Will GOP live up to its charter-school promises?
Georgia Republicans are a little giddy — and understandably so — about how easily the controversial charter-school amendment to the state constitution passed last month. Their 17-point margin of victory suggests to them that they now have an education mandate that extends well beyond state-created publicly funded charter schools.
For example, the vote is already being cited as a reason to double an existing program that today diverts as much as $50 million in state tax money into private schools. The transfer occurs through a convoluted process that gives the state no ability to regulate those schools or to hold them accountable in any way. “There is a real taste for anything that promotes school choice in Georgia,” state Rep. Earl Ehrhart, R-Powder Springs, told the AJC. “Obviously voters said that loud and clear. I think the timing is right.”
Republicans are also pleased and a bit startled by the degree of support that charter schools found among black voters in Georgia. As Pulitzer-winning author and charter-school advocate Doug Blackmon points out on his website, counties with large black populations were more likely to support the charter amendment than the rest of Georgia, even though most black political and community leaders publicly opposed the measure.
“That includes DeKalb (54 percent African-American), where the amendment passed with 64 percent of the vote; and Fulton (43 percent African-American), where it was approved by 66 percent,” Blackmon notes, adding that in Clayton County, 71 percent of voters approved the measure.
For some of the state’s more far-sighted Republicans, numbers like that represent a long-sought opportunity. They now have reason to hope that charter schools and the larger issue of school choice will finally allow them to attract black voters to their party. And for a variety of reasons, I hope they prove to be right.
The increasingly race-defined political system in this state — with conservative white people huddling in the Republican Party and everyone else collecting in the Democratic Party — is not good for the GOP and not good for Georgia. Any honest effort to break that pattern has to be applauded.
However, for Georgia Republicans, the charter vote presents more than a political opportunity; it represents an obligation. They told black parents in Georgia that school choice will improve education for their children; they now have an obligation to try to make good on that promise. And frankly, the track record so far isn’t promising. For example, the private-school “scholarship” program championed by Ehrhart and others may march behind the “choice” banner, but it is essentially a tool by which politically influential middle-class and upper-class Georgians tap into taxpayer money to support their own kids’ private-school education.
The test will be interesting to watch. Will the out-of-state for-profit companies that poured hundreds of thousands of dollars into the pro-charter political campaign now open schools in more challenging urban communities, or will they be allowed to cherry-pick the easier to serve, more profitable communities? Will state officials aggressively intervene to shutter those charter schools that do not live up to the promises that have been made?
Or, like the “scholarship” program, will this become another means by which to separate “our children” from “their children”, and by doing so justify the distrust between black Georgians and the GOP?
– Jay Bookman
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344 comments Add your comment
TaxPayer
November 30th, 2012
12:40 pm
I support a constitutional amendment requiring all cons to attend for-profits schools on their on dime.
Brosephus™
November 30th, 2012
12:41 pm
NoCom @ 12:34
Brosephus™
November 30th, 2012
12:43 pm
And that’s just the male ones LOL
So, very wrong…. Whenever we get a chance to meet, I’m not splitting my Christmas Ale with you. I’m only giving you 2 bottles out of 6 instead of 3.
Hey, Jay...
November 30th, 2012
12:44 pm
…go read Kyle Wingfield’s column for today…
Common Sense isn't very Common
November 30th, 2012
12:44 pm
Bro
Lunch time is over so it will have to wait a while before I tell you how WRONG that is.
You guys do know, don't you......
November 30th, 2012
12:45 pm
…that Charter Schools are PUBLIC schools, too?
Erwin's cat
November 30th, 2012
12:47 pm
Fred – YOU are the one who wants to use MY tax money to fund YOUR kid’s private school.
ummm….charters are public
Nero
November 30th, 2012
12:47 pm
Timmy Geithner got laughed out of the “negotiations”. BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! The other shoe is about to drop leeches. The Boomers are feeling anxious. Grab your ankles and get ready. It’s coming.
Welcome to the Occupation
November 30th, 2012
12:49 pm
Just catching up here.
Earlier Uncle Samantha posted some inane crap about the HOSTESS situation.
Uncle Samantha, you’re showing your ignorance in saying the situation is exclusively the fault of the unions.
Are you not aware that the executive passed themselves huge salary increases and lavish bonuses right before the company went into bankruptcy a second time?
It was capitalist / corporate looting and predation that led to the demise of that company. Period.
Hiltzik at LA Times has the definitive run-down.
http://articles.latimes.com/2012/nov/25/business/la-fi-hiltzik-20121125
Williebkind
November 30th, 2012
12:51 pm
“Bible learnin’ for EVERYbuddy!!!”
Yepper I knew this would come out right after the race card! How will the homosexuals deal with private schools unless you liberals make a private schools for the homosexuals.
Erwin's cat
November 30th, 2012
12:52 pm
It was capitalist / corporate looting and predation that led to the demise of that company. Period
That and producing a product that fewer and fewer people wanted
Union
November 30th, 2012
12:54 pm
@ fred.. proof? here is a novel concept.. read the ajc.. all of the aps issues have been outlined extensively.
google away for your facts.. you seem to be pretty adept..
Williebkind
November 30th, 2012
12:54 pm
“I support a constitutional amendment requiring all cons to attend for-profits schools on their on dime.”
I support a constitutional amendment requiring all progressive liberals to attend a free from indoctination schools on their own dime.
Kamchak ~ Thug from the Steppes
November 30th, 2012
12:59 pm
.. proof? here is a novel concept.. read the ajc..
Shorter Union: I got nuthin’.
Fred ™
November 30th, 2012
1:00 pm
Common Sense isn’t very Common
November 30th, 2012
12:39 pm
Brosephus™
Not to mention that my short term memory bank crashes every time I see a good looking Delta flight attendant wearing their winter uniform. There’s something about those skirts and knee high boots…..
—————————————————
And that’s just the male ones LOL
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Ouch, are you bleeding Bro? He landed a solid right to the tip of your nose
http://www.instantrimshot.com
alex
November 30th, 2012
1:02 pm
Well this Charter school issues has pretty much run it’s course: If I may sum :liberals:anything supported by repubs is horrible, corrupt,and racially motivated…Conservatives:anything supported by Dems is horrible,corrupt and racially motivated…
Nobody wants Twinkies…except me…munch,munch
When all else fails see the world in exclusively white/black terms, it’s easy and requires no intelligence.
Next…….
Fred ™
November 30th, 2012
1:02 pm
Erwin’s cat
November 30th, 2012
12:47 pm
Fred – YOU are the one who wants to use MY tax money to fund YOUR kid’s private school.
ummm….charters are public
++++++++++++++++++++
Yeah they are “public.” this new secret commision though gets to decide who “attends.”
Mince words all you want, but don’t piss on MY head and tell me it’s rain. I’m not an idiot FOXBOT.
Brosephus™
November 30th, 2012
1:02 pm
Fred
That’s why I’m withholding beer from him…. Revenge is best served cold in 12oz bottles.
—————————
Weed Sheetz!!!!!
Nero
November 30th, 2012
1:04 pm
I support a constitutional amendment that all Boomer leeches be taxed a percentage of their retirement benefits to supplement these new charter school budgets, as well as no more school property tax exemptions for the generational thieves.
Fred ™
November 30th, 2012
1:05 pm
Union
November 30th, 2012
12:54 pm
@ fred.. proof? here is a novel concept.. read the ajc.. all of the aps issues have been outlined extensively.
google away for your facts.. you seem to be pretty adept..
+++++++++++++++
I do google MY facts sport. It’s your rantings I need proof on and I’m not doing YOUR homework. i know you aren’t used to providing or receiving proof as you seem to be a talk radio/FOXBOT, but the thinking world IS. That’s why you FOXBOTS lost the election.
Nero
November 30th, 2012
1:06 pm
You still upset sport?
Erwin's cat
November 30th, 2012
1:07 pm
Fred – I’m not an idiot FOXBOT.
I never called you a FOXBOT
0311/8541/5811/1811/1801
November 30th, 2012
1:07 pm
I support a Constitutional Amendment that MARTA trains go to all charter schools.
Nero
November 30th, 2012
1:08 pm
0.o – We have multiple sports now! I’m flabbergasted!!
williebkind
November 30th, 2012
1:10 pm
“Are you not aware that the executive passed themselves huge salary increases and lavish bonuses right before the company went into bankruptcy a second time?”
How well did that work out for them today? A promotion for the next year that doesnt come. A bonus is the only thing they may realize if the courts allow it. So are we trying to change the content or meaning as liberals typically do? If a bonus IS really a bonus……
alex
November 30th, 2012
1:10 pm
NOW it’s gotten REALLY childish, please Jay, for the love of GOD!!!…..
Nunna Yobinnes
November 30th, 2012
1:10 pm
Not that this is particularly relevant to the discussion topic, but I just prepared a spreadsheet comparing the 1999 tax rates versus the 2011 tax rates (without LTCG considerations). This should approximately reflect the impact of the “tax cliff”. (I used a MFJ couple with taxable income of 10k, 20k, 30k, 45k, 60k,75k ,90k, 100k, 120k, 150k, 180k, 210k, 240k, 270k, 300k – 1 Mil in 100k increments, 1.25 mil – 5 mil in 250k increments.)
Surprisingly, folks with taxable income of around $75,000 will experience the largest % increase (5.87%), followed by $210k (5.75%), $240k (5.46%) and $400k (5.42%). I think it’s ironic that the ones who will suffer the most as a percentage of tax divided by taxable income (ranks 1 – 3) are the “middle class”. The % increaase for someone with taxable income of $5 mil is only 4.67%. By all means, let’s stick it to the middle class.
Nero
November 30th, 2012
1:10 pm
The MARTA idea is genius!!!
SickofProgs
November 30th, 2012
1:12 pm
Gotta try something different morons. Flushing taxpayer money at these results is insanty.
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Where_does_Georgia_rank_in_public_education_in_the_US
But you idiot libs think that government control and spending solves all problems.
Jim Wynn
November 30th, 2012
1:15 pm
How does this become about race? Charter schools are about improving education in Georgia. That is what the people voted for. If the AJC wants to wallow in racism, I guess it has that right. That does not mean anything except that the rag is racist.
Nunna Yobinnes
November 30th, 2012
1:15 pm
See you cats at the bottom of the cliff.
Nero
November 30th, 2012
1:20 pm
Going over the cliff won’t be so bad despite how much the Chicken Little leeches cry. The sky is not falling.
williebkind
November 30th, 2012
1:21 pm
Where is my free stuff?
Nunna Yobinnes
November 30th, 2012
1:22 pm
Nero – I don’t have an extra $4,400 that I can spare. If you do, great.
Nero
November 30th, 2012
1:30 pm
Sorry Nunna. Look at it as a down payment for the future. We all have to sacrifice. You’ll be used to higher taxes after the cliff anyway. I wish you luck.
Nero
November 30th, 2012
1:34 pm
Sorry Willie. The fat greedy Boomer leeches tend to get overprotective at the trough. Good luck trying to squeeze in. They’ll just end up telling you that you should pay your fair share.
Welcome to the Occupation
November 30th, 2012
1:41 pm
Erwin’s cat: “That and producing a product that fewer and fewer people wanted”
No, I think that’s been vastly overstated, as evidenced by the hundred plus or so interested buyers of all the various Hostess brands that have since lined up.
Nero
November 30th, 2012
1:46 pm
Hostess brands suck. They taste like processed chemicals and preservatives. Little Debbies beats them hands down.
Nunna Yobinnes
November 30th, 2012
1:59 pm
Enter your comments here
hamiltonAZ
November 30th, 2012
2:06 pm
@Konop: given my strong support for the public education system, I probably fall within what you describe as “the cartel” but I like many of the innovative ideas you outlined earlier – things like cross coordination between primary, secondary and post secondary schools. I agree that teach to the test is not productive. But teach to the test is not traditional school. It’s just one of the many ‘new’ ideas trotted out without first determining if it actually helps educate. My opinion of the charter is the same, not because charter is inherently bad, but because with no structure to spend those resources in a targeted way to improve failing schools, it’s a waste of money. Oh, not for the students fortunate enough to be in a good one.
I expect to see failing. Charters soon.
But back to your ideas. The notion of conjoined education (K through Bachelor’s degree, if you will) with an emphasis on individualized assessment by the best teachers. Keep thinking and While you are at it, factor in the idea that resources appropriately targeted to failing schools and state power to intervene when minimum metrics are not met. There’s a better way, but while giving money to for profit corporations to educate children may help some, it’s not the solution to failing schools.
Jethro Bodine
November 30th, 2012
3:44 pm
Gotta love our stinkin landfill Gov. Nathan “Bad Deal”. We in Hall County get a foul smelling landfill thanks to the Gov. and Charter schools which will do nothing to improve our education system, other than putting more money into the “Bad Deals’s” pockets!. Hurray for Georgia, first in Bank Failures; first in home foreclosure’s and last in education— just love living in a red state!
Balls the size of cue balls
November 30th, 2012
4:12 pm
I really like this statement from Brosephus. I’m going to keep it on my desktop and use it whenever I get the chance (which will be as often as I ever post here–which admittedly isn’t much at all)
The GOP will end up with egg on their faces. These things won’t do a damn thing to help education in Georgia, much less education in the Black Community. I want to see how they’re gonna spin things to blame Democrats for the epic failure they’re setting themselves up for.
I reduced it to a format that is applicable to anyone who wants to use it.
The __________________ will end up with egg on their faces. These things won’t do a damn thing to help ____________________________________, much less _________________________ in the Black Community. I want to see how they’re gonna spin things to blame __________________________ for the epic failure they’re setting themselves up for.
Go ahead everyone. Let’s all give it a try, and see what we can argue.
test
December 2nd, 2012
9:55 am
testWill GOP live up to its charter-school promises?
December 3rd, 2012
1:04 pm
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