Georgia Charter Schools Amendment Appears to Pass

The constitutional amendment grants the state authority to approve charter schools, whether local school boards want them or not.

Georgia voters gave the state more authority over charter schools on Tuesday, passing a constitutional amendment empowering a commission to overrule local school districts that reject charter school petitions. With all counties fully reporting, the hotly contested amendment had support of 58.5 percent of voters. See selected county results below. It was an emotionally charged issue that in some ways united Georgians across political and demographic lines. A Peach Pundit poll from late October had found "no significant difference [in support] based on whether a voter is a Republican or a Democrat, a male or a female, or based on race." Camille Cottrell, an Emory University instructor and card-carrying Democrat, is an example of the …

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Letter to the Editor: NAACP opposes charter schools, encourages “No” vote

The NAACP maintains that a State Commission for Charter Schools would dilute voter power

An Open Letter to the Atlanta Community: The Atlanta Branch of the NAACP, in concert with our National policy adopted by the National Convention and ratified by the Board of Directors, continues to stand firm and adamant in our support of the improvement of public schools. This coming November 6, Election Day, there will be a referendum, Amendment 1, on the ballot statewide that speaks to charter schools and the way in which individual charters are granted.  Voters will be asked to consider a proposed amendment to the state constitution that would establish a commission to consider charter applications.  Passage of the amendment would also clarify the state’s power to authorize and fund charter schools.  The Atlanta Branch of the NAACP …

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Georgia Charter Schools Amendment: What Will My Vote Mean?

Tuesday's ballot includes a Georgia constitutional amendment to re-establish a state commission to approve charter schools. Your job is to decide if that's a good idea.

There are not a lot of statewide issues on the ballot Nov. 6, but one has the potential to affect school districts, parents and children throughout Georgia. It's Amendment 1, and the ballot will say it "Provides for improving student achievement and parental involvement through more public charter school options." The question voters will answer yes or no to is, "Shall the Constitution of Georgia be amended to allow state or local approval of public charter schools upon the request of local communities?" So what does a yes vote mean? If the amendment passes, the state will create a commission that can approve charter schools in local communities, even if local school boards oppose them. Supporters of the amendment believe this is necessary…

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Moms for School Choice and Heritage Preparatory Charter School Hold "Charter Schools WORK!" rally Oct. 27

Moms for School Choice, in collaboration with Heritage Preparatory Charter School and Georgia’s Voice for Educational Choice, is organizing a grassroots, bi-partisan charter school rally on Oct. 27. Sen. Chip Rogers and Rep. Alisha Morgan to speak at the

SNAPPS Hosts Meeting on Charter Schools Amendment Ballot Question, October 22nd

Southwest and Northwest Parents and Partners for Schools (SNAPPS) will host a meeting on Monday to discuss the Charter Schools Amendment question that is on November's Ballot.

Southwest and Northwest Parents and Partners for Schools (SNAPPS) invites everyone in SW Atlanta to a panel discussion with elected officials Senator Vincent Fort and House Representative Alisha Morgan and current APS parents on the Constitutional Amendment Ballot Question.  The panel will be moderated by Donna Lowery of 11Alive News. MONDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2012, 6PM, 98 ANDERSON AVE., NW ATLANTA, GA 30314. Additionally, Board Chair Reuben McDaniel, Vice-Chair Byron Amos and At-Large member Courtney English will discuss APS’ upcoming decision to become IE2, Status Quo or Charter System, in an effort to bridge the gap between traditional public schools and public Charter Schools. “The time is now for APS to decide what type of a system we will…

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