chartering. We elected them and gave them the authority to do this. Now, when a decision is made that folks don’t agree with, suddenly you want to pull out the LOCAL board official’s rights to having a say so in a matter…and truth be told, in most cases, they HAD a chance to give a charter a fair shake the first go ’round. If the laws passed are not favored by the local districts, then why don’t they just lobby to have them changed? Why drag children through the muddy process, jeopardize their ability to at least have equitable funding for a proper education until the matter is decided by the grown ups? Why stick their fork in the sand over authority, and worse, over money? Why would anyone who truly, truly cares about the best interests of children and the growth of the community on the whole, take this route? I don’t know about all of you, but I expect our local school board officials to make decisions for the good of the children and the continued growth of the community, not to protect their “authority” and right to control tax dollars.

The Commission provides a mechanism to ensure the fairness of the petitioning process. Schools serving under 5 districts MUST go through their local districts first. If districts don’t like the Commission, then all they need to do is provide a fair process for charter review, sans the politics and sans the self established caps that many, many, many charters have experienced. They should select strong petitions, schools that the state BOE and the Commission could also agree to be a safe bet. Those truly abysmal petitions won’t be approved by the Commission anyway – they’ve already shown themselves to be quite tough. This way, everybody wins. It’s just about the districts being willing to play ball – to be fair minded and see the absolute GOOD charters can do for the district. The charters are here to HELP educate kids – yes, help. Nobody, nobody wants cruddy charters in operation (particularly the charter sector); however, quality charter schools should have a chance to make a difference in education. And thankfully, our ELECTED officials have provided this opportunity and the state Board of Education is monitoring.

]]> By: This Ivy Will Cover Dixie Like The Dew http://blogs.ajc.com/get-schooled-blog/2009/11/01/charter-school-association-districts-have-no-case/comment-page-2/#comment-16678 This Ivy Will Cover Dixie Like The Dew Wed, 04 Nov 2009 01:02:33 +0000 http://blogs.ajc.com/get-schooled-blog/?p=2678#comment-16678 Georgia General Assembly - HB 881 A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the O.C.G.A., relating to elementary and secondary education, so as to provide for legislative findings and intent; to establish the Georgia Charter Schools Commission; to provide for its powers and duties; to provide for chartering authority for commission charter schools; to provide for approval of cosponsors; to provide for cosponsor agreements; to provide for revocation of approval of cosponsors; to provide for application and review; to provide for applications of existing charter schools; to provide for application of the general laws; to provide for access to information; to provide for an annual report; to provide for duties, powers, and authority of the State Board of Education with respect to the foregoing; to provide for duties of the sponsor; to provide for appeal; to provide for debts of charter schools; to provide for findings; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. House vote: http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2007_08/votes/hv0521.htm Senate vote: http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2007_08/votes/sv0922.htm Georgia General Assembly – HB 881

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the O.C.G.A., relating to elementary and secondary education, so as to provide for legislative findings and intent; to establish the Georgia Charter Schools Commission; to provide for its powers and duties; to provide for chartering authority for commission charter schools; to provide for approval of cosponsors; to provide for cosponsor agreements; to provide for revocation of approval of cosponsors; to provide for application and review; to provide for applications of existing charter schools; to provide for application of the general laws; to provide for access to information; to provide for an annual report; to provide for duties, powers, and authority of the State Board of Education with respect to the foregoing; to provide for duties of the sponsor; to provide for appeal; to provide for debts of charter schools; to provide for findings; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

House vote:

http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2007_08/votes/hv0521.htm

Senate vote:

http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2007_08/votes/sv0922.htm

]]> By: Jennifer http://blogs.ajc.com/get-schooled-blog/2009/11/01/charter-school-association-districts-have-no-case/comment-page-2/#comment-16673 Jennifer Tue, 03 Nov 2009 23:30:57 +0000 http://blogs.ajc.com/get-schooled-blog/?p=2678#comment-16673 Repeat - with rotating school board election cycles every two-three years it is nearly impossible to bring meaningful change within a single students cycle of education. There has to be an intervening force for immediate change until voters can vote local board members out. The commission represents this intervention - and it is necessary. I will repeat again, in Gwinnett we have a board member that has been there almost 40 years, and the others are not too far behind her. That does NOT get turned around in one election cycle. Repeat – with rotating school board election cycles every two-three years it is nearly impossible to bring meaningful change within a single students cycle of education. There has to be an intervening force for immediate change until voters can vote local board members out. The commission represents this intervention – and it is necessary. I will repeat again, in Gwinnett we have a board member that has been there almost 40 years, and the others are not too far behind her. That does NOT get turned around in one election cycle.

]]> By: Let's only have elections where I win... http://blogs.ajc.com/get-schooled-blog/2009/11/01/charter-school-association-districts-have-no-case/comment-page-2/#comment-16665 Let's only have elections where I win... Tue, 03 Nov 2009 21:34:46 +0000 http://blogs.ajc.com/get-schooled-blog/?p=2678#comment-16665 I agree with Curt, I couldn't believe it when I read that post or the one in which the poster claims voting is "irrelevant". Seriously, people, what is wrong with our country when people think that elections are not important and that the only elections that should be held are ones where their side will win - that's just not democracy, that's authoritarian. It seems to me like many people supporting the state charter commission have authoritarian tendencies and would love to have appointed bureaucrats telling voters what's best for them. That's something I cannot support in any shape or form. I agree with Curt, I couldn’t believe it when I read that post or the one in which the poster claims voting is “irrelevant”. Seriously, people, what is wrong with our country when people think that elections are not important and that the only elections that should be held are ones where their side will win – that’s just not democracy, that’s authoritarian. It seems to me like many people supporting the state charter commission have authoritarian tendencies and would love to have appointed bureaucrats telling voters what’s best for them. That’s something I cannot support in any shape or form.

]]> By: Curt D. http://blogs.ajc.com/get-schooled-blog/2009/11/01/charter-school-association-districts-have-no-case/comment-page-2/#comment-16661 Curt D. Tue, 03 Nov 2009 21:02:30 +0000 http://blogs.ajc.com/get-schooled-blog/?p=2678#comment-16661 OK, to that poster who wants no elections because he/she thinks voters will turn down the proposition of charter schools, where do I even begin? Well to start off with, I really don't think most people against the state commission are charter haters - just read the comments and you will see what the real issue is about. Second, if you can't even convince 50% + 1 of your community's voters to favor charters, how in the world are you going to win court cases where evidence is scrutinized to every detail? And lastly, your attitude (I like charters and that's enough for me no matter what voters think) is not conducive to achieving "harmony" between charter schools and school districts that some posters here are hoping for. I'm not even going to address the slavery issue because it's entirely irrelevant to this debate. OK, to that poster who wants no elections because he/she thinks voters will turn down the proposition of charter schools, where do I even begin? Well to start off with, I really don’t think most people against the state commission are charter haters – just read the comments and you will see what the real issue is about. Second, if you can’t even convince 50% + 1 of your community’s voters to favor charters, how in the world are you going to win court cases where evidence is scrutinized to every detail? And lastly, your attitude (I like charters and that’s enough for me no matter what voters think) is not conducive to achieving “harmony” between charter schools and school districts that some posters here are hoping for. I’m not even going to address the slavery issue because it’s entirely irrelevant to this debate.

]]> By: Weary education warrior http://blogs.ajc.com/get-schooled-blog/2009/11/01/charter-school-association-districts-have-no-case/comment-page-2/#comment-16653 Weary education warrior Tue, 03 Nov 2009 19:28:26 +0000 http://blogs.ajc.com/get-schooled-blog/?p=2678#comment-16653 As a parent and staff member of one of the schools in question, I am happy to see people interested enough in this issue to be discussing it so passionately. And passion is the key word here. Starting and maintaining a charter school is no small task and requires an amazing amount of passion on the part of the families and staff. The continual obstacles we are presented with are staggering, yet we persevere. And what are we trying to accomplish? We are trying to provide a safe and caring environment in which we strive to treat children as individuals and give them many opportunities to learn and grow into productive citizens. It is exhausting but gratifying. Daily I see evidence of children finding success where previously they experienced failure or alienation. But daily I struggle with outdated technology, substandard classroom furnishings & supplies, and a salary well below the norm. I understand people's concerns about keeping schools and the commission accountable, but change has to happen somewhere. Instead of relentlessly being tested and confronted about what we are trying to do, it certainly would be nice to be applauded, and even rewarded, for sustaining the effort and commitment it takes to innovate in an extremely rigid field. As far as giving local control to the community, it doesn’t get any more local than the actual residents that are choosing to send their children to our schools. As a parent and staff member of one of the schools in question, I am happy to see people interested enough in this issue to be discussing it so passionately. And passion is the key word here. Starting and maintaining a charter school is no small task and requires an amazing amount of passion on the part of the families and staff. The continual obstacles we are presented with are staggering, yet we persevere. And what are we trying to accomplish? We are trying to provide a safe and caring environment in which we strive to treat children as individuals and give them many opportunities to learn and grow into productive citizens. It is exhausting but gratifying. Daily I see evidence of children finding success where previously they experienced failure or alienation. But daily I struggle with outdated technology, substandard classroom furnishings & supplies, and a salary well below the norm. I understand people’s concerns about keeping schools and the commission accountable, but change has to happen somewhere. Instead of relentlessly being tested and confronted about what we are trying to do, it certainly would be nice to be applauded, and even rewarded, for sustaining the effort and commitment it takes to innovate in an extremely rigid field. As far as giving local control to the community, it doesn’t get any more local than the actual residents that are choosing to send their children to our schools.

]]> By: no election! http://blogs.ajc.com/get-schooled-blog/2009/11/01/charter-school-association-districts-have-no-case/comment-page-2/#comment-16652 no election! Tue, 03 Nov 2009 19:28:12 +0000 http://blogs.ajc.com/get-schooled-blog/?p=2678#comment-16652 I do NOT think we should give voters the choice to decide on charter schools. Based on my personal interactions, I'm 99% sure that such a vote would fail And I know many of you charter haters know it would fail in an election. But slavery would not have been banned if it were put up for election a few hundred years ago. Why put such a wonderful concept at the tyranny of the majority? I do NOT think we should give voters the choice to decide on charter schools. Based on my personal interactions, I’m 99% sure that such a vote would fail And I know many of you charter haters know it would fail in an election. But slavery would not have been banned if it were put up for election a few hundred years ago. Why put such a wonderful concept at the tyranny of the majority?

]]> By: You Can't Be Serious http://blogs.ajc.com/get-schooled-blog/2009/11/01/charter-school-association-districts-have-no-case/comment-page-2/#comment-16647 You Can't Be Serious Tue, 03 Nov 2009 18:47:40 +0000 http://blogs.ajc.com/get-schooled-blog/?p=2678#comment-16647 Whoa - voting is "irrelevant"? Ummm, maybe I didn't read that correctly, but I think it is HUGELY relevant because that is the fairest way for taxpayers to have a say in where their dollars go. And yes money is an issue but the REAL issue is who gets to decide where that money goes. Sorry, I'm with the rest of folks who think that voters (which means taxpayers, parents, you, me, etc.) should get the say rather than a state APPOINTED commission. If you think that voting isn't tied with accountability for taxpayers, you're the one kidding yourself. Whoa – voting is “irrelevant”? Ummm, maybe I didn’t read that correctly, but I think it is HUGELY relevant because that is the fairest way for taxpayers to have a say in where their dollars go. And yes money is an issue but the REAL issue is who gets to decide where that money goes.

Sorry, I’m with the rest of folks who think that voters (which means taxpayers, parents, you, me, etc.) should get the say rather than a state APPOINTED commission. If you think that voting isn’t tied with accountability for taxpayers, you’re the one kidding yourself.

]]> By: www.atlhsra.org http://blogs.ajc.com/get-schooled-blog/2009/11/01/charter-school-association-districts-have-no-case/comment-page-2/#comment-16644 www.atlhsra.org Tue, 03 Nov 2009 17:55:18 +0000 http://blogs.ajc.com/get-schooled-blog/?p=2678#comment-16644 CCAT has been open over 10 years as state special charter school. Ivy Prep has been open for over 1 year. If this was truly about local control where were the opponents then? It is not about local control ……anyone who has read the Georgia Statue recognizes that State of Georgia has the right to authorize schools. The real debate started when both of these schools were granted more money$$ Those who oppose the commission should stop kidding themselves….at least admit that this is about money…… stop creating smoke screens with irrelevant issues such as “I want a vote”. I can respect the argument about money. This is about my money also. CCAT has been open over 10 years as state special charter school. Ivy Prep has been open for over 1 year. If this was truly about local control where were the opponents then?

It is not about local control ……anyone who has read the Georgia Statue recognizes that State of Georgia has the right to authorize schools.

The real debate started when both of these schools were granted more money$$

Those who oppose the commission should stop kidding themselves….at least admit that this is about money…… stop creating smoke screens with irrelevant issues such as “I want a vote”.

I can respect the argument about money. This is about my money also.

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