Two influential House members urge support of charter amendment
Two of the strongest charter schools amendment supporters in the state General Assembly are House Speaker Pro Tem Jan Jones, R-Milton, and state Rep. Alisha Thomas Morgan, D- Austell.
Here is a column the pair wrote in favor the November amendment: (For another view on the constitutional amendment, please see column I posted earlier.)
By Jan Jones and Alisha Thomas Morgan
Between now and November, hundreds of millions of dollars in advertising will be spent telling us all the differences between President Barack Obama and his Republican challenger Mitt Romney.
They will disagree on nearly every issue, but one area where they have found common ground is the need for more public charter schools. We feel the same way in the Georgia House of Representatives.
While there are many issues that our constituents expect us to draw a hard line in the sand and oppose much of what the opposition party supports, education reform is frankly too important to let our differences in political parties get in the way.
As the Republican Speaker Pro Tem and a leading Democratic voice on education, we are together asking voters to support the charter school amendment on the November ballot. The amendment does something very simple but very profound – it will allow the state to create a commission to hear appeals when charter applications are denied by some school boards and superintendents.
Some school systems in Georgia have embraced the charter concept, while others have been more obstinate. Many are unfortunately worried more about who has the authority and power in education decision-making rather than what is best for our kids.
True local control should begin with giving parents the option to make more decisions and to get more involved in their children’s education. Charter schools are public schools that are free from many of the onerous mandates that schools are under these days.
They may separate boys and girls into different classes or schools, or have a more specific curriculum focus on science or math. They may be a virtual school with no building. These types of options are not right for every student, but for some they offer the kind of opportunity that can literally be life-changing.
Some school systems are going to tell you that public charter schools take money away from other public schools, but that’s just simply not the case. Any school approved by the state charter commission will operate with no local contribution – only state funds will be available. Those local dollars are kept by the school systems and used as they see fit, actually increasing the amount of money per student enrolled they have to spend.
We’ve tried the “one size fits all” approach to education for decades, and we’ve had too many students fall through the cracks. Let’s increase the educational options for parents, students and teachers by voting “Yes” for public charters on Nov. 6.
–From Maureen Downey, for the AJC Get Schooled blog
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85 comments Add your comment
Ron F.
October 1st, 2012
5:27 pm
@Dekalb: “Quite often there aren’t enough people in those said groups. What is a parent to do when their aren’t enough caring parents in the school or the principal doesn’t care or isn’t qualified?”
I understand your frustration, believe me. As a teacher, I wish more parents would be more vocal and involved in person, but they aren’t. I don’t know how this will improve with charters, except to note that charter schools will tend to draw the involved parents to them. If parents aren’t involved now, will they be more involved if they choose a charter school? Interesting question that we can’t answer at this point.
Ron F.
October 1st, 2012
5:30 pm
Here’s a question for the pro-charter folks. If the amendment passes, and state charter schools are set up, how will funding be handled if a kid enrolls in a state charter, and then leaves after a period of time? Will any of the per student funding follow the child? Currently, schools are paid based on number of students. If that number goes up because a child leaves a charter school, will the state provide more funds to the school he enrolls in, or will the charter school keep the funds it has been given? With attrition rates in some charters at 40-50%, how will the state handle paying funds for those children who leave and go back to tradtional public schools?
The Deal
October 1st, 2012
5:31 pm
Ron F., you cannot turn around a failing school that has a principal that doesn’t want to turn it around and an administration that loves that principal (and many other sorry ones). In fact, the school is failing BECAUSE of the principal, not because of the kids or teachers in it. What to do then? Move? Oh, wait. I can’t move because no one wants to buy a house in a school district run by criminals.
You really have to have been in one of these challenging situations before you understand how it feels to be trapped by your school and school system. I used to be very pro-public school, pro-local control, pro-parents rise up, pro-involved parents can do anything. Enough years in DeKalb have eroded all of that.
d
October 1st, 2012
5:37 pm
I still object first and foremost to an unaccountable board being given the power to override my elected board of education and therefore must encourage everyone I know (and don’t know) to vote no. This vote is not about charters, and people like Reps Morgan and Jones need to stop fooling everyone into thinking it is. This vote is about taking power away from voters and approving taxation without representation. Isn’t that very concept why our founders fought the Revolution to gain our independence from Britain? Why would we want to go back there?
LD
October 1st, 2012
6:27 pm
@Renee 4:26pm – you do realize that on average in Georgia, charter schools do not out perform their traditional counter parts, right? Yet, parents continue to send their children to these schools.
And there is no requirement for parental participation in these charter schools beyond choosing to walk in the front door! Parents’ rights are more protected at their local school council than in these charter schools! At the local school councils, parents must make up the majority of the council and the principal cannot be the chair of the council (the A+ Education Reform Act of 2000). IMO, one of the appeals of a charter school is the opportunity to have a greater role in the direction of the school. If that opportunity is not available, than how is this increasing “parental involvement” and addressing the needs of the community (especially if the community doesn’t get a seat at the charter school table)?
FormerRESALayBdMember
October 1st, 2012
6:30 pm
With 96% of the funding for the committee that is supporting passage coming from outside the state of Georgia, it should be fairly obvious it is not about improving educational opportunities for Georgia’s children. Follow the money, it’s about campaign funding and political power. The only problem with education is the continual politicization of something that is an easy target to criticize and run a political campaign on.
Another Comment
October 1st, 2012
7:31 pm
I am a Liberal, but lets cut to the chase, lets just give everyone a voucher. $4K for Pre-K and $8K for K-8 and then $12-16 for High School. That is what the costs at Catholic Schools, the Atlanta Diocese went to a plan of charging what the real cost of tuition was several years ago. Most of the Catholic Schools in the Atlanta area are Blue Ribbon Schools based on their students being in the top 90% on the IOWA tests. 50% of my daughter’s 8th grade class had ADD or ADHD. The difference was, they were medicated and their parents took them to therapy for behavior modification, so it didn’t disturb the class room. There were no behavior problems because they were quickly removed. Yes, there was tracking starting in 3rd grade by Math grades. The top group was the C group, the B group was almost undistinguistable ( remember they too score in the 90% and above on the IOWA tests) and the A group were the kids who needed the most help. They were the kids who weren’t going to make it through Pre-Algebra by the end of 8th grade. But they didn’t slow down 80% of the class in the mean time. There parents could get them private tutors over the summer or send them to summer school at Westminster or another Private School to bring them to one of the higher level groups. The main thing the smarter kids were not held back for the average or below average, even if Daddy had millions of dollars.
Kids with special needs such as Dsylexia, or Speech issues can leave for a year or two and receive and extra 12-15K to cover the costs of The Shenk School or the Speech School. The same for kids with Autism. There are plenty of Special needs schools that are 22K to 30K were kids will get a better education with a voucher. Maybe they with only need the extra amount for a few years.
The vouchers follow the child, to the private school of the childs choice or to another public school. Public Schools must be allowed to discipline and throw the unrully kids out, or refuse to take their voucher. Classrooms must be based upon a childs ability, not on numbers or and certain number of this gender in a class and this number of this color student.
#1 I would choose a school without teachers who can not communicate in English. No “Ax” for “Ask”. No poor grammar from the Principal. I recently reported the Principal to the Super. for this. I told him I have no respect for a Principal with an Ed. ED who can’t properly use English.
Concerned Parent
October 1st, 2012
8:08 pm
Bla,bla,bla… I have become weary of politicians getting in the way of educational improvement. They seem to think that the problem with public schools just started last month. We have had a constant decline in college enrollment in the past 12 years, and it has little to do with the Hope SF. Our students are less prepared if and when they get to college, just look at the number of incoming freshmen taking remedial classes. I would like to know where these politicians were when the dropout rate was climbing and the money for the students still went to the school, and the school still failed!
Listen, I believe that teachers are the best public servants in our nation, but give them what they need to help our students succeed. I agree that parental involvement is the key, but that involvement must first start at home. If our teachers spent less time “parenting” in the classroom, perhaps they could actually get something in the heads of more students.
Long story short…I support the amendment and will be voting YES! Now let me qualify that by saying all charter schools are not equal, but if a charter model has proven success, why not incorporate that model into your consistently failing school and see what happens? After all, when a charter school fails, it gets closed. When the traditional school fails, it gets more money and an unlimited time frame to “get better”.
Thank all of you who agree with this, “we CANNOT keep doing the same thing and expect different results”, that is the remedy that State Sup. Barge and all who disagree with this amendment think. Let’s give these young Georgia citizens a real chance to compete locally and globally.
Go vote Yes to Amendment 1
Mike
October 1st, 2012
8:47 pm
These comments are simplistic and are flat out untrue. The idea that there is one size fits all is ludicrous. In my smaller school district there are three programs for a high school student to acquire a high school education. There is the regular public school, an alternative high school, and a hybrid of online learning and in class learning. In bigger districts there are many more options. With the trigger option in this initiative more and more people are coming out against this initiative. This is the wrong idea at the wrong time.
Suzy Citizen
October 1st, 2012
8:51 pm
I will continue to support charters. I believe that people in the Atlanta Metro area (with easy access to school choice) have very little understanding of the problems being faced by rural communities. We lack incentives for people to move here, especially good schools. Out of the 5 surrounding counties, not one school board would even consider hearing a petition for a charter school. What are families like ours supposed to do? Continue to send students to failing schools with school boards that are unwilling to listen and cannot be voted out because of the “good ole boy” system that prevails in rural communities. I can’t afford to move 6 counties away and I want the same things for my children that you want for yours. The best possible OPTIONS for me and my family. Please vote for options, add oversight, do what you must, but give us a chance to have something positive for my child.
I am not opposed to public schools, but I would like the option to decide for myself what is best for my children as is afforded to me my the US Constitution and as should be by the Georgia Constitution.
I love teaching. I hate what it is becoming...
October 1st, 2012
8:56 pm
“Charter schools are public schools that are free from many of the onerous mandates that schools are under these days.”
So if those mandates are so “onerous” why don’t you put forth efforts to REMOVE them from public schools?
Ron F.
October 1st, 2012
9:01 pm
@The Deal: Then you should have options, and charter schools are available in Dekalb. What bothers me about this amendment is that the entire state will be subject to the power it gives an appointed commission at the state level that has no direct responsibility to voters. I know you deserve better in Dekalb, but out where I am it isn’t like that, and we should have the option to control locally since we’re happy without a state commission having the power to upend things here. Have you looked into the charters available to you? I don’t blame you a bit for losing support for your public schools. They’re a mess for sure, but not indicative of what the rest of us have.
Ron F.
October 1st, 2012
9:03 pm
“Kids with special needs such as Dsylexia, or Speech issues can leave for a year or two and receive and extra 12-15K to cover the costs of The Shenk School or the Speech School. The same for kids with Autism. There are plenty of Special needs schools that are 22K to 30K were kids will get a better education with a voucher. Maybe they with only need the extra amount for a few years”
The problem is access for many of these kids. They can’t afford the transportation, and vouchers would be meaningless. I’m sure many parents would love to have the ability to get their kids there, but even if tuition is paid in full, they can’t afford the transportation, let alone the time to get there from outlying areas.
bootney farnsworth
October 1st, 2012
9:12 pm
@ Ron
while I do support the charter concept, I do so with reluctance. not of the concept itself, but how it will be twisted, manipulated, and politicized to the point it only vaguely resembles what was intended.
besides my concerns about football academies, my other big concern is what happens when charters do not prove to be the magic wand so many are praying for. talk about a bell which can’t
be unrung…
The Deal
October 1st, 2012
9:36 pm
Ron F., I hear you. I never would have imagined my family would be in the mess in DeKalb that we are. I would probably be right there with you if I didn’t live here. If there were any alternative that would take some control from the DeKalb administration and board, I would be all for it.
Ron F.
October 1st, 2012
9:42 pm
@The Deal: the governor has the authority to remove the entire board as was done in Miller county. What I don’t understand, and one thing that makes me leery of the amendment, is that while the governor will intervene in a situation in one small, rural county, he and his refuse to even discuss Dekalb, Clayton, etc. that would clearly benefit from having the boards cleaned out and restarted. The legislative delegation from Cherokee county redrew board district lines to remove those opposed to the state level agenda, and that is a successful district where the majority of parents are happy. Why? Politics. And that alone is enough to convince me I don’t want them having more control over establishing charter schools via a commission they have the authority to appoint. I’d love nothing more than to see the governor take a stand and clean house in Dekalb. He needs to, he knows it, and he won’t do it.
Ron F.
October 1st, 2012
9:45 pm
bootney: I hear ya! I just cannot in good conscience give the state legislature that authority via an amendment which can’t be undone. My support for charters is tentative for the same reason. They’re becoming a political playing card; a card which I believe the legislature knows will ultimately not be a game winner. They’re willing to lose that hand and take the charter movement down in the process in order to get vouchers approved and public schools turned into local youth detention centers.
One Teacher's Voice
October 1st, 2012
9:51 pm
David Morgan works for The American Federation for Children(AFC) as a lobbyist.
If knowledgeable of his, or his wife’s affiliations, what part of this is not true?
AFC made headlines recently when it brought together Govs. Scott Walker (R-WI) and Tom Corbett (R-PA) and former D.C. Schools Chancellor Michelle Rhee at a major school choice event in Washington, D.C. AFC is perhaps the most prominent of all the current voucher groups, having been founded in January 2010 by Betsy DeVos. Working together with its PAC of the same name and the 501c(3) organization also lead by DeVos, the Alliance for School Choice, it has served as a launching pad for school choice legislation across the country. AFC made its mark in Wisconsin by pouring thousands of dollars into the state legislative races, donating $40,000 in the service of successfully electing voucher advocate Rep. Kathy Bernier (R) and donating similar amounts to elect Reps. Andre Jacque (R), John Klenke (R), Tom Larson (R), Howard Marklein (R), Erik Severson (R), and Travis Tranel (R). DeVos front group All Children Matter also donated thousands to many of these same voucher advocates. Altogether, AFC spent $820,000 in Wisconsin during the last election, making it the 7th-largest single PAC spender during the election (behind several other mostly right-wing groups with similar agendas).
So the son, and the wife the son of Amway’s founder, DeVos, are wanting to change public school education into private school education?
The family of the people who basically normed the model for pyramid sales are wanting to change education for what purpose?
I am sure they are great Americans.
However, why are they so passionate and so willing to give up millions for a REPUBLICAN education REFORM?
They are from great American capitalists who of course don’t want to benefit from educational SPENDING.
But why is the wife of David Morgan, Alisha Thomas Morgan so willing to back the REPUBLICAN SPENDING for ideology of charter schools?
They are both great Americans, and I am probably wrong to speak against such democratic people.
However, why is this democratic couple pushing such a REPUBLICAN SPENDING?
MONEY cannot be the reason.
noooo…
Charter school people will provide ample reason as to why the MORGANS are trying to help children.
MONEY cannot be the reason why the Morgans support charter schools and vouchers
DAVID and ALISHA MORGAN, as democrats can’t possibly be supportive of such REPUBLICAN use of MANIPULATION.
Michael
October 1st, 2012
10:31 pm
“…Some school systems in Georgia have embraced the charter concept, while others have been more obstinate. Many are unfortunately worried more about who has the authority and power in education decision-making rather than what is best for our kids….” I found this to be an unconscionable logical leap for Rep. Jones. Others have been more obstinate?!??!? NO: some of the poorer counties in this state would love to have the funds to try some charter schools of their own design, but they’ve seen their funding stripped away from over the past 5 years to such an extent that — along with the shrinking of their local property tax base — they can hardly keep the doors open on the schools they have. How dare she insinuate that these districts are merely being “obstinate”!!
Ed Johnson
October 1st, 2012
11:18 pm
Don’t wait for Morgan and Jones to come here; go to them…
alisha.morgan@house.ga.gov
alisha@alishamorgan.com
jan.jones@house.ga.gov
FBT
October 1st, 2012
11:30 pm
I would love to have vouchers to fund the educations for my vastly different children. With the amount of money being spent to educate children in our state, there is no reason my children can’t have a Schenck or Woodward Academy education. When I remove my children from public schools because they are failing to educate my children appropriately and I enroll them in the most suitable schools, it’s a win for the local district who no longer has to educate my children but get to keep my tax dollars. I would at least like to be able to utilize the money I pay in school taxes for my own children.
Mary Elizabeth
October 1st, 2012
11:37 pm
yuzeyurbrane, 5:26 pm
Well expressed comments. I agree with your perceptions.
Hermione
October 2nd, 2012
1:26 am
Reading these comments, I am struck by the misconception that we are being asked to vote for or against charter schools. This is just not true. The state board of education is empowered to approve charters that the local school boards deny. Check out the list of schools that they have already approved for this school year, including Ivy Prep.
State senator on why he opposes amendment: Best charter schools are those approved by local boards, not state. | Get Schooled
October 2nd, 2012
6:33 am
[...] I posted a pro charter amendments piece by two Georgia House members. Now, here is a piece in opposition by a Senate member, state Sen. Steve Henson of DeKalb, the [...]
Eddie Hall
October 2nd, 2012
7:10 am
We ALREADY have all the rights to make the changes this amendment calls for! Vote to change your board of education, vote to change your state rep and senator, don’t give a “commision” in Atlanta the power to rob your local schools!
DeKalb Inside Out
October 2nd, 2012
9:11 am
Mary Elizabeth
Would you agree to these two statements:
1. Charter schools are public schools.
2. The State Board of Education via the State Superintendent of Schools can NO LONGER approve charters.
History behind statement 2:
HB881 was passed several years ago giving the State Cahrter Commission authority to approve charters. Last year, 2011, the Georgia Supreme Court threw out HB881.
http://www.senate.ga.gov/sro/Documents/AtIssue/atissue_nov11.pdf
Writing for the minority in the dissent, Nahmias stated, “The majority of this Court has announced the new policy and removed the issue from the political process, unless the General Assembly and the people of our State bear the delay and enormous burden required to correct the Court’s error through a constitutional amendment.” Similarly, Olens stated, “Under the Court’s order the General Assembly’s power has been transformed from one of broad power unless expressly limited, to one of limited powers that do not exist unless expressly stated in the Constitution.”
The Georgia Charter Schools, Amendment 1, addresses the 2011 Supreme Court decision giving the state the right to create special schools.
DeKalb Inside Out
October 2nd, 2012
10:40 am
Bootney,
Feminist, creationism, football academy, and fishing charter are red herrings and non issues for the following reasons:
Public Charters:
* cannot have religious affiliations
* have attendance zones
* have blind lotteries for who gets in
* close if they do not attract enough students
State senator on why he opposes amendment: Best charter schools are those … | News-ON Atlanta
October 2nd, 2012
11:09 am
[...] I posted a pro charter amendments piece by two Georgia House members. Now, here is a piece in opposition by a Senate member, state Sen. Steve Henson of DeKalb, the [...]
DeKalb Inside Out
October 2nd, 2012
11:21 am
Ron.
State funding is a bit complicated, of course.Nancy Jester does a decent job of explaining it here. Adjustments For Special Factors addresses your question.
Ultimately it comes down to enrollment at the beginning of the year and mid year.
teacher&mom
October 2nd, 2012
12:05 pm
It seems neither Morgan or Jones is willing to make an appearance on the blog. Are they unwilling to publicly debate the issue?
If my memory is correct, similar tactics were used in the last legislative session. Jones made sure public discussions on the amendment were kept to a minimum.
Why? Is it because she can’t debate beyond the “talking points”? Is it because she does not want to publicly admit this amendment will divert more money to charters?
From Dr. Barge:
“The General Assembly plans to come up with more than $430 million in new state funds for state charter schools over the next five years – the cumulative cost assuming a new commission creates only seven new charter schools per year, the average approval rate of the previous commission.”
“In FY 2018 alone, it would cost $109 million per year in new state funds for the 50 state charter schools that would then exist (including the 15 already receiving extra state funds).”
“This includes the additional $33 million per year in additional state funds for the 15 state chartered special schools for this year alone (including the 13 schools created to serve former Commission school students).”
“These extra funds average $7,400 per pupil – which is higher than the total funding of 60 GA school districts.”
“Almost 60% of the commission charter schools had contracts with EMOs (for-profit education management organizations) vs. only 12% for all other start-up charter schools in GA, which means a portion of the $86 million in state funds these schools receive will go to out-of-state companies.”
“Only one of the 13 schools serving former Commission school students meets the definition of a high-quality charter school – and that school is now a locally-approved charter school. Some Commission schools were academically of high quality, but in 2010-2011 all those that failed to may AYP were EMO schools.”
Does this amendment create more choice or does this amendment create more money for EMO?
Look at the list of donors for this amendment. Follow the money.
Ron F.
October 2nd, 2012
5:54 pm
@Dekalb: Thanks for the link. Since state commission approved charters will be funded independently of QBE formulas, I’m wondering if they’ll follow the same guidelines. I don’t know that has been stated in any of the enabling legislation for the commission amendment.
The double-edged sword is this phrase: “Enrollment Decline. The QBE’s mid-year adjustment does not penalize local districts whose student enrollment was over-estimated in the initial calculations.”
It seems like that phrase could be used to both overestimate initial numbers and then allow school districts to retain funds for students it loses. The midyear count might possibly get them more money, but they won’t lose any if their enrollment drops. That would seem to encourage any school to have high attrition rates between January and the end of April when state tests are taken. Interesting point regardless of type of school.
The LaFayette Underground » Daily Update: October 3, 2012 » News Beneath the News in LaFayette, Georgia
October 3rd, 2012
10:57 am
[...] Two influential House members urge support of charter amendment “?Some school systems are going to tell you that public charter schools take money away from [...]
One Teacher's Voice
October 3rd, 2012
11:02 pm
@FBT
How much do you pay in state taxes a year?
What percentage of that goes to public schools?
How much do Georgia Public Schools spend per student?
If you were given a voucher for the public cost to educate your student, would it cover the cost of the private schools to which you refer?
Could you make up the difference?
Here are the tuition costs of the private schools you mention.
WOODWARD YEARLY TUITION COST
Kindergarten $14,600.00
1 – 6 $18,700.00
7 – 12 $21,950.00
The Schenck School
School Tuition ~ Kindergarten & Grades 1-6 $27,070
Gordon Solie
October 5th, 2012
1:18 pm
” Charter schools are public schools that are free from many of the onerous mandates that schools are under these days.”
Here’s a novel approach….use your power as a legislator and remove the “onerous mandates” from ALL public schools. If these mandates are so bad, why are they there in the first place?
DeKalb Inside Out
October 5th, 2012
1:49 pm
Gordon, From where are you pulling that quote?