Under new law, will state send more funds per child to state charter schools than local systems?
A rural school chief sent me this note late Friday:
I am forwarding to you an email from Herb Garrett at the Georgia School Superintendent’s Association that was sent out today to all Georgia superintendents. Herb explains the financial impact of laws already passed regarding charter schools and the differences in funding between those students and the ones attending traditional public schools. Herb clearly quotes GADOE as the source for the financial projections.
Can you find out if this information is accurate? I have the utmost trust and faith in Herb Garrett but I am astonished that our Governor and legislators would clearly gut public education in Georgia to this extent. As a small rural system, we are doing everything we can to stay afloat despite the continuing cuts. But, if the GADOE’s calculations are correct, the Legislature is obviously funding charter schools more favorably than traditional public schools. How can this happen?
Friday evening, I asked DOE spokesman Matt Cardoza to read Garrett’s letter and tell me whether he was correct that state charter schools — of which there will be a lot more if voters endorse a constitutional amendment on the November ballot — will earn more state funding under a law passed this year.
Cardoza promised to get with DOE experts over the weekend and get back to me. I received this response Saturday at noon: “I’ve confirmed that those numbers are correct. Our financial review team ran the numbers based on what the legislation says.”
I also asked DeKalb Sen. Fran Millar, R-Dunwoody, for comment yesterday but he wanted to see what DOE had to say about Garrett’s calculations. He did say, “It was my understanding that the charter schools ended up with about 75 percent of what the traditional public schools received. I am opposed to the new charter systems receiving $100 per child. We can’t afford it and it is time to discontinue the practice.”
(Systems that convert to charter school status get extra funding for reasons still unclear to me.)
As to the rural school chief’s other question — How can this happen at a time when the state is cutting school funding to the bone? — I will let you all offer responses to that.
Given this funding disparity, though, it would make far more sense now for aspiring charter schools to seek state approval rather than local. However, the underlying problem remains that school funding in Georgia is a mess, rife with inconsistencies that the school finance task force, of which Millar is co-chair, must address.
Here is Herb Garrett’s email:
Ladies and gentlemen:
I will devote the entirety of this Friday’s notes (Sorry, it’s a lengthy one!) to an explanation of the funding mechanism that was put into place by the 2012 Georgia General Assembly to fund state special charter schools. The Department of Education has now made the calculations as to just what this will cost, and you should know the results.
First, you should know that, regardless of the outcome of the November vote, this funding mechanism enacted as a result of the passage of HB797 will still be used to determine how much extra state money will be needed to support state special charter schools, and it is already in effect. The original HB797 contemplated the use of this procedure for commission charter schools formed in the future if the proposed constitutional amendment on November’s ballot is approved by voters (HB797 was passed, by the way, with only one, single, “after-thought” opportunity for public comment.). A Senate amendment to the bill sponsored by Senator Ronnie Chance, R-Tyrone, was added (again, with no debate or discussion) which makes this funding procedure effective for the current state special charter schools (and, will require a significant outlay of additional state dollars in the upcoming mid-term budget). After Senate passage, the House agreed to the amended version.
I think the best way to make the point is to compare just how much state money our General Assembly plans to send to state special charter schools as compared to the amount they will send to local school systems to support the education of students in traditional K-12 schools. I’ll compare the amount for regular education fifth grade students. Here’s the scoop (based on DOE-calculated numbers):
For a fifth grader in a state special charter school, the initial amount granted is the full QBE earning for that child ($3,318.14) with no deduction for local five mill share. For a fifth grader in a traditional K-12 school, that amount, on average statewide (varies from system to system based on the value of the local five mill share within that system) is $2,695.71 (already a $600 difference).
That difference is further exacerbated by the austerity cuts that are applied to the earnings of local schools systems ($690.27 per student) but not applied to the earnings of state special charter schools. This latest reduction is mitigated somewhat for systems that receive equalization grants, but those grants do not come close to offsetting the austerity cuts in place for FY13 (or, in the eleven previous years).
Both the state special charter school students and the students in traditional K-12 schools earn state funds for transportation and for school nutrition (Both must offer these services to get the funds.), so let’s assume that both get the $95.85 total per student that comes with these two programs.
Now, at this point the fifth grader in a state special charter school begins to get even more state money than what is sent by the state for the fifth grader in a traditional K-12 school. The charter school student, as a result of the calculation mandated in HB797, gets additional state money equal to the average per pupil amount of the local funds available in the five poorest systems in the state (including the five mill share money already included once before in the first calculation, a clear “double dip”). That adds another $2,560.94 per student for the state special charter school student.
Then, and again as a result of the calculation mandated in HB797, still more state dollars are sent to support that fifth grader in a state special charter school based on capital outlay dollars. Amazingly, additional state funds are allotted based on the per pupil amount of state capital outlay funds PLUS a per pupil amount based on statewide ESPLOST revenues per FTE. This amount comes to $1,017.35 per student, and it is not at all clear that these funds have to be spent on capital projects, as would be the case in local systems.
So, if my calculations are correct (and, they are based on DOE numbers that were provided to me), the state will send approximately $2,101.29 in STATE DOLLARS to local school systems to support the education of a fifth grader in a traditional K-12 school. At the same time, beginning this Fall, they will send $6,992.28 in STATE DOLLARS per child to support the education of a fifth grader in a state special charter school. (NOTE: State special charter schools of the virtual variety receive 2/3 of the total of all components except the capital outlay and nutrition/transportation pieces, so the STATE DOLLARS going to support a fifth grader in that venue amount to $3,921.25.)
The figures are clear: The state will send to state special charter schools 2.5 times more STATE DOLLARS per child than they are sending to local systems (those that do not receive equalization grants); for students in state special virtual charter schools, it is 1.9 times more. By DOE’s calculations and according to the tenets of HB797, this will require that $26,839,637 in NEW STATE DOLLARS be included in the state budget (over and above the QBE earnings for charter school students AND over and above the $8.65 million already added to the budget to pay for state special charter schools) to fund the state special charter schools we already have. The figures are clear, but the message is even clearer: our General Assembly will gladly find and spend more money per child to educate students in state special charter schools than they will spend to educate the students in our traditional K-12 schools.
And, this message comes on a day when the headlines in the AJC announce that state agencies are being directed to find another $553 MILLION to cut between now and 2014!
One of the arguments all along has been that HB797 calls for no “local money” to be used to support state special charter schools, as was the case with the provisions of the former HB881 which created a shell game to capture the equivalent of local funds. Some have even gone so far as to describe the funding mechanism in HB797 as both “protection” and a “windfall” for local school systems. It is true that the old HB881 shell game is gone; but, the calculations described in the paragraphs above also prove quite clearly that, while local systems have suffered billions of dollars lost due to the now-infamous “austerity cuts,” there seems to be no hesitation on the part of our General Assembly to establish a separate school system which they will gladly fund through a state budget that, for more than ten years, has been unable to support its regular K-12 schools. Larger class sizes, teacher furloughs, and heavily- amended school calendars have been the result of those greatly reduced state dollars in recent years, and that trend appears likely to continue as a result of these kinds of funding decisions. I encourage you to know and be familiar with the fiscal impact of HB797.
–From Maureen Downey, for the AJC Get Schooled blog
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244 comments Add your comment
Thoughts
August 6th, 2012
3:11 pm
@Mr. Delk – you may be correct with your figures, but I don’t believe the current state charter school idea is the best way to fix the problem. As a conservative, I highly disagree with handing off more tax money to charter schools that are not even accountable to local voters. That state money that is now promised to commission approved state charter schools has to come from somewhere?? The state does not have the money to adequately fund any of their programs (well…maybe the “go fish” one), and the legislature has voted to appropriate money toward charter schools?
Why not allow the public school to demand the same parental and student accountability that the charter schools are allowed?
Mary Elizabeth
August 6th, 2012
3:12 pm
CORRECTION: (The computer did not pick up the notation correctly, above.)
Incorrectly stated, above:
“If teacher A has a group of students in Level 10 with a population of 6 third graders and 3 fourth graders, the board would read (6) 3rd beside theacher A and under Level 10. In this way, by reading
(3) 4th
horizonally, I can tell the particular groups a teacher is teaching. . . .”
—————————————————————————
Correctly stated:
“If teacher A has a group of 9 students in Level 10 with a population of 6 third graders and 3 fourth graders, the board would read (6) 3rd; (3) 4th beside teacher A and under Level 10. In this way, by reading horizonally, I can tell the particular groups a teacher is teaching. . . .”
Amazed
August 6th, 2012
3:26 pm
@Beverly Fraud, stay on the issue. You’re perseverating on something that has nothing to do with the charter school v. traditional school funding. Just chasing rabbitts!
Public School Teacher
August 6th, 2012
3:27 pm
I love to read all these comments! As a public school teacher, it is not each counties fault about public education, but the state. The state needs to get their act together. We started school last week and are still waiting to get our state assessments that go along with our new common core standards. We were told these must be given within the first 30 days of school and take 2 weeks to give. _HELLO!!!!!!! We are going in our 2nd week of school and we do not have them yet!
As for charter schools, I really find it ironic that the Cherokee Charter Academy, in it’s first year open, is now in the black and owes $1.5 million dollars. I don’t understand the dollars per child, but that is not my job. My job is to teach the children of the future and that is what I am doing! I might be making less money because of furlough days, but I am still spending the same amount out of my own pocket for my classroom! Teachers do what they have to do in order to teach our kids….. I wish everyone would just get ALONG!!!!!!!!
Beverly Fraud
August 6th, 2012
3:50 pm
@Beverly Fraud, stay on the issue. You’re perseverating on something that has nothing to do with the charter school v. traditional school funding. Just chasing rabbitts!
@Amazed, asking for HONESTY and INTEGRITY from the Georgia School Boards Association is not an issue worth discussing?
If they don’t have the INTEGRITY to admit they were wrong about an award, how can you trust them on ANYTHING?
Has truth lost ALL meaning in education?
Mary Elizabeth
August 6th, 2012
4:07 pm
catlady, 9:35 am
Thank you for your kind remarks. I am glad that my Academic Developmental History Chart for students was helpful to you (even though it was fragmentally presented via computer). Do let me know how it is received by the “powers-that-be.” Best wishes to you, also!
proud public school teacher
August 6th, 2012
4:08 pm
I think it’s time for recall votes. If I remember correctly, state legislators are public servants that (like public teachers) must sign an oath of office stating that they will uphold the Constitution of the United States and the Georgia State Constitution. Also, if I remember correctly, the Georgia Constitution has an amendment – QBE: Quality Basic Education – that mandates the amount of money to be spent on a public school student’s education. Now, following this logic…if state legislators are NOT funding public education at the level dicatated by the Georgia State Constitution, then they are blatently violating their oath of office. Any time they vote to approve a budget that does not properly fund public schools, they violate their oath. I think it’s time to recall those who are blatantly refusing to uphold the Constitution of the State of Georgia. They can fuss all they want about “the formula is old and outdated” – they’ve been doing it for years and have yet to fix it or have the people vote on how to amend it. As such, they must uphold the Constitution as stated – regardless of how “outdated” they tell us it is. I think it’s time for a grassroots effort to get these legislators ousted. They have made it abundantly clear that they despise public education and all those associated with it – including our children.
Ron F.
August 6th, 2012
4:40 pm
@CharterStarter: thanks for the insight about the commission. It helps to have more information about their work in the past. My concern comes from being battered by the very legislators who will appoint the commission. Their antics in recent years, funding issues aside, have instilled zero confidence from me in their true concern for education in this state. If the amendment is approved, hopefully they’ll put together a commission that will be as careful and selective as the last. As a devoted teacher, it gets tiring being the ball in what has become a hard fought political game of ping-pong in this state. I can only hope that whatever we transition to in education will be less controlled by the politics under the dome, but I see the chances for it to be worse. Please don’t take my cynicism about them to mean that I stand in total, unrelenting opposition to charter schools. They have their place, especially in densely populated counties where numbers and needs encourage their development. I have been and continue to be impressed with schools such as KIPP and would fully support their expansion in Atlanta. Being in a small rural system where I know parents would in fact want to try to start them as a means of racial and/or socio-economic separation makes me wary. If the commission is as careful and selective as you describe it, then perhaps they’ll see that and consider the issues involved with enough scrutiny. From what you know, will the commission also be charged with oversight of the state funded charter schools? How do you see accountability being handled for these schools?
Ron F.
August 6th, 2012
4:49 pm
Mary Elizabeth: the chart looks a lot like what I do with my struggling readers in high school. I chart their level on comprehension, which can often be above their word skills and fluency levels. What I have found is that by the time they reach ninth grade, their mechanical skills in reading have languished for several years in middle school even though comprehension may be higher (they manage to understand enough to get by even if they can’t read all the words and give contextual meaning to them). It’s amazing to me how kids manage that, but many do. When I focus on the discreet skills where they are weak, the improvement can be swift. I wish more teachers were thoroughly skilled in teaching reading and knew how to use developmental charts to identify and teach to specific needs. If we could do that across subject areas in upper grades (6-12), I think we might be able to help more kids become successful readers. I think I have a cause to push now!
Pride and Joy
August 6th, 2012
4:56 pm
***Best Post All year****
…is this one by catlady “Thank you, Mary Elizabeth. You have inspired me to work on something that fits with what we ared doing! ”
that’s what I wish this blog was about, teachres and parents helping each other. It could be that way but Maureen likes to post flammatory blogs. They raise anger but not solutions.
I wish Maureen would post a topic, a question by a teacher or parent, and lte the bloggers share their experiences so that we can learn from one another.
….just like Mary Elizabeth and catlady have done.
Bravo ladies! Gold medal for you.
Say It Ain't So, Dr. Barge!
August 6th, 2012
5:06 pm
One week you are having to CYA and explain your support for Chip Rogers.
The next week we find out you hired his brother as a communications coordinator for Race to the Top at GADOE.
REALLY?
Alex
August 6th, 2012
7:42 pm
Charter Starter Two….the constitutional amendment is going down just like TSPLOST.
Mary Elizabeth
August 6th, 2012
8:07 pm
Ron F, 4:49 pm
“I wish more teachers were thoroughly skilled in teaching reading and knew how to use developmental charts to identify and teach to specific needs. If we could do that across subject areas in upper grades (6-12), I think we might be able to help more kids become successful readers.”
———————————————————————————-
So true, Ron. I totally agree with you!
==========================================================
Ron also wrote this: “What I have found is that by the time they reach ninth grade, their mechanical skills in reading have languished for several years in middle school even though comprehension may be higher (they manage to understand enough to get by even if they can’t read all the words and give contextual meaning to them).
Ron, check out the following two links from my personal blog. I highly recommend using the read/study method of SQ3R with reluctant readers (lst link), and I have written another post that gives additional reading techniques and strategies, which will expand and complement the SQ3R method. (2nd link) See below:
(1) http://maryelizabethsings.wordpress.com/2012/02/06/about-education-essay-3-sq3r-survey-question-read-recite-review/
(2) http://maryelizabethsings.wordpress.com/2012/02/12/about-education-essay-4-sq3r-expanded-for-reluctant-readers/
Mary Elizabeth
August 6th, 2012
8:08 pm
Pride and Joy, 4:56 pm
Thank you, Pride and Joy.
Ron F.
August 6th, 2012
8:29 pm
Mary Elizabeth: I LOVE SQ3R. I used that as a central part of a presentation I gave this summer to content area teachers about reading. I find that if the Study and Question generation portions are done effectively, the rest is much easier for kids. I teach that strategy every chance I get!
Mary Elizabeth
August 6th, 2012
8:39 pm
Ron F, 8:29 pm
Knowing what an outstanding teacher you are Ron, I am not surprised that you already use SQ3R with your students. The SQ3R read/study method has been around since the 1930s – to great success with students, per research.
CharterStarter, Too
August 6th, 2012
8:53 pm
@ Ron F. – thank you for your commentary and your inquiries. I understand completely the concern in rural south Georgia that segregated schools might be established. Let me tell you a true story about a Commission school in rural south GA which may alleviate your concerns and surprise you. The schools a southwestern region area were nearly 100% minority, with most white students going to private schools – the district demographics, however, were closer to 50/50 minority white. This scenario was even after years of a federal desegregation order. Families were leaving the area and industry was at a standstill. Pataula Charter Academy was started by a group of parents and community members who were tired of their failing, segregated system. They wanted to stay in their home towns and raise their children in an integrated, strong public school system. They elected to establish their school serving 5 districts. The local school district, catching wind of the charter effort, began giving them quite a hard time, and of course, denied their petition within days. The charter went to the Commission. You might find it interesting to note that one of the school district attorneys put in writing as one of the reasons for the district’s denial that the charter would not offer sports, and the attorney stated outright that “that was what African American children were interested in.” The charter board was, as you can imagine, appalled. They were working hard to ensure that they had a school representing the demographics of their community. The Commission did authorize the charter, and that little school has outperformed the districts the last 2 years. To ensure that children could access their school, they utilize their very, very limited operational funds to provide transportation (keep in mind they earn no transportation funding). They serve about 60% FRL and are already more diverse than the local school systems and are continuing to demonstrate to their WHOLE community what is possible for children – all children. Why would districts struggling with achievement and segregation not look at this little school and find out what they are doing that is finally making a difference. This school has scraped by – the districts speak of inadequacy and cuts….but not one of those districts has survived on less than $5000 per pupil like Pataula – the 5 districts they serve earn between $9,900 and $14,400 per pupil and are not achieving the same results. Why can’t they work collaboratively for their community? Why must there be a turf war? This school is ACHIEVING and providing a return on investment to local tax payers. And they were authorized by the Commission.
The commentary by some bloggers regarding “segregation” and the charters being a haven for “rich” families is not supported by charter demographics which show ~50% FRL and minority students, mirroring traditional district schools.
To your question, I do not know if the state schools not authorized by the Commission originally will fall under a new Commission, but it would make sense to me that they would. The Commission, in the 2 years that they were in existence had established excellent oversight structures including observing governance practices, financial review, and academic review. They were actively engaged with the schools because that is exactly what they were commissioned to do.
@ BC – thank you for the very kind comments and seeing the potential the charters have to support improvements in achievement and more student-centered options for parents. We appreciate your support and advocacy.
@ Alex – I will leave that decision to the voters.
Mary Elizabeth
August 6th, 2012
11:41 pm
Goodforkids, 12:34 am, August 6, 2012
“Mary Eizabeth is consistent in her efforts to point out the big picture on this blog. We have very powerful legislators who ‘work for\’” ALEC and when you read national blogs and commentary, it all makes sense. GA is ripe for such a takeover, for privatizing.”
================================================================
Goodforkids, I just read your remarks of last evening. Thank you for sharing your thoughts. I am reassured that you, and others, are seeing what is happening politically in education in Georgia – which will not be beneficial for all of Georgia’s children.
My best regards to you.
C Jae of EAV
August 7th, 2012
10:07 am
As I’ve been following along with commentary on this issue, its clear that the Mr. Garrett was attempting to engage in a spin job to advocate for his organization’s public policy position. It seems in establishing his position, he sought to tell half the story, which personally I find quite misleading. This essentially is the point of late IMHO. The general public policy debate over public education funding and governance is too often marred with half-truths, such that it makes it difficult for people to formulate informed opinions.
cgregister
August 7th, 2012
10:10 am
This is so typical of the politicians in this state. Rob Peter to pay Paul. When will the voters start telling the politicians we are tired of you playing with our money and children. DO THE RIGHT THING and keep your grubby paws to yourselves.
CharterStarter
August 7th, 2012
12:48 pm
Below is a link to a response to Herb Garrett’s letter from the CEO of the Georgia Charter Schools Association.
Please note that DOE has yet to respond to CharterStarter Too and Maureen’s request for clarification. CST maintains, and I agree, that Garrett’s original assertion – that charters are funded at 2.5 times traditional schools – is a serious mischaracterization (what my Momma used to call a “lie”).
GCSA is providing some official clarity. The short version is that the state funds state-approved charters at a higher rate of state funding BECAUSE those charters are not allowed to receive local funding (the cause of the original lawsuit three years ago). The charter amendment assures local districts that no local funds will go to state approved charters. The state allotment for state-approved charters, however – and quite legally – reimburses charters at a higher rate per student to make up for the lack of local tax support. It is important to note that no school districts are penalized for charters receiving more funds. The formula does what GSSA and GSBA insisted – there is no impact on local funds and no reduction in state funds to local districts for the students they educate.
Here’s what the squawking is all about: when parents notice that state-approved charters are better than district schools, and move their kids to them, the districts WILL be impacted. How? Because the districts will no longer have access to state funds that follow the child they “lost” to the competition of a better school.
GSSA is afraid of a little competition. They know (and do not say) what parents intuitively know: competition is good for all parties. It’s the American way.
Here is the link to GCSA’s response:
http://us1.campaign-archive1.com/?u=0bda5d5147ca0c51e1c30107f&id=8a37a10511&e=8bc557a18d
Maureen Downey
August 7th, 2012
12:49 pm
@Charter, Fran Millar also told me that he was working on a response but was waiting for something from DOE.
Maureen
Maureen Downey
August 7th, 2012
12:58 pm
@Charter: Is that higher level of state funding now a budget fixture? When the state approved the bail-out/extra funding for the charters stranded by the state Supreme Court Decision, it was explained that this was a temporary fix. Has that changed? Here is what I wrote at the time:
http://blogs.ajc.com/get-schooled-blog/2011/07/14/gov-deal-will-fund-charters-with-new-revenue-or-cuts-to-spending/
CharterStarter
August 7th, 2012
1:14 pm
Please pardon my apparent bias! I said, “when parents notice that state-approved charters are better than district schools…” I should have said, “IF parents notice that state-approved charters are better than district schools…”
District schools have the resources, the leadership and the funding (I believe) – and they always have – to perform better and to compete with private school and home schools in quality. If passed by the voters (as I fully expect to happen), the November referendum will merely make competition a more urgent necessity for districts.
Change is never easy, and coerced change is always opposed by those who perceive they have the most to lose. Let us thank our lucky stars that the decision about whether or not to change is not really up to school boards. The decision is up to those who are the best possible representation of “local control” – the parents and taxpayers (all of whom are voters) of Georgia.
alpharetta mom
August 7th, 2012
5:44 pm
Charter starter are you on the Walton family foundations payroll also? How do you explain to the innocent parents in Georgia where the huge amounts of money to promote HR1162 will come from. The Walton Family Foundation, Betsy deVos, David Koch, Ralph Reed. Read who’s in the Brighter Georgia coalition set up by GCSA and tell me this about “the kids.” You are shilling for the billionaires club. Oh and tell me what great thing HB797 will be for kids when they get a state charter school that is only meant to (line 22) “enhance” public educational opportunities authorized by an appointed commission who can decide not to monitor the charter school (line 118) with no legal action allowed by private citizens. Oh and how about lines 425 thru 427 which allows the commission to go after funding for building programs and transportation “where feasible.” The law wouldn’t even get high marks from the National Alliance for Charter Schools. Its just what the free market advocates who paid for it wanted!
CharterStarter
August 7th, 2012
6:42 pm
Maureen, the law fixes “the fix.”
CharterStarter
August 7th, 2012
6:49 pm
alpharetta mom: You can take pride in your location and vocation and use caps. As for being a shill, I only wish I had the money the people and organizations you mentioned have. What I have instead, as a small business owner, is the good sense to see that our public school system is broken. We are paying for a system that has not made any statistical progress in math and language scores in 30 years.
NACSA loves our law, by the way. And it gave our Governor a national award for supporting innovation and education reform.
And I am a free market advocate! Absolutely. Milton Friedman got it right when he said, “There is no alternative way, so far discovered, of improving the lot of the ordinary people that can hold a candle to the productive activities that are unleashed by a free enterprise system.” He put his money where his mouth is and invested his fortune in education reform. In a way, I am doing the same thing, with much more modest means.
3schoolkids
August 7th, 2012
6:54 pm
Seems to me if Mr. Garrett’s calculations are utterly incorrect and being “misconstrued” we would have a response from GADOE already explaining just how the funding will work. In the meantime, it would be nice if the financials for the existing state special charter schools were public record so we could do an actual before HB797 and after HB797 comparison.
CharterStarter
August 7th, 2012
6:54 pm
Here’s a fact for those who oppose the Constitutional Amendment about the state’s role in charters. 44% of Democrats last Tuesday voted AGAINST the Democrat party position expressed in the party’s own ballot question. Since the GOP voters in November will vote overwhelmingly FOR the amendment, too, and nearly half of Democrats appear to be ready to do the same, I’m feeling a win coming on…
alpharetta mom
August 7th, 2012
7:53 pm
Dear charter starter – yes, Miltons money is backing this amendment also as I’m sure you know. How do “the Miltons” know which schools and communities in Georgia need the help a charter school could provide? Since when is it efficient to start charter schools in districts with the highest performing schools in the state? The language of hb 797 makes it perfectly clear that “the Miltons” don’t live here. Why would you advocate the passage of an amendment that is written to please people in other states? You paint all schools in Georgia with the same brush. Do you realize that any student who wants to get into GA TECH these days has to take 7 AP classes – could Chip get in today? You are a generalist. People live in the real world and remember just how well they fared when the “free market” trashed the value of their home and 401k in 2008. The free market is a fantasy promoted by those who hope to profit from the idea. How would Milton of handled the aftermath? Let the banks fail? How would he handle the consequences of millions of innocent kids going to schools that see them as a dollar sign only. Times have changed since Milton was alive.
3schoolkids
August 7th, 2012
9:38 pm
Charter Starter you are ASSUMING any GOP voter will vote FOR the referendum. You are wrong.
CharterStarter
August 7th, 2012
9:54 pm
alpha and 3: do not make the misguided assumption that the free market has been a guiding economic principle anytime since the 1920s in this country. We have had a few moments in which reformers (like Reagan) tried to get government out of the way, but we are nowhere close to a true free market. Social Security? National Income Tax? Federal dominance of states through appropriations. Please. The 10th amendment has been shredded. And any claims of free market principles causing the economic downturn merely show ignorance.
I work all over Georgia. I have seen the same problems everywhere I go. Centralized bureaucracy that claims to serve students but is unable to serve students as individuals. Even the so-called highest performing districts suffer these limitations.
Certainly not everybody on the “right” will support the amendment. The powers that be are very well-funded and (as we learned from Garrett’s letter) quite shameless about skewing the facts to serve their interests. Some will be taken in. DOE will provide clarity – they just weren’t asked the right question. Read GCSA’s response, which is transparent discussing every aspect of the funding changes.
Milton just died a few years ago. He spent his life skewering assumptions, but nothing has really changed.
CharterStarter, Too
August 7th, 2012
10:48 pm
@ Alpharetta Mom – speaking of painting broad stroked brushes…. you make the assumption that just because a district ON AVERAGE has high achievement that every child is flourishing and reaching their personal potential. That is not the case…otherwise parents in successful districts would not bother to enroll in charters. Charters open because their is a demand for them. Take successful Cherokee County – a great system by anyone’s standards. However, 13% of the K-8 student population registered and entered the lottery for Cherokee Charter Academy. Clearly that even in high achieving districts, children have different needs that may be better served in a charter environment.
I find it interesting that so many think charter proponents are out to “get” something out of this movement (and by the way – what did Mr. and Mrs. Friedman get from donating millions to reforming public education?) Indeed, there can be no question that there are for-profit management companies who take a fee for providing staff and expertise in school management. For these companies, they, like other vendors’ goods and services appeal to the education market. I don’t see anyone demanding that the computer and textbook companies be non-profit organizations or provide their goods and services for free. Like anything else, you expect your school boards to choose wisely and oversee quality programs and services. For that matter, even your district school board members are paid.
Aside from a few management companies in the Georgia charter sector, the vast majority of founding groups and boards of charters are parents and community members who rather than take, GIVE of their time, expertise, and money. These are people who are tired of sitting back and watching things happen in our state in public education and the economy, and instead, are making things happen to the betterment of their communities.
CharterStarter, Too
August 7th, 2012
10:48 pm
Goodness – pardon my typos! I should have proofread before submitting.
alpharetta mom
August 7th, 2012
11:21 pm
Charter starter That was touching. So if this is such an overwhelming community effort why does the Walton Family Foundation, Americans for Prosperity, ALEC, Faith and Freedom Coalition, Georgia Family Council etc. feel the need to spend millions convincing voters that they should accept taxation without representation so the poor underserved parents you care so much about can get a school tailored to their childs needs. I would have thought the free market would dictate less preferential treatment. The free market would certainly not handicap competitors at the start and then compare them apples to apples. Charter schools can limit class sizes, demand more by contract from parents and students, refuse to take additional students when they’re at capacity, and vary curriculum. Wouldn’t it be easier to modify existing schools than play this silly game? And please, you lose all credibility when even suggesting that Herb Garrett has more power and money to throw around than David Koch. GEORGIA PACIFIC RING ANY BELLS!
alpharetta mom
August 7th, 2012
11:38 pm
Oh and p.s. Milton passed away in 2006 when the financial crisis was just a gleam in a few peoples eye. Kind of like the education crisis will be 10 years from now when people may be asking who’s idea it was to re-segregate the country along religious and racial lines via school vouchers and what kind of business sense (isn’t that what educators are supposed to have now) was shown in allowing us to stop investing in one of the largest assets our tax dollars have built in the last several decades. Can’t blame that on anyone but ourselves.
CharterStarter, Too
August 8th, 2012
12:26 am
@ Alpharetta Mom – As for the foundations who support school reform….that’s what folks with money do. They find a cause that they believe deeply about and invest in it. Friedman and Walton families care deeply for education reform (and BTW, Walton ALSO invests in traditional districts as well like APS – they are interested in children learning.) Other organizations, many which are non-profit, have missions that serve children or families or areas where education has an impact. The Georgia Chamber of Commerce cares about economic development.
As for Herb being rich, I didn’t mention him and frankly have no idea what he has either personally or in the way of a campaign. What I DO know is that there are some board members in the traditional districts who were pretty appalled by GSBA’s campaign at their most recent conference. There was quite a pitch to raise money and lots of glossy color handouts…funded by whom I wonder? Who knows and who cares? It takes money to communicate anything, and both sides must and will.
I am very curious about your thoughts on district zoning. In the district where I live, the schools are pretty segregated based on where the lines are drawn for attendance zone, mainly because of neighborhoods that have a heavy demographic of some sort. In comparison, charters generally have district wide attendance zones, so it stands to reason that charters would be LESS likely to be segregated than a traditional school. Do you have a different perspective?
I am also interested in knowing your thoughts on accountability for tax dollars. One of the reasons I like charters (as a mom and a taxpayer) is that the children have to achieve, and the schools must be fiscally responsible and very efficient. This type of accountability is not shared with districts. Should it be? If you have a failing district earning $14,000 per pupil, what kind of accountability should there be? And in a district with a successful charter operating at $6,000 per pupil versus a comparable school in the same district that is unsuccessful academically and operating at 14,000 per pupil, as a mom and a tax payer, could you not support that charter? We have that exact scenario all over our state.
CharterStarter, Too
August 8th, 2012
12:52 am
@ Alpharetta – One more thing…it costs money to communicate with all of the voters. Many have no idea what the issue is about and if it impacts their community or not. Like with TSPLOST, both sides must be able to share their perspective so that voters can make an informed vote. The charters are communicating factual, substantiated information. Opponents like Mr. Garrett are relying on lies of omission or scare tactics because their argument is baseless. They don’t want to SAY that not only do they not want local or state dollars taken from them, but even when that is guaranteed, they don’t want the charters to have adequate funds to survive. Children is never mentioned as part of their concern – it is always about protecting district authority and pocketbooks.
Consider what GSBA publishes on its website these beliefs (I added a bit of commentary):
Beliefs…GSBA’s fundamental convictions, values and character. We believe that…
• Every human life has value. – Except charter students?
• The family is the most important influence in the development of a person.
• Society has a duty to care for all children. – All, really? Even charters?
• An educated population is fundamental to the success of our society. But children in failing schools should stay where they are so the districts don’t lose money or authority.
• Effective public education is the cornerstone of an educated population. But advocacy from GSBA for accountability by their own schools is not a priority.
• Collaborative efforts of all stakeholders are necessary for successful public education. And yet, GSBA and many of the districts are unable to collaborate with committed members of their communities to enhance district offerings.
• The sharing of ideas and principles leads to collective wisdom. Districts and charters are not sharing best practices as they should – and this falls on both of them as a failing.
• Trust is vital for effective leadership. Does Mr. Garrett earn trust with half truths and misinformation? Does Dr. P. garner trust when he falsely tells his teachers furloughs will be caused by Cherokee Charter Academy?
• In unity there is strength. They seem to have this down pat.
• Locally elected school boards are in the most strategic leadership position to meet their community’s public educational needs. Yes, they are, IF they will embrace innovation, change, and be willing to break through the bureaucratic frameworks that severely hinder positive growth and change.
• Learning is a life-long process.
• Student success is our top priority. Unless you are a student who would be more successful in a charter environment.
• Innovation in public education is critical in a rapidly changing world. What is GSBA doing to influence innovation? If this is a true belief, then they should be ACTIVELY supporting the charter sector!
• Wise decisions are based on ethical principles. I repeat my comments above about trust in leadership.
But my very favorite is this one…
We will always support the state’s constitutional responsibility to meet the educational needs of all students. How does this happen if public schools don’t have adequate resources to meet the educational needs of all students? If the districts are claiming they can hardly survive, how can they possibly expect a charter to survive on even less than that?
Just some food for thought.
sneak peek into education
August 8th, 2012
8:36 am
I have read this blog with great interest over the past few days and since I have just had a baby, I haven’t had the opportunity to reply. @Charter, I appreciate the fact that you have engaged in a conversation without charters. You have obviously researched this a great deal with regards to Georgia’s upcoming election. I am only stating this as an observation and not to inflame but I have to wonder if your stance is such because you have either invested or are seeking to invest in the for-profit charter schools or another ancillary education business if the amendment is successful. I have researched the current reform movement too and what I ascertain is that the proponents are pushing “The Big Lie” that American schools are failing. They do so because they want the general public to believe that so they are scared into pushing through and backing the policies of the reformers at break neck speed. The trouble is now that the charter movement has been shown that, in most instances, it does provide better learning opportunities than our traditional schools. The biggest issue our schools face is poverty (look at the NAEP results, which are the only longitudinal study of test scores and you can see that when poverty is not an issue in schools, our children do perform at an extremely high level when compared to their global counterparts). The reformers want you to believe it’s about the children but it’s about the money.
I implore the readers of this blog to check out the blog by Diane Ravitch which exposes the motivation and intent of the reformers and why they continue to purport the big lie about American education. Invest a small part of your day to check out her latest speech at the AFT.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qb1Lsod2nts
alpharetta mom
August 8th, 2012
8:40 am
Charter A girl has to get her beauty sleep. I have personal experience with two charters who made it perfectly clear to those of us who had questions about their operations that our questions were not welcome even though they were spending public money. The sense of entitlement was a shock to me. I don’t expect to change your mind and I know that you’re writing what you write to sway others who may be reading this. When I researched the “school choice” initiative I was so schocked by what I found out that I feel compelled to speak out. It isn’t a new battle but I just woke up. I have allowed my legislators to create laws that I think will literally rip apart our democracy. Your side, a coaltion of ideologs (Milton Friedman), business moguls (Koch, Walton, Murdock), political operatives (ALEC, deVos), and religious groups that want to re-insert God into education have joined forces on a national and probably international level to promote a free market model of education to further their respective agendas. Maybe the voters will agree with their agenda. Please stop pretending that HR 1162 is about improving education in Georgia. The legislation is written (HB 797) and it doesn’t say anything about improvement. This is about politics and money. Like T-Splost, all the fancy ads will not be able to disguise the truth. You can have the last word. I’ve said all I have to say on this round.
CharterStarter
August 8th, 2012
5:40 pm
CharterStarter, Too – it’s fun to work together again…too bad only three or four people are reading this interchange…
A-mom, if you want to talk about ideologues, then Diane Ravitch is Exhibit 1.
Sneaky peeker – I would not use Ravitch as a source to inform anyone about reformers. She is a union supporter first and foremost and vigorously opposes decentralizing power. She is all about the kids as long as nothing changes for the adults. Don’t even get her started on parents – they are the cause of all the trouble in her eyes.
And everyone – as “CharterStarter, Too” pointed out – it seems that for profit charter operators are the only for profit entities in education that traditional educators hate. Everybody else could make out like bandits (especially in the textbook racket) and that’s fine. But try to help a local charter school do its own books or train and evaluate its teachers, and WATCH OUT! Evil corporate entities! I have to laugh, honestly.
Perhaps the most ridiculous charge is that the Friedman Foundation is trying to throw its money around and force people to change. Milton Friedman made a career telling people it is wrong to let others make choices for you. His foundation is just trying to educate people about their choices, so they can make better choices. The very definition of a free market is that a citizen must be free to choose. Public schools that force one to attend a schools based on one’s zip code, give one no choice about whom will teach students or lead schools, and make all curriculum decisions in a vacuum removed from economic reality are the very definition of closed systems.
CharterStarter
August 8th, 2012
5:42 pm
“a schools” … I must not have earned that degree in English after all.
CharterStarter, Too
August 8th, 2012
8:24 pm
@ Sneek Peek. Thanks for the forthright question. The answer is no, I have no affiliation with any for profit group. I am a very proud public school educator and a warrior mom. I love my community and sincerely want to help improve education. Despite the hype over “privatization of education,” there are a lot more out there doing this work for the same reasons I do. It’s hard work, often daunting when you consider that you are trying to pull a barge with a row boat. Sometimes it makes me sad, and other times infuriated, and I want to rage at the machine because of the focus on everything but what matters…kids learning. I got into this movement because of my kids and a desire to create a very purposeful learning environment for kids to learn and teachers to teach. I stay in the sector because I realized my goal wasn’t REALLY to just impact a group of kids in my home town, but to influence broader, positive reform that takes the best of public education and enhances it with more parent choice, more teacher and community voice, and true accountability. So that’s my story.
Governor’s deputy: Charters still operate with less funds than traditional schools | Get Schooled
August 14th, 2012
8:30 am
[...] week, I shared a letter from the Georgia School Superintendents Association about the state funding of charter schools. Here is a response to that letter from David Werner, the [...]