Georgia Lawmakers OK Charter School Amendment

A legislative committee has approved a proposed constitutional amendment to address a Georgia Supreme Court ruling that disbanded the state's charter school commission last year.

The legislation passed out of the House Education Committee on Thursday. It now goes to the Rules Committee for possible placement on the full House calendar.

"It is a significant first step toward reestablishing the state's ability to enact meaningful education reform," said Majority Whip Edward Linsey (R-Atlanta).

The measure would allow the state to create charter schools and move money from public school districts into charter schools.

The state's highest court ruled in May that the Georgia Charter Schools Commission, created by the legislature in 2008, was unconstitutional because it approved and gave local tax dollars to charter schools over the objection of local school boards. The measure must be passed by a two-thirds majority in the House and Senate before it goes to voters.

Opponents argue that the state should not be allowed to create competiting schools within local systems, without local control.

"The state had underfunded public education year after year after year. Now, we're telling local govements we're going to continue to underfund schools and we're also going to take money away from your public schools and send them to charters schools that you, yourself, have voted against," said Rep. Rashad Taylor (D-Atlanta).

Monday night, supporters of the Ivy Prep Academy gathered to drum up support for a constitutional amendment allowing the state to get back into the charter school business.

Thursday afteoon, state house members took up the measure during an education committee meeting. If the legislation eventually gets final approval, the Georgia Board of Education would once again be allowed to oversee and fund charter schools, like Ivy Prep.

"There are many elected officials working in our behalf, on behalf of your scholars and our schools and other great charter schools to ensure that you still have the right to choose the environment that is the best fit for your child," said Nina Gilbert, Ivy Prep Academy founder during a meeting held Monday.

Last year's Georgia Supreme Court decision came after a number of districts, including Gwinnett County, sued, saying the state was illegally trampling over local decision makers.

Charter school supporters hope to get a boost Thursday, February 2, from state lawmakers. A committee is scheduled to discuss a bill that would make it easier to set up charter schools.

"We do not believe the commission has the constitutional authority to direct local dollars to the operation of commission approved charter schools," said Gwinnett County Schools Superintendent J. Alvin Wilbanks in September 2009.

The Georgia Supreme Court ruling put more than a dozen charter schools at risk by cutting off their access to public education dollars.

"The only way our children win is to have options, options, options," charter school advocate Dr. Howard Fuller during a rally in 2011.

Charter school supporters have responded by rallying at the state capitol steps. They say charter schools give parents another choice for educating their children.

"This is about money. This is about power. This is about control. We are the children," said Fuller.

A two-thirds majority in the Georgia House and Senate will be needed before the measure can go to voters.