Public Charters the People's Choice

The November 6th election will give Georgia voters yet another opportunity to weigh in on the issue of school choice, charter schools, and how they may be established and funded.

Parents in the community in which I live, South Cobb, have had the unfortunate recent experience of seeing not less than three charter school ventures denied by the local school board. One was denied due to a shaky management history, one due to the fact that those promoting it had not adequately engaged the community, members of the board, nor had a skilled project team and the third failed because its financial development plan was deemed insufficient.

The end result leaves the children in the lowest performing and under-funded post in the Cobb district without an alternative for a quality education for their children. We know there have been a few bright spots in some of the schools in the area, but with a habitual high dropout rate, and low graduation rate one must still be guided by these most salient facts as measures of success.

We have seen how political power has been at work on matters of immigration, health care, and transportation. I believe if this cleverly worded amendment passes, politics will rule the day and concern for equitable quality education will continue to be a dream deferred. I don’t see politicians from Meriwether or Telfair County or other similarly disconnected appointees having the concern we need for the kids at South Cobb, Floyd Middle or Riverside Primary.

I will remain in favor of school choice for parents and if a locally managed and well financed charter is an option, it should be taken by individual families making a decision for the children in their home and our local school board members should be turned out if they don’t support it. The opportunity to vote for a re-right of the Georgia constitution on November 6th should be turned back because it is not in the best interest of our children and will allow non-affiliated appointees to make decisions and allocate public funds according to political agendas.