House ed passes charter school amendment. But what does it actually do?
Had you attended the House Education Committee meeting today and listened to the debate around the charter school amendment, you might have been confused about what the proposed change to the state constitution would do. That didn’t seem to faze the House members who passed the amendment despite a lot of nagging questions.
At various points, the amendment was described as a simple effort to clarify the definition of a special school, put into question by the May, 2011, state Supreme Court ruling declaring a state-created Charter Schools Commission illegal. Other times, the amendment was cast as a means to bring charter schools to under-served rural areas where school boards remain hostile to them.
That confusion probably wasn’t an accident.
And it was never even quite clear if the amendment did what its detractors allege, even after the sponsor modified the language to appease them: Does this amendment allow the state of Georgia to channel local funds — through a complex sleight of hand that involves withholding state funds from local systems – to charter schools rejected by local boards but approved by a state entity yet to be named?
The architect of the amendment vacillated over whether the amendment merely “affirmed what we have been doing for 14 years,” as state Rep. Jan Jones of Milton initially explained, or whether it created a legal route around local schools boards to address what she called “their hard-line in approaching start-up charter schools.”
A lesson I’ve learned from the dozens of constitutional amendments that the General Assembly has foisted on the ballots over the years: The more innocuous and innocent the language, the more complicated and costly the consequence.
I asked some educational professionals about how they saw today’s House Education Committee vote and what the amendment actually did.
Here is what Tim Callahan of the Professional Association of Georgia Educators said:
We feel that today’s committee vote was both unfortunate and disappointing. Despite the smoke screens, this is not about naming an alternate authorizer for start-up charters; it is about tapping into local funds without the local board having approved the charter school. It is not about “choice” but who pays for the choices of others. The Supreme Court ruling addressed charter schools that were authorized by the Charter Commission. It did not address schools authorized by the state board of education receiving state, but not local, funds.
Current state law:
“Upon denial of a petition for a start-up charter school by a local board and upon application to the state board by the petitioner, the state board shall approve the charter of a start-up charter petitioner for a state chartered special school if the state board finds, after receiving input from the Charter Advisory Committee, that such petition meets the requirements set forth in Code Section 20-2-2063 and the provisions of this title, and is in the public interest.”
If this were really about alternate authorizers needed to overcome recalcitrant local school boards, current law seems to be just fine. We will oppose this amendment, but continue our support of charter schools – even those who get turned down locally and later get state board approval – as long as local boards are not forced to fund them. The “price” for not getting local board approval is loss of local funds. The remedy for Luddite local boards is appeal to the state board. I think there is at least an imperfect balancing of interests here that does not run roughshod over either local boards or the constitution.
And here is what Angela Palm of the Georgia School Boards Association said:
While the changes to the proposed constitutional amendment took out some of the much-criticized language, it would still give the state the same authority as the previous version. The Georgia School Boards Association remains opposed. We should all keep in mind that the role of the Constitution is to establish the parameters within which the government works. The amendment does not have to be specific about what the state would do; it just has to provide for what the state could do.
The Georgia Charter Schools Association said its own polling shows public support for the amendment.
“As Georgians learn more and more about the success of high performing charter schools, they want this option for their own children,” said Tony Roberts, CEO of the Georgia Charter Schools Association. “Unfortunately, there are not enough charter schools in Georgia to meet the demand. People are astounded to learn how many local school districts have denied well-thought out charter petitions with strong community backing. They have been rightly enraged when local districts have denied renewals to some of the top performing charter schools in the state. We need to change the law, and the Constitutional Amendment is the only way to do so.”
And the amendment has chamber support. “No issue is more important to job creation and the future success of Georgia businesses than the education of our children. In our global economy, employers place a premium on an educated workforce, and public charter schools represent an exciting new opportunity to achieve success on this front. We strongly encourage the legislature to act quickly in passing this measure,” said Georgia Chamber of Commerce President Chris Clark.
If the House and Senate approve this constitutional amendment by the necessary margins, the question may be one of the most important facing voters in November. It is likely many of them will not understand the full implications of what’s being sought. And it won’t be because they can’t read. It will be because they can’t read between the lines.
–From Maureen Downey, for the AJC Get Schooled blog
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104 comments Add your comment
Tony
February 3rd, 2012
9:24 am
One of the myths about school funding comes from the idea of “per pupil expenditures.” This is not how schools are funded by the state, yet in these charter school discussions I have found that the charters want what they call their “fair share” of local dollars based on average per pupil expenditures.
If charter schools get this level of funding they will in fact receive a much higher funding level than regular public schools. Special education services push the average per pupil funding higher and most schools never see this level of funding.
This proposed amendment is a horrible idea and should not be allowed to come for a vote. It skirts the true needs that our schools are facing and demonstrates that our state leaders are shirking their responsibilities to address educational budget needs for ALL of our students.
followthemoney
February 3rd, 2012
9:58 am
Momto2 – Again, FACTS please. “my child didn’t feel safe” is not an assessment of whether the charter schools is a good investment for the taxpayer dollar. Is there any evidence that would indicate the charter school is safer than the regular school? Nope. As a matter of FACT, it seems this school had a student show up with a gun at the school last year. FACTS, please. If your child doesn’t know how to function in a public setting like white, rich, manicured North Fulton County, you’ve got problems that a school can’t solve.
As for CATRANS, your numbers don’t align with the number posted in the independently audited budget of the FCS system. Where did you get your numbers (let me guess – charter school leaders?). I looked up the audited report on line (I especially like the bar graphs of funding levels at each school – cool stuff). You have been given inacurate information. As to the quality of the school’s decision making, you propose that the AJC, the state department of education, the school system, and Fitch Rating company are all lying about the dealings of this school? And there is an FBI investigation too? I had missed that part, but since you brought it up, I googled it. FCS should have shut them down just based on that! So, apparently the New York Times and the Philly Inquirer are a part of the lies? According to you, the school wasn’t renewed because a 100,000 kids school system is worried about teacher salaries for about 500 kids? The system budget looks like it is $1B annually and has 12,000 or so teachers. You think all those parties in three different states made all this up and the system took all this heat from poorly informed parents in the little local blogs over about 30 teachers salaries? Interesting theory….no FACTS to support it, but interesting none the less.
Folks – These parents’ posts are indicators as to why we cannot allow the charter schools to continue unregulated. Even with all these FACTS from numerous sources about the poor decisions made at this particular charter, these parents want us to continue pay for this kind of school? At least with the systems, when some goes wrong, we have ways to address it, as APS and FCS have painfully learned. Again, I think this amendment is a bad idea.
To CATRANS from Good Mom
February 3rd, 2012
10:02 am
Your comments were thoughtful and interesting. I especially appreciated all the facts about the award winning charter school where parents are on a waiting list to apply.
What is also interesting is that the school you mention has no award-winning sports teams. Parents care and are lining up in droves to find real academic success sans sports.
You just made my morning.
Thanks for the good news,
Good Mom
C Jae of EAV
February 3rd, 2012
10:36 am
@ followthemoney 02/02/12 6:31 pm –If we’re being objective every point you attempted to make relative to the fiscal responsibility exercised by public charters could be and has been pointed back to the seemingly sanctified elected local school boards. The cronyism manifested those elected (& paid in some cases) to manage/oversee local districts has been well documented so there is no real need to re-hash the myriad of examples that could be sighted as counterpoints to your arguments. The point here is local districts have manifested no greater managerial capacity than that exercised by boards running public charters.
When you strip down the concern to its base, it would appear to me the question becomes is the governance structure of the public education status quo sufficiently meeting the needs of the population its purported to serve (meaning are traditional public institutions significantly better run fiscally and achieving higher academically) ? And if the answer to the aforementioned is no, then we need to ask ourselves are public charters a reasonable component to add to the mix in an effort spark progressive change in the status quo? Dispite the strong support of public charters in many communities the local board that represent them have overwhelming said NO ! Hense the passage of the original bill that formed the State Charter Commission in the first place.
No matter which side of this debate you stand on, I only wish is that those participating in the debate present a balanced view pro and con instead of emotionally charged rhetoric that propagates half-truths, outright lies and mostly serves just to perpetuate the status quo which I dare say the majority of us feel has failed to deliver the quality of outcomes we’re expecting.
Personally, I agree with those who call for strong fiscal and academic accountability measures for public charters no matter who authorizes them!! But what I think a lot of people who hold that view miss is that the power exists today to exercise the degree of accountability that’s desired and/or necessary! Recognizing that point you have to take as step back and ask why is it not happening for existing public charters where mis-management has manifested itself? Furthermore, Why is the fight to prevent the existence of START UP public charter institutions specifically so fierce? For it’s the existence of more start-up charters that rankle the ire of so much of the public education establishment.
Speaking to the often used argument in response to latter inquiry aforementioned, I’m still waiting for someone to explain to me how dispersing local tax dollars to educate a child living within the local tax authority(i.e. local school district) being educated within the local tax authority at a public charter institution is any different than the same dollars being used by the local district to educate the same child at a traditional public institution with the same local tax authority. It’s the same money going to the benefit the same child in the same local area. The only difference I see who is maintaining operational control / fiscal accountability for the pool of funds in question. One detailed look at a lot of the budgets of the local districts most vocal in opposition to this proposed bill would reveal they are no more prudent with how funds are allocated/expended than a public charter board would be.
So someone please tell me, what am I missing here? Is the real answer simply that secretly we actually support the status quo that has so failed us despite all of our lip service to the contrary?
Ron F.
February 3rd, 2012
10:57 am
Good Mom: “but when a local community demands change in their local community, they can get it and they have the power (the money) to do it with. I am sure every corrupt teacher and administrator is quaking in their boots about charter schools. Every well-performing system and teacher has nothing to worry about.”
I agree, and in the short term, I think charters may offer an alternative that could motivate systems to adopt similar reforms. A little pain could bring some gain. I think you’ll find, however, that there are fewer corrup teachers than you think.
All that said, I still wonder how charter school, or other privatizing measures, will help deal with the systemic social problems that contribute as much, if not more, to school success than anything. For generations, we’ve had to deal with kids from dysfunctional homes, with kids who choose drugs over an education, with kids who give in to peer pressure to be in gangs or commit crimes, and we’ve never really figured out how schools are supposed to solve those problems. If we just kick them out, then what? I can fix the unmotivated, the disinterested, the challenged learners. I can help a lot of the kids, but not all of them. If anyone can prove that charters and vouchers will help us help kids with all those issues, then I’ll lead the charge!
C Jae of EAV
February 3rd, 2012
11:10 am
Good Mom 02/02/12 6:37 pm – With the support of Mayor Reed, there has already been a bill passed (last year if my memory serves) which give the Governor the power to remove duly elected members of local boards of education. IMHO, that as a lot of discretionary power to have been surrendered. You asked for it, you got it.
C Jae of EAV
February 3rd, 2012
11:12 am
@ ME 02/02/12 8:31pm – The economic scenario you draw relative to the affordability of private school even with a public voucher is both highly plausible and highly likely. I believe its abit of a stretch to the conclude that the resulting traditional public school system would be incapable of delivering any semblance of a quality academic experience because a percentage of students (and funds associated with them) would be dispersed outside of the traditional system. To make that leap of faith we would essentially be saying that not only would the families left with no other alternative but to remain would lessen their desire for a quality schools, we would also being submitting that those responsible for operating those schools would submit themselves to essentially abdicating their responsibility and refusing to engage any attempt at improvement. If anything I think your scenario would manifest some degree of socio/economic segregation as well as force local districts to scale down their operations and operate more efficiently.
Examining your socio/economic segregation further, I think there will be a greater percentage of families that will not meet the affordability threshold than you’re projecting. Many working class families (i.e. those with a house hold income of 100K or less) would find private education a struggle to support even with a voucher. Thus I think the degree of flight you project would be 20% or less. Certainly impactful to the status quo but not absolutely crippling.
I concur that as we move forward a greater sense of collaboration between different operational models within the public education arena will be necessary to generate a lasting progressive change in outcomes. I also share your caution with regard to a rush to judgment in any direction. One must educate themselves on each side of the debate and take the time to review the various facets of the proposals that come forth. As I referenced in another blog thread, I believe there are some wolf in sheep’s clothing public charter advocates out there trying to leverage the public charter movement to push another agenda. Likewise, I think the existing public education establishment has a vested interest in perpetuating the status quo such that many are not operating in good faith to partner with the constituents they represent to improve the lot.
C Jae of EAV
February 3rd, 2012
11:27 am
@ Follow The Money & @East Cobb – I’ve read the Stanford report in question and I would say given the timing of the data collection, the report at best gives us a snapshot of a moment in time (effectively 2003/2004 thru 2007/2008). Lets face it the charter movement was still very green in GA at that point and there has been some degree of improvements realized after the study concluded.
This school year would mark the 4 four year since that report concluded and in that time there has been CONSIDERABLE change in the quality of the public charter institutions operating across the state of GA. Personally, I think another study conducted in a simular fashion would give us a true longigtudial view of the performance of charters within GA as it would give us to compartive point in time with which to make a more informed judgement.
In the end we may find that the needle hasn’t moved much from the original report but I think more data to examine is better than making judgements based on what’s effectively at this point stale data at best.
Proud Teacher
February 3rd, 2012
11:30 am
Hang on, public school teachers. Hang on, struggling families. The Republicans are slowly but surely creating the demise of the public school. Soon private and charter schools will all that will be left. Schools will be privatized and the price for such education will be very heavy. Do we really want to go back to education as it was centuries ago? Only those who could afford it could achieve an education? What happens to the students who can’t make it in a private or charter school? Who takes them then? What this creates is the extinction of the neighborhood schools. This is disgusting.
C Jae of EAV
February 3rd, 2012
11:49 am
@ CATTRANS – Its important in expressing our positions that we’re careful with use of terms which often spin the conversation in directions that muddy the waters and prevent throughtful analysis/debate.
There is no such thing as a “FULL CHARTER” or a “Corporate Charter” as I’ve read the term used in this blog thread.
It appears what you’re describing is what in GA Law is referred to as a “Start-Up Charter” meaning a school created new from the ground up vs a “Conversion Charter” which represents a previously existing traditional public school (or district) that petitioned to change its status. There is no concept in GA law of a Start Up Charter District, although given how they have been allowed to operating within the APS , KIPP has essentially established a start up charter k-12 cluster mostly located on the west side of the city.
No matter the if charter institution was created via Start-Up or Conversion route both types are PUBLIC SCHOOLS funded primarily with PUBLIC FUNDS raised and dispersed by various taxing authorities (local,state,federal) with the juristiction to do so.
Further, not every Start-Up Charter is run by a corporate concern. Some are, in fact alot of them are. However, there are examples of local districts creating start-up charters of their own (Clayton I believe has done thus along with some others). In fact in the last round of RTTT state grants, there were multiple awards to local districts (of which Cobb was one) seeking to start up new charter institutions within their districts. Thus corporate concerns like Imagine, Edison, Mosaic et al don’t have a monopoly on the ability to petition create Start-Up Charters. Some are created by grass roots community groups who ultimately hire a corporate concern to help them manage operating the institution.
As I step down from my soap box today, I again state there is a serious need from some real foundational education about the structure of Charter laws as they presently exist as we contemplate the changes being proposed. Sometimes our discourse in these blogs don’t really inform accurately.
3schoolkids
February 3rd, 2012
12:08 pm
If you want to know current status of Georgia charter schools, the state publishes an annual report, looks like the 2009-2010 report is the most recently available on the website:
http://www.gadoe.org/DMGetDocument.aspx/2009-2010GDOECharterSchoolsAnnualReport.pdf?p=6CC6799F8C1371F63EB1746642AC4C6753DC668ABDE1C735E99FDE6E62868F7C&Type=D
I would encourage anyone for or against Charters to read the report and also do their own research as to the success of the schools, which is much like that of other public schools in Georgia, varies greatly.
In regards to FSA’s success, I’m not downplaying any individual child’s success there or their Blue Ribbon status. However, when you have a school population that receives QBE funding for almost 1/3 of its students as gifted wouldn’t you expect high scores and student success?
I also encourage everyone to research how QBE funding works (for both Charter and Public schools, which is the same). While public schools do have SPLOST funding (which specifically outlines what the money will be spent for before voted on), Charter schools do not. Charters do have access to grant money and facilities funding from the State. And in the case of FSA although they do not receive SPLOST money, they were able to receive Bonds from the City of Alpharetta for a project on land that was initially supposed to be for a higher education facility and conveniently was changed in the Comprehensive Land Use plan that was voted on just prior to their bond issue. All the while, Amana Academy was trying to get a conditional zoning variance for an office building for school use that was ultimately voted down. Amana is a k-8 school, would their move have enabled them to enroll more students? Thereby putting them in competition with FSA for students? It is just this kind of “funny business” that shows Charter schools are no less vulnerable to controversy than traditional public schools.
CharterStarter
February 3rd, 2012
1:36 pm
HR1162 will almost certainly allow a successor to the Charter Schools Commission to be created, so once again state funds will “follow the child.” Why? Because local school boards do not (unlike the Supreme Court decision incorrectly says) have sole authority over public education. The state is pushing for better solutions for all children. The local boards, through their association and the superintendents’ association, seem to be more focused on money than children (as if money is all you need to help the children). The status quo seems to be ignoring the will of parents and taxpayers – or worse, assuming it is enough that parents and taxpayers are represented by local boards of education. This is a good struggle, and children will eventually benefit, once the voters speak as parents and taxpayers and force resolution. I only hope that 2/3 of the legislators are willing to give them that voice in November.
Mahopinion
February 3rd, 2012
2:08 pm
I love charter schools. I love their flexibility and their willingness to work WITH the community. My experiences with them have been nothing but positive.
Ron F.
February 3rd, 2012
3:06 pm
“The status quo seems to be ignoring the will of parents and taxpayers – or worse, assuming it is enough that parents and taxpayers are represented by local boards of education”
You speak as if there is some large ignored majority. If so, why haven’t they been expressing their concern via the ballot box and electing those who would change things up to now? I get tired of hearing about all the horrible things public education is doing from those who have just as much right to vote as anyone else. Seems you have the legislators now, but we’ll have to see.
MAY
February 3rd, 2012
3:11 pm
I’m glad our reporter talked to “experts” on both sides of this debate.
Maureen Downey
February 3rd, 2012
3:23 pm
@May, I was hoping to get a piece from a legislator in support of the amendment but it hasn’t shown up. See additions from folks who do support it.
Maureen
TC
February 3rd, 2012
4:08 pm
Cattran is correct – Fulton County School System (FCSS) has been lying to the public and their own employees about a lot of things – what was mentioned above is just part of it. The real issue here isn’t money like the FCSS wants you to think it is. You see, they argue that “charter schools steal money from the local schools” and that is completely false. If FSA becomes a state charter school, but the House Resolution doesn’t pass, guess what, those students still aren’t going to go back to the public schools. Why? There’s lots of reasons, but the main thing is the learning environment is not the same – the gangs, drugs, and bullying issues to name a few, make many of the local middle schools a less desirable option. So parents will keep their kids at FSA, which means that the local funding for those kids would go where? Not back to the FCSS – it would go NOWHERE. Public schools only get funding for students that actually attend there, so if the bill isn’t passed, then the other public schools don’t gain a dime if the students stay at the State Charter School.
So why are they arguing that the charter steals money from them when in actuality it is the other way around? By not passing this bill, FCSS is saying in essence, “If the child doesn’t go to OUR school, then we don’t think they deserve local funding at all.” It’s sour grapes – they are upset that with less money per student and more expenses that the charter schools are out-performing them. And despite their arguments to the contrary, I believe there are public reports on the County website showing that the ITBS scores for FSA were the highest in the County each of the last 4 years and in every subject. CRCT scores are also right near the top.
The fact of the matter is that logic says the money should follow the child. If you’re a taxpayer, then your taxes should support the school of your choice. Period. To say anything else is ridiculous and holds no logic or sound reasoning. It shouldn’t matter whether the school was approved by the County or the State, the fact of the matter is, if someone somewhere has made the determination that the school is a good one and meets educational criteria, then you should be able to determine where your tax dollars are best spent. FSA is a perfect example of a school that has exceeded expectations. Trust me, if a charter school isn’t successful, then no one will want to go to school there and they will be forced to get better or go out of business. That’s how competition in a free-market system works. The public schools are just upset that the charter schools are now forcing them to get better.
As far as the arguments go regarding “the local board didn’t approve it” and “they’re circumventing the local boards”, yes, the State is circumventing what has proved to be a very corrupt local system – they were forced into this situation because of a Superintendant that has deliberately slandered the best school in the County, has literally told parents to their face that he doesn’t have to or want to listen to their opinions, and a governing board that has not only decived the public on what charter schools are and how they operate (i.e. all of the misinformation about getting to choose who attends their school, not having any accountability, being investigated by the FBI, and not having approval for their building – all of which is UTTER NONSENSE AND DELIBERATELY FALSE), but also deceiving the public as to WHY they are against charter schools that succeed. I suggest everyone watch the netflix movies called, “The Cartel” or “Waiting for Superman” – both of them expose those working for FCSS for what they are.
Support for this bill, if you want to “read between the lines”, means that you support giving money that the other public schools (I say other because yes, charter schools ARE public schools) won’t see anyway to the schools where those students ACTUALLY ATTEND. It’s saying that you’re not going to deny local taxes going to the students that live there just because of a governing board that is corrupt and has a very real conflict of interest in approving charters that directly compete with their other public schools (forcing them to get better). Money should follow the student…PERIOD.
To May
February 3rd, 2012
5:30 pm
May your comment is spot on. You wrote “I’m glad our reporter talked to “experts” on both sides of this debate.”
It’s a reference to Maureen Downey’s one-sided presentation of this debate.
Maureen, honestly, you often have me confused. You call yourself a reporter but you often offer your opinion and one side of a debate. Even a high school journalism student knows that a reporter must remain objective, present the facts and never-ever even give a hint of their own opinion.
If you want Get Schooled to be an op-ed piece you can offer your opinion but you have to also offer an opinion from someone on the other side.
Although I value any reporter holding any government entity accountable, overall I am disappointed in your lack of use of elementary journalism standards as is May.
Good Mom
To Proud Teacher from Good Mom
February 3rd, 2012
5:44 pm
Proud Teacher, your comments sound like you are cutting and pasting them straight out of a position piece written by a corrupt school board that is afraid of losing its power and is using you to deliver scare tactics to the public so they will keep a corrupt school board in power. You write ” Do we really want to go back to education as it was centuries ago? Only those who could afford it could achieve an education? What happens to the students who can’t make it in a private or charter school? Who takes them then? What this creates is the extinction of the neighborhood schools. This is disgusting.”
Haven’t you had enough of corrupt school boards? Weren’t you and others claiming that they are the reasons that you had to cheat? Yet here you are defending the very entity that was bullying you and threatening you?
How are you so easily brain-washed? Why is it so easy to tell an educated person what to say and how to think?
Good teachers will always have jobs. When a public school is failing, the parents will likely want to open a charter school and when they do, where do you think they will go recruiting for teachers? They will, of course, ask the parents who they thought was performing well and will offer them employment and, of course, those employment contracts offer the same salaries and benefits as the other public schools do.
In addition, charter schools have a bit more flexibility to do the things that other public school teachers say they need, such as requiring parents to get involved. Many charters require a certain number of volunteer-hours for parents and require things like homework to be signed.
It sounds like someone or some corrupt PR machine has shaken your confidence, Proud Teacher. Remember, it’s the corrupt school boards who you’ve complained about that is feeding you these scare tactics.
Parents in charter schools will open their arms and embrace and invite and welcome all good teachers into their charter schools so you don’t have anything to worry about.
What charter-school parents won’t allow and will not embrace are the corrupt, money-grabbing, selfish, cruel school boards into their fold.
For public schools that are doing well, there will be no clamor for a charter school. When things are runnng well in a public school, the community, the parents and neighbors rally around their prized posession.
A successful public school is a jewel in a community, it is placed in the front and center of a neighborhood’s crown of pride.
CTPAT
February 3rd, 2012
5:52 pm
I wasn’t a fan of charter schools until recently. My child attends a “good” school in Dekalb County. After learning more and more about the waste within the county’s school system and observing adults caring more about themselves than their responsibility to educate students, I have come to support a charter system — one that would enable state and local tax dollars to follow my child into a school where the community has more input and ability to affect change. My local school is good but it could be great. And I would blame the lack of greatness on the county.
And for those of you who think this is about creating segregated schools, my public elementary school is 40/30/30 or so W/AA/H and I would want ALL of those kids to come to the charter school.
All people want is more control over how their education dollars are being spent. Counties like Dekalb have proven that the last thing money should be paid for is the students (and hey, we’d let our teacher participate in Social Security)
To Ron F from Good Mom
February 3rd, 2012
5:53 pm
Ron F you say “If anyone can prove that charters and vouchers will help us help kids with all those issues, then I’ll lead the charge!” in reference to helping the most at risk kids and about wanting to solve the issues of poverty.
I appreciate, sincerely appreciate, Ron, that you care about those kids.
Ask yourself, how are the current public schools doing it? They’re not, right? They aren’t the cure for poverty and all the problems poverty bring with it. So why would you insist that a charter school be able to do what a public school system hasn’t ever been able to do?
The point of a charter school is to be able to rid themselves of a corrupt, uncaring, gargantuan school board and to be able to take back the tax dollars that allow corrupt, monstrous Bevery Hall types have eaten and destroyed.
We must be able to stop the giant school board beast and a successful charter school is a means to castrate that corrupt school board giant.
To Ron F from Good Mom
February 3rd, 2012
6:02 pm
Ron you make a good point you say “You speak as if there is some large ignored majority. If so, why haven’t they been expressing their concern via the ballot box and electing those who would change things up to now?”
We do get to vote on one representative on the school board but they don’t have total control over our schools. Other people on the school board get to decide what to do with our schools. Those people I did not elect have control over my school and that is how we are ignored.
What a charter school allows voters to do — is FIRE the school board. Sure, they’ll actually still have their job, but the corrupt board will have no more control over the school because they won’t have the money and that is what the monstrous school board beast cares about — money.
It’s time to castrate the corrupt school board beast !
3schoolkids
February 3rd, 2012
6:17 pm
@TC it is clear that you do not understand how public (including Charter) schools in Georgia are funded. Please go to the Georgia Department of Education website and research QBE funding. And once you research it you may realize that Charters are NOT doing more with less money. One could even argue that since FSA has a large gifted population they are being given more money (as a gifted student qualifies for more money under QBE than a general ed student), than the local public school. If you research QBE funding you will see that a portion of the funding (the county’s 5 mil share) is deducted by the state as that is the portion of the funding the county is required to pay. So your argument that the county won’t get that money anyway is only partially right. The county will not get the state share, but they will also not have to PAY the local share for that student. I’m sure that will only fuel your conspiracy theories about Dr. Avossa and the Fulton County School Board. Amid all of the vehement parent arguments I have read, I haven’t seen one iota of evidence provided by FSA to the public to substantiate charges of “conspiracy to shut the school down”.
East Cobb Parent
February 3rd, 2012
6:35 pm
@followthemoney, according to those I spoke to the public schools in Leon refused to consider the looping concept, hence a charter school that does. As a parent, I’m tired of crappy textbooks full of errors, the lack of solid math, waste of money on electronic gadgets and school boards that treat our taxes as their personal spending. Not to mention the rubber stampers we have on the Cobb School Board. The funding for education is about as clear as mud, how about the money follows the child and be done with it. The teachers are trying to do with less, yet the super gets his raise. I try to attend or watch all the board meetings. From what I can tell very few seem to have the children’s best interest in mind. Everything comes down to the money. As soon as the children are in bed I plan to start the reading on charter schools.
C Jae of Eave
February 3rd, 2012
6:52 pm
Thanks for the informatio C Jae of Eave, to your knowlege, using this power has the governor actually used it to fire the school board anywhere?
GM
Kara Rose
February 3rd, 2012
7:22 pm
As a parent I have had my child in the public school system and recently made the change to a Charter school for numerous reasons. The public school system my children resided in was failing them. They were not being challenged, were not being properly looked after and the communication between the school and myself as a parent was terrible. I tried many times to address these issues and was told that the school was doing the best it could and that was that. In the Charter school I get an immense amount of communication from the teachers and staff, I am up to date daily on what is occurring with my child, the learning is interactive and exciting and the teachers there seem enthused about the day to day activities. I feel a great deal of that is do to the fact that the school answers to the parents and has to be held accountable. Public school systems no longer feel the need to have parents approval. The fear from school boards firing teachers, to teachers that are burnt out and administrations under power trips has caused public schools to go down hill. At our previous public school my son was suppose to stay in the ASP program. The teacher forgot to relay the message to him from the office. He was sent home on the bus. No one was at the home. Luckily we rented out a finished basement apartment we had and the tenant was there. he contact me as the school was unaware that he was missing. When I called the school very upset and asked to speak to the principle she was irritated that she was pulled from a meeting to “deal with this” and “if only a small percentage of students are sent to the wrong place after school they are doing pretty good!” She actually bragged about going to find children herself that were sent home incorrectly! Her response, if I was unhappy then I should find somewhere else to go with my kids, end of discussion. No apology, nothing. Why is this behavior considered good enough. And if it is I should have the option of “somewhere else”. Maybe Charter schools is what the public system needs to wake up and understand what their purpose is: providing a great education and chance for a great future.
TC
February 3rd, 2012
8:03 pm
@3schoolkids – You make it sound as though the funding for TAG kids is a large amount, it is not significant. Also, the % of TAG students may be slightly higher than the other schools in the area, but look at the school’s size – there are about 200 TAG students at FSA (approximatre number) – compared to the millions of dollars in SPLOST money that was not given throughout the 10 years it has been open for, it is miniscule.
Secondly, I am not a parent, and I do have more knowledge than the average parent regarding the actions of Avossa in attempting to shut down the school – it’s not “conspiracy theory” when you have knowledge that he has been personally forwarding negative (and misleading or inaccurate) information regarding the school to the press. Perfect example is the information “leaked” to the press recently about the building FSA is constructing. What amounts to an office memo from the state to the school miraculously ends up in the hands of the press, with the intent of saying “the school didn’t have permission to build it’s new building”.
In reality, the memo was asking for clarification on certain points, all of which were directly and to the satisfaction of the state answered by the school. In fact, the COUNTY was present in a meeting in August regarding the approval for building (not site approval, that’s different and isn’t required until sometime before students allowed to attend – which never made sense to me, but I didn’t write the rules), so for them to claim “we didn’t know” is again another lie to the public.
TC
February 3rd, 2012
8:11 pm
I should also comment to some comments made above about charter schools being able to remove students whose parents don’t attend parent-teacher conferences – I can’t honestly speak for other charter schools, but I know that isn’t the practice at FSA, and frankly, I don’t think it could be possible in others either. From what I’ve been told, the only way to remove a child is through the same process other schools do – through a tribunal. And in reference to the gun incident mentioned above – if you weren’t there you don’t know the details, and although it may seem cut-and-dry, things aren’t always that way, and weren’t in that particular case. Besides, 1 incident of that “severity” in 10 years at a school, I’d say, is pretty darn good compared to what I hear goes on daily at other neighboring schools…
Mary Elizabeth
February 3rd, 2012
8:22 pm
@C Jae of EAV, 11:12 am
“I believe its abit of a stretch to the conclude that the resulting traditional public school system would be incapable of delivering any semblance of a quality academic experience because a percentage of students (and funds associated with them) would be dispersed outside of the traditional system.”
====================================
Here is what I actually said, “We will have created a homogeneously poor student body in the remaining public schools, with less resources than before, in these ongoing traditional public schools.”
I never said that the remaining public schools (after charter flight) would be “incapable of delivering any semblance of quality academic experience.” Those are your words, not mine, although I do think the experience that the remaining children would have would be “worse” than before charter flight. Let me make my point, more readily, by analogy through example. When I was a young teacher, I had an English class of about 17 students, which was a great teacher/pupil ratio for a high school setting. I was observed for evaluation. I got an excellent evaluation, and afterwards, the assistant principal said to me, “You know, you have a class full of students with learning disabilities.” He said that although they had not been technically diagnosed as such, he had been around long enough to know the symptoms. My other English classes, which were around 30 students each, were much easier to handle. The class with the “learning disability” children was a homogeneous group, in their similar academic problems.Their educational deprivation was not a poor teacher, or a poor facility, but the fact that they could not interact in a mainstream class with a diversified population. So the problems they had were more intensified when just one kind of student was housed together. That was what was wrong with the old “tracking” system, too. It was fine for the above average and average classes, but the below average classes reinforced poor behavior and reduced academic expectations with one another. The worst part was that they developed very poor self-esteem, as a result of being the lowest group.
My point was that when charter flight takes place, the remaining students will be in a homogeneously deprived population, together. They may get quality instruction, but the very fact that they will be “segregated” from others limits their environment, just as racial segregation limited the environment of African-Americans during Jim Crow days.
About the second paragraph, you had written, “Thus I think the degree of flight you project would be 20% or less. Certainly impactful to the status quo but not absolutely crippling.” I do hope you are correct about this, but I have serious doubts because once movements start they tend to move like a snowball going down a hill, and people react to the movement without thinking through what is happening, overall.
In addition, I continue to maintain that those of political influence and wealth in high places want to privatize much of government, including education, and they are having more influence in slowly dismantling public education than most people realize. That is one reason why Jefferson was a strong proponent of public education. He wanted the common person to be able to recognize propaganda and the machinations that the more privileged might undertake that would not be to the common person’s advantage and even use the underclasses for their own purposes. Jefferson believed a democracy functioned best when political power and responsiblity was spread throughout all classes in society. Thus, he believed in public education paid for by public taxes, not private money. So, you see, I am simply saying what I think Jefferson would want me to say to the public in that regard.
About the third paragraph, I am glad that you see the merit in coordination and sharing between local traditional public schools and public charter schools. I hope that that will occur. And, yes, I agree with you that we should be prudent in judgment about what is happening regarding the charter school movement, and not rush without weighing many factors.
Have a nice weekend, C Jae of EAV!
Elizabeth
February 3rd, 2012
8:31 pm
To TC – your defense of FSA’s actions have NO basis in fact. The lies are well documented, conflict of interest is well-documented. They wrote in their charter petition to on Nov. 21st 2011, pg. 72 that site approval by the state was REQUIRED but had not been granted yet. They started construction anyway. The admin then posted on their website that charter schools did not need state approval prior to construction. This is called lying. They stated in the petition correspondence that the reports of conflict of interest with Grace Institute were inaccurate. Oh – it’s not conflict of interest when Ali Ozer and ALL the principals sit on the Grace board of directors and pay Grace for “services rendered.” This is called paying yourself twice with my tax dollars or sending the money to a place that I have don’t know about. Check out the 990’s for Grace – its free on Guidestar. Oh and how come a middle school is spending $40k per year on legal fees? and $16K for PR – to spread misinformation to the media? Oh, and why on earth is FSA High School ranked 45 out of 50 if this teaching method is so great? Where do all those blue ribbon kids go? Why am I paying $2.2m per year for this substandard school right down the road from high schools in top ten??? Dr. Avossa finally had the guts to say NO. Oh, then Oppenhiemer, who bought some of the bonds for building this yet unapproved new school wrote a THREATENING letter to the entire school board because they could be facing issues and investor angst. The school board did the right thing and our legislators expect them to turn their backs to salvage investors?? Wake up folks – charter schools can be great but they can also be a magnet for hidden interests and corruption! !
TO Elizabeth from Good Mom
February 3rd, 2012
8:55 pm
E, y”u made an interesting comment at the end of your post. You said “Wake up folks – charter schools can be great but they can also be a magnet for hidden interests and corruption! !”
Wherever there is money, there is certainly a thief drawn to it like magnet to steel for sure. I would disagree with anyone who said charter schools were immune to corruption.
Charter schools are an option to break away from a corrupt school board. It’s often a parent’s only option.
I wish I better understood your anger at FSA. Beginning constrution without a permit sounds like a very small thing to be so angry about. APS has done so much worse.
3schoolkids
February 3rd, 2012
9:52 pm
The question here ultimately is oversight, or lack of. If our local school boards and State education department are lacking in oversight of both Charter and the non-Charter school system why would we want to expand Charters without proof that there will be proper oversight? And will they be as successful without blanket waivers and appropriate oversight? Is it really fair to compare the non-Charter local school system that does not have a waiver from state rules and regulations to Charter schools that have enjoyed exemptions from rules that can “tie the hands” of local public schools? Again, maybe if our elected officials could create legislation to correct some of the problems in our public schools, or would correct the problems using already existing regulations then we wouldn’t need Charter schools. As far as apparent inequities in funding (not enough facilities money for the Charter schools) the state has a facilities fund, why aren’t the Charters aiming their media frenzy towards getting the education department to actually release some of that money? And as far as FSA is concerned they have managed well enough to amass almost $1 million in assets between the 3 schools.
Proud Teacher
February 3rd, 2012
10:07 pm
Good Mom, you don’t understand what it is, obviously, to work against the flow of money to the charter and private schools from our local schools. I am not brainwashed with Right Wing dogma as so many on this blog seem to be. I speak from my own experience. I speak from the room in the school that gets the charter and private rejected children. We have all the rules placed on us, but the charter and private schools do not. Why? What’s the equity in education for this decisionss? I have copy and pasted? On the contrary, who brainwashed you into believing that all school boards are corrupt? How dare you ASSume that I participated in any kind of cheating on any test in any school. My confidence is not at all shaken. I’m just mad as hell because too many people who have absolutely no real knowledge of the good public schools do for our country. This charter school mess is really just a right-wing cut-and-run policy: Serve the privileged and worthy only. Ah, yes, elitism at its best. Good Mom, I’m sure you mean well, but you are way off base here.
Yet Another Good Parent
February 3rd, 2012
10:11 pm
To Elizabeth – Well said!! Thank you. Investors buying school bonds should have done their homework. Caveat emptor.
To HS Public Teacher – Your assessment that legislators are attempting to push this bill through for wealthy parents is spot on.
TC
February 3rd, 2012
10:23 pm
@Elizabeth – Read the document regarding information for charter schools at the following link: http://alpharetta.patch.com/articles/school-board-reject-state-s-mediation-offer-with-charter-school#pdf-8931229
It specifically says that site approval is needed before students attend school on the site. That’s obviously very vague, and given that wording, FSA was obviously NOT in violation of it – students have yet to attend school on the new campus set to open next August. Hopefully this document is factual enough for you. As for the information given regarding Avossa, yes, it is based on fact, but I am not in a position to go into details regarding them. You can choose to defend him if you like, but I know of parents who can and would attest to how he has treated them in a public setting – it’s not pretty.
GRACE Institute – yes, they were on the board, but were more like consultants, not paid members. I checked the 990s and it lists salaries as $0. They weren’t being paid, so how does that constitute them paying themselves twice? They were on there to serve the interests of the schools they represented – so that the needs of their individual schools were voiced and met. Part of the flexibility charter schools generally have is to make decisoins for the best interests of their students and so contracting with a learning institute to better student performance would seem to be smart in my opinion.
Lawyers? That’s not unusual – school systems have them – as a matter of fact, Fulton County’s are currently quite busy fending off a hefty lawsuit regarding not properly reporting abuse to DFCS. They recently changed their entire protocol regarding this because of the lawsuits coming – it’s in the news, you can google it I’m sure. As for an individual school having them, I’d have to research that one, but charter schools are left to fend for themselves (I can give you countless examples of that over the years), so if FSA wasn’t covered by FCS lawyers, it would make sense to have one on retainer (thus the “salary”). Many private schools also have PR people – I know one personally – and yes, that position is recent and to address – not feed – misinformation in the media, which has been rampant lately (due at least in part to Dr. Avossa).
As for FSA HS, I’m not sure where you get 45 out of 50 from, there are only 17 high schools in the County, and FSA HS is in the top half of the County scores. Even if you count all the state high schools, 45 out of 50 isn’t accurate. Looking at test scores (GHSGT in particular), the most recent data on the FCS website shows that FSA HS was above the system average by 8% and the state by 17% as far as total passing % and had a 7% increase from the year before.
Due largely to location and lack of high school sports, you’re right, many of the students from FSA MS to this point have not attended FSA HS. The scores you see are mostly students coming from the other public middle schools and not an indicator of how the MS students were doing in high school. Things should change once the HS and MS are on the same campus and more sports are offered beginning next year. There was already a 300% increase in MS students applying there this year.
I don’t know who Oppenhiemer is and he is not associated with the school other than apparently buying bonds, so the school cannot be held accountable for whatever actions he may have done.
TC
February 3rd, 2012
10:58 pm
I keep hearing about this so-called “lack of accountability” – in what way exactly?
Academically? No, the charter for a charter school has very specific goals that are to be reached, and those goals are specifically set higher than those of the other public schools – they have to prove they are better – and to this point FSA MS has met their charter goals.
Financially? Every year FCS audits the finances of the school to make sure they are using funds appropriately, and they have the right to do it more often if they choose to do so. Nothing has ever been found in these audits or the independent one the school initiated recently. The bond issued for the new building wasn’t taxpayer funding, so there isn’t an issue of taxpayer money being spent unwisely there either.
In regards to the new building? Again, as stated above, SITE APPROVAL isn’t required by Fulton County policy at the time of construction, only before students enroll, and FCSS representatives were present at the August 30th meeting regarding the building of the new campus. Yes, they were aware, and yes procedures were followed based on what they gave the school at the time.
Waivers? It has only recently been changed that FCSS has begun to require charter schools to ask for specific waivers for EVERYTHING they want exemption from. This was only the case in the last couple of years and was never required of FSA MS until this go around. THIS GOES AGAINST THE TYPICAL WAY CHARTERS ARE RUN. The State has told us that (ok, yes, I can’t provide “proof” for you, but I know it was said), and frankly, that is what the purpose of charter schools is all about – getting out from the beaurocratic, red-tape, micro-management of an inept system and allowing the charter school to run itself in the ways it deems necessary for the best interests of its students. Why should a charter school have to ask the County for permission for each out-of-state field it chooses to do? What, a Model UN team going on to Nationals in NY has to be approved? We have to ask the County for permission on every educational opportunity we want to offer our students? We can’t figure out for ourselves as educators what would be a good educational opportunity? Only the arrogance of a County that thinks too highly of itself truly believes no one else can do it better than them, and that no one else can figure out what might be best for THEIR students.
And YES it is fair to compare the schools “without their hands tied” to the ones whose are – that’s exactly how one would know that not being micromanaged is actually better for education… Obviously, FCSS knows that this is true, that’s precisely why they are applying to the State to be a charter system…
TC
February 3rd, 2012
11:01 pm
Correction – I said “before students enroll” above, I meant to type “before students attend school on the site”.
TC
February 3rd, 2012
11:06 pm
One last thing in regards to waivers I didn’t mention above – charter schools still must follow specific rules and regulations in regards to specific things regarding student safety, reporting, testing, etc. It’s not like there are NO rules for charter schools to follow, there’s just more flexibility on the ones that could potentially enhance the students’ educational experience.
To Proud Teacher from Good Mom
February 4th, 2012
12:28 am
Proud Teecher, an honest question:
Please tell me where you find that charter schools can reject students and only teach the good students? I hear that comment a great deal from public school teachers but please show me the evidence, the proof. Everything I’ve read shows that charter schools have to follow the law just as other public schools do.
Here’s something to think about. Please read it and share your thoughts.
It appears that charter schools spring up in areas where the parents are very dissatisfied with the public schools and when a charter school is provided, those parents take their kids out of the traditional public school and put them into the charter public school.
So who is left in the traditional public school? I see a lot of poor people left, those children whose parents are unable to care for their children or unwilling or simply so disconnected and disenfranchised that they don;t know how to go about making a change for their child.
So, remember to share your thoughts, do you think that is just makes it appear that charter schools are selective when really it is not the school, it’s really only that those who are able to leave, leave?
I’ll give my example. My friend pulled her extremely bright, gentle and humble children out of a public school and put them into a charter school. THese children were not typical African Americans. They were harassed and bullied for “acting white” and “talking white.” They don’t play any sports and they barely speak above a quiet tone of voice. They are, however, brilliant. These kids are thriving in their new environment and their mom and I delight in their successes. Do you see how this situation would make it appear that charter schools are allowed to be selective?
The high-scoring good students fled the public school because they didn’t fit into their sports-centric public school. They are fortunate in that they have a mother who feels empowered to make decisions for her children.
Your thoughts?
Good Mom
elizabeth
February 4th, 2012
12:31 am
Enter your comments here
elizabeth
February 4th, 2012
12:57 am
With all due respect tc enough factual distortion. was it newt or abe who said that if
you are trying to reason with someone who will not admit that 2+2 equals 4 you aren’t going to get very far. Who knows. Jan jones will support fsa come hell or high water as will chip rogers because their politictal futures or future campaign coffers rely on it for some mysterious reason. So interesting that these republican leaders who have undoubtably pledged to the tea party to limit govenment, taxes and fight for fiscal accountabilty have decided to sponsor a law hr1162 which wil do just the opposite. Cant wait til 60 minutes does their report and our legislators will declare that they cetainly would have done something if only someone had brought it to their attentlion
To CarlosGVV from Good Mom
February 4th, 2012
9:37 am
Carlos, you claim that “Republicans have pushed this thru in order to satisfy the demands of their far-right conservative supporters who want a State full of Christian Academys.”
That’s an interesting comment and I am going to assume for a moment that the Republicans have that as their agenda.
So, they want a lot of Christian Academies that teach religion rather than science. I understand that, my cousins go to an academy just like the one you describe.
I’ll even agree with you further that fundamentalist Christians will pull their kids out of a local school and open a charter school for the sole purpose of indoctrinating their own children in their view of what religion is.
Ok, so how does that affect you and me? I am not a fundamentalist and you say you are neither. Those parents cannot force us to go to the Christian academy. We can stay in our own public school or our own private school — so why the beef?
If your argument is that those christian academy kids will pull away money from other public schools that’s right but it still won’t impact us because when they pull out the kid, they pull away the need for the money.
We won’t have to pay to educate that child because that child is not in the classroom. As a matter of fact, the charter schools may have a benefit to a public school – it might relieve some overcrowding in areas.
….are you a teacher, Carlos? Are you afraid that if public schools become smaller then people lik eyou will lose their jobs?
I would disagree with that for one reason – people are still having children. That’s something we do very consistently. There will always be a need for teachers. Some public school teachers may even decided they want to teach in a charter school because they may also be a fundamentalist Christian. Those teachers are charter schools will also enjoy the same pay and benefits as those in other public schools.
I am trying hard to undertand the negative response of teachers regarding opening charter schools. Teachers on this blog consistently complain about local school board administrators threatening them and bullying them. If that is the case (and I believe it) then it seems teachers would welcome an opportunity to stay in the profession they love while getting away from the administrators they claim to hate.
Your thoughts? Would enjoy reading them,
Thanks, GM
followthemoney
February 4th, 2012
10:51 am
So it seems fairly clear that most people want monitoring and oversight of charter schools. It also seems clear that if the FSA experience is any indicator, when a system monitors and comes to the conclusion that the charter needs to be even more closely regulated because of poor governance board decisons in the past, that charter can refuse heightened scrutiny and play the victom to parents and politicians. We’ll have to wait to see how that game plan works out.
The question is, will the state be any better equpped to monitor and enforce charters than the systems? This amendment would contend it is. Now, I understand that the verbiage in the amendment has been drastically changed and the backdoor funding concept that would result in county taxpayer dollars being used to pay for the state’s decisions has been removed. Addiitionally, the whole idea of an appointed board of charter czars is not mentioned. If the state wants to provide an alternative route for charters that a system has denied and believes in them enough to fund them, that is fine with me.
But do we need an amendment to do that? I thought it was already in the law? Also, if this is the case, won’t every system decide to deny every charter and let the state have the headache or the glory, depending on the charter? The authors of this amendment still have a great deal of thinking to do and still have to answer some very basic questions.
I’m off the boards now, but would like to end with a note of congratulation to the FCS board. I don’t always agree with your decisions, but I appreciate your effort to stand up for very basic standards of accountability in your schools in the face of ugly fallout and some frightening behavior. (I heard the police even had to be called at one FSA meeting to protect the FCS board member.) I hope that a trend toward more integrity and transparency will continue in all school systems and that parents, who for whatever reason, decide that the local public school isn’t a fit for them, will be able to have confidence that the charter school they choose is also transparent and honest. As a taxpayer, I am very confident that the many other charters in FCS must be really above board because I see the effort FCS puts into their oversight functions and has the courage to stop doing business with shady operators. Good Job.
(Now…can we talk about elementary school instrumental music programs?)
To follow from Good Ma
February 4th, 2012
6:20 pm
You say “Now…can we talk about elementary school instrumental music programs?”
yes, please! Share your thoughts. I don’t know much about instruments but my child is very interested and i would love to know more please !
CharterStarter, Too
February 4th, 2012
10:34 pm
@ 3SchoolKids – I don’t think you understand Georgia school funding either. for one thing, it’s quite clear in how you try to explain FSA getting “more” for their gifted kids. Since the county has a higher population of ESOL, which is funded higher than gifted, does that mean they actually get “more?” No. That’s just an absurd way to look at it. State funds are earned based on population served. Secondly, you clearly don’t understand how local funding is calculated for charters.
Regarding charters doing more with less, that is absolutely true. The fact of the matter is that charter schools, even IF the districts fund them accurately (which many districts don’t), are funded inequitably because of the manner in which the charter school law is written. Let’s see if I can enumeratte some of the the reasons for you:
1. State chartered special schools are automatically unequal – even taking the local funds out for which they are not eligible. They do not receive equalization dollars or transportation funds. If you want to verify, check out Bulloch County vs. CCAT’s allotment sheets.
2. Charters are required to pay up to 3% to their authorizer for “administrative services actually provided.” Now these “admin. services” are a bit of a mystery, as MOST charters get no services from their districts (APS is an exception – good job APS!) and yet the flat amount is deducted by most districts. I suppose that sort of makes the school district a bit of an EMO, no?
3. Charters can only access SPLOST funds at the pleasure of the district. To date, only one charter school has received facility funds for SPLOST (good job Savannah-Chatham!)
4. Charters get NO capital outlay dollars from the state at all and are required to pay for facilities out of their operational funds.
5. Districts are only funding charters a proportionate share of local funds from the GENERAL fund – several districts have other funds where they keep 100%.
6. Because of the way local funding for charters is calculated, the proportionate share of funds is calculated based on a ratio of charter QBE/district QBE. The problem with this is that the district will always have a higher QBE amount (proportionately), and because of this, charters don’t really get a true proportionate share of local dollars. (This could be fixed with a ratio using FTE to FTE).
That’s a good start. Let me tell you what to do – do a Google search on Ball State University and find the study: Inequity Persists. That study shows that charters in Georgia are funded at 74% of what district schools are funded. The reasons they give are correct to some degree but miss other key factors causing the chasm here in Georgia. The fact is that charters ARE doing more with less. Often it’s inadequate, but they prioritize, keep the dollars in the classroom, and remain mission driven.
3.
CharterStarter, Too
February 4th, 2012
10:54 pm
Charters follow due process related to expulsion of students. Charters do often have a more strictly enforced discipline code. The districts COULD do this if they chose to do so – I’m sure parents would appreciate if they would. Charters, like districts can expel students based on the discipline code. Students who are expelled from charter should go through the discipline tribunal at the district before entering back into the the regular classroom setting, alternative school, etc….it is entirely up to the district to accept the child back into the system.
Charters can’t by law have eligiblity criteria (i.e., a requirement for parent involvement), Parents are often asked to commit time (parent compact) – it’s a big part of the culture of many of the charters, but it’s not a criteria for enrollment. The state can verify this if you need confirmation.
CharterStarter, Too
February 4th, 2012
11:03 pm
@ Follow the money: FSA was denied for 2 documented reasons: 1) waivers 2) a 3 year charter term. I find it very curious that FSA has had 10 years of clear audits (public record – check them out yourself) – accepted by both the district AND the state. The auditors noted the relationship with the GRACE institute and the dollars used but did not have any findings and made no note of an issue. GRACE is a non-profit, similar to KIPP, so I’m not sure what the issue could possibly be. It seems that if there WAS truely financial funny business going on that Fulton would have documented that as a reason, as that is so easy to substantiate and justify and would have certainly caused less of a public backlash. The only reason I can think they wouldn’t is that there was nothing to substantiate a claim like that. Are you quite sure this isn’t a Fulton County play to dissolve start up charters as they move towards becoming a system charter? Methinks it’s quite possible…
followthemoney
February 5th, 2012
12:57 pm
What is it with you charter people and conspriacy theories? The FACTS are clear. FSA made some poor decisions (and apparently continues to do so according to the state construction people). When the time came to renew their school, FCS said it wanted to keep a closer eye on the school because of the history of poor decisions and asked for a tighter rein by having a shorter contract and more legal language in the contract. The school didn’t want those contract terms and refused to send in an agreement that met the county’s terms. FCS said, “it’s been nice knowing ya. Good luck in the future.” Seems pretty simple to me. And don’t bother to come back with more conspiracy theory stuff. Everything is on line and documented. Dark shadows and hidden intentions are simply your speculations as to the motivations of FCS, the NYT, the Philly Inquirer, the FBI, the state construction department and Fitch Rating who apparently all conspired to prevent this school from turning in a contract that met the county’s reasonable (in my opinion) demand to have more monitoring over the actions of this school. Whatever…moving on to bigger topics.
Goodforkids
February 5th, 2012
2:41 pm
Agree with followthemoney…
FCS is a huge system with a lot of fish to fry. I think enough concerns developed about FSA over time that they decided it was in the system’s best interest to keep a closer watch. The biggest problem I have with FSA is how they handled it after the fact. They could have taken their three years and specific waivers and continued to build their brand. Instead, their arrogance, ignorance, or both tripped them up and now the students, families, and teachers will likely suffer. They showed who they are in how they handled it. FCS wasn’t shutting you down. The charter petition was theirs to lose, and lose it they did. Then they want to play victim and ask for mediators and legislators to help them out with the bully. Foolish choices.
83jacket
February 5th, 2012
2:59 pm
The Fulton County School System even in good schools serves the lowest common denominator. The administration at these schools is completely and totally reluctant to deal with disruptive kids in class due to legal and regulatory concerns. I have seen first hand how FCS schools inaction allows the learning environment to be compromised for all other students in a class. High achieving motivated students as well as developmently challenged students are being short changed by FCS due to policies such as main streaming children that can’t function in a regular classroom. This is why parents who value education are seeking alternatives to the traditional public school environment.