Charter School Amendment-THE TRUTH ABOUT Georgia HR 1162

THE TRUTH ABOUT CHARTER SCHOOL AMENDMENT GEORGIA HR 1162

UNDERSTAND THE ISSUE AND MAKE AN INFORMATIVE CHOICE-

ELECTION DAY:  Tuesday, November 6, 2012

AMENDMENT: Charter School Amendment HR 1162

SUMMATION:

On November 6, 2012 voters MUST MAKE A CHOICE as it relates to the proposed HR 1162- Georgia Charter Schools Amendment. 

HR 1162-GEORGIA CHARTER SCHOOLS AMENDMENT SUMMARY

HR 1162 IS A RESOLUTION proposing an amendment to the Constitution of Georgia so as to clarify the authority of the state to establish state-wide education policy; to restate the authority of the General Assembly to create special schools; to delineate types of schools that the General Assembly may authorize and clarify funding authority; to provide for the submission of this amendment for ratification or rejection; and for other purposes.

HOW WILL IT READ

Georgia Charter Schools Amendment HR-1162- select ( ) YES or ( ) NO

Shall the Constitution of Georgia be amended to allow state or local approval of public charter schools upon the request of local communities?"

All persons desiring to vote in favor of ratifying the proposed amendment shall vote "Yes."

All persons desiring to vote against ratifying the proposed amendment shall vote "No."

If such amendment shall be ratified as provided in said Paragraph of the Constitution, it shall become a part of the Constitution of this state.

WHAT DOES IT REALLY MEAN- EXPLAIN IT TO ME IN LAYMAN TERMS????

On Tuesday, November 6, 2012, Georgia voters will be asked to decide whether to approve a constitutional amendment to create a STATE-level commission that can authorize charter schools across the State of Georgia.

 The ballot measure would re-establish a statewide commission that would have the power to approve charters even over the objections of local school districts. This amendment would also give the state constitution the power to make decisions over local school districts.

In approving this amendment, the people are allowing the State of Georgia to drain funds from traditional public schools systems, who are already suffering due to state budget cuts. The creation of this commission not only usurps local control of education, but will allow public money to be used towards for-profit charter facilities. Additionally, this constitutional amendment would direct current tax payers dollars benefit and increase profits of out-of state for profit charter school organizations.

 In allowing the creation of such an entity, we are authorizing the State of Georgia to divert $430 million from the schools to create a duplicate bureaucracy for charter school approval. Such a commission was disbanded and deemed unconstitutional by the Georgia Supreme Court in 2008

THE STATE SUPERINTENDENT HAS TAKEN A STAND AGAINST HIS OWN PARTY TO OPPOSE THE CREATION OF THIS AMENDMENT.

 Georgia Schools Superintendent John Barge has taken a stand in opposition to Governor Deal, the Georgia House, and Senate as it relates to supporting this amendment.  See full statement as posted on the ajc get schooled blog. Get Schooled

Barge: Can’t support diverting $430 million from schools to create duplicate bureaucracy for charter school approval

12:25 pm August 14, 2012, by Maureen Downey

( http://blogs.ajc.com/get-schooled-blog/?s=barge+can%27t+support&x=0&y=0)

 By John Barge

"I fully support the continued creation of high quality charter schools for Georgia’s students, but after careful consideration of what is best for all of Georgia’s students, I have decided to take a position in opposition to the constitutional amendment that will be on the Nov. 6 ballot.

Until all of our public school students are in school for a full 180-day school year, until essential services like student transportation and student support can return to effective levels, and until teachers regain jobs with full pay for a full school year, we should not redirect one more dollar away from Georgia’s local school districts – much less an additional $430 million in state funds, which is what it would cost to add seven new state charter schools per year over the next five years (the annual average of the Charter Commission that would be revived if the amendment passes).

I cannot support the creation of a new and costly state bureaucracy that takes away local control of schools and unnecessarily duplicates the good work already being done by local districts, the Georgia Department of Education, and the state Board of Education. What’s more, this constitutional amendment would direct taxpayer dollars into the pockets of out-of-state, for-profit charter school companies whose schools perform no better than traditional public schools and locally approved charter schools (and worse, in some cases).

I trust our local school districts will continue to approve only high quality charter schools for Georgia’s students, and I am committed to working with all of our school districts to ensure that high quality applicants are not denied locally – including mediating between high quality charter school applicants and any local districts that are reluctant to approve them, as provided by existing Georgia law.”

Longtime Gwinnett schools Superintendent J. Alvin Wilbanks admits that states that charter schools are not the issue.  Superentendent Wilbanks states :

“This is about expanding state government,” he said. “It is about bypassing the elected boards of education and leaving it in the hands of seven bureaucrats [with a state charter school commission] who are going to approve and decide on the funding without any accountability to the taxpayers.” (source ajc get schooled blog)

http://blogs.ajc.com/get-schooled-blog/2012/08/30/another-skirmish-in-charter-schools-war-of-words-gwinnett-charter-fires-back-at-wilbanks/

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THE TRUTH ABOUT Georgia HR 1162

THE PROPOSED HR 1162 WILL ALLOW THE STATE OF GEORGIA TO SPEND YOUR TAX DOLLARS UNDER THE GUISE OF PROVIDING FAIR AND EQUAL EDUCATION FOR EVERY CHILD THROUGH STATE CHARTER SCHOOLS (WHEN IN FACT IT WILL NOT)

On November 6, 2012 voters MUST MAKE A CHOICE as it relates to the proposed HR 1162- Georgia Charter Schools Amendment.

THIS AMENDMENT IS NOT ABOUT SCHOOL CHOICE IT'S ABOUT STATE CONTROL!

VOTERS DON’T BELIEVE THE HYPE!

VOTE NO FOR HR 1162 ON NOVEMBER 6, 2012