The Case for Charter School Choice
Why voters statewide should vote for House Resolution 1162 — a constitutional amendment to allow a state-commissioned board the ability to approve charter schools when local boards refuse.
Please Save APS Charter Schools!
A Cuthbert, Ga. mom and teacher is urging voters to support Georgia HR1162, which would amend to the Georgia Constitution to allow the a state-commissioned board to approve charter schools whr local school boards refuse.
CP Goldberg
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Dear Editor:
I am writing as both a parent of students who attend a charter school and a teacher who works at one. The school I speak of is Pataula Charter Academy (PCA) located in Edison, Georgia. This is one of the controversial schools that was created by approval of a state commissioned board rather than the local school boards. Now we are in danger of having our doors closed unless an amendment to the constitution is approved in the November election stating that it is legal for a state commissioned board to approve charter schools when local boards refuse.
I am urging everyone reading this to please vote yes to this amendment. PCA serves students in five counties. All five of the local school boards of the counties that we serve denied our application for approval when we asked to form a charter school, thus forcing us to go to the state commissioned board.
Prior to the creation of PCA, parents in our area had very few choices for their children’s education. One option was to send their children to sub-par public schools which were consistently on the needs improvement list due to the fact that they were not making adequate yearly progress as determined by the state. The other option was to send them to a private school which might not even be an option due to financial limitations or race.
PCA is a public school open to children of all races and economic status in five counties in our area. Since it is public, of course it is free. All of the parents who choose to send their children to PCA care about education and are actively involved in their children’s school life.
Perhaps the best thing about our school is that ALL children are made to feel loved, accepted, and proud. Many students at PCA have attended three or four schools prior to ending up here. They have not been successful anywhere else, and have previously hated school. Now, they love it! They came to our school very behind academically and with very low self-esteem. However, through nurturing, patience, and the fostering of a school culture based on tolerance, these students are thriving. That is what touches my heart the most about PCA.
Students come here from all walks of life. Children who have been bullied in their other schools now feel safe. Kids who have been the bullies in their others school have learned to be civil. This is due to the fact that our school focuses on school culture as much as academics. As a result, all students feel accepted. Once you have a good culture, learning can take place. Perhaps this is why our test scores were so high last spring!
If the amendment to the constitution does not pass, then all of these children will no longer have this school as an option.
Please hear me. This is not about money or anything else the opposition may want you to believe. This amendment is simply about these precious children. Please come visit our school if you would like. I have been teaching for twenty years in four states, and I have never had the pleasure of working in an environment like this.
When you vote on Nov. 6, please vote with your heart. Vote yes for amendment one. You will be blessing our children!
Kathy Bantz,
Cuthbert, Georgia
Jenya Cassidy
2:14 am on Monday, October 15, 2012
Why can't all this energy go into improving the local public school? Why not make those children 'feel loved?' This charter school may be good it may not but overall charter schools are being used to hurt public education - we need a positive learning environment for all children and charter schools only have to supply it to the select few they serve.
Sandra Gay
10:19 pm on Monday, October 15, 2012
This community has been trying to do that for the last 20 years and it has not worked. We needed a new option for our kids. My parents could not change the local schools and I found that I could not change it either, so we opted for the Charter program and it works!
Chris Murphy
9:02 am on Monday, October 15, 2012
I can't speak to Edison, but here in Atlanta- and from what I hear, many other districts- the school system is not easy to "work with" (nor, work for). They might- might- welcome some volunteer work, but suggestions, complaints or requests for information are met with blank stares or silence.
The people that aspire to be teachers seem to be the same- somewhat altruistic individuals who are passionate about educating others. But school boards and administrations often exhibit other aspirations, individually and collectively. It does not help the overall situation that the state continues a decade-long trend of cutting money for schools. It is my feeling that the current amendment makes that situation worse, however, as I see that proposal as a back-door way for private schools to get state funding. Regardless, the state doesn't need (another) unelected group to decide funding issues, imo. Our elected 'leaders' have been bad enough.
Marcia Killingsworth
9:31 am on Monday, October 15, 2012
Jenya,
I just moved back to Edison, where Pataula is located, after 30+ years in Atlanta, the last five in Ormewood Park.Through being involved with and knowing the leadership, faculty and students of ANCS and Drew, I became a passionate charter school proponent. I am also a passionate public education proponent. There's something that people in the city don't grasp: there is NO public school choice in rural areas. The school systems are consolidated by county, and to chose to attend a different school - all of which are traditional public schools - would make very little difference. Of course, people in rural areas can send your child to a private school, but who has the money for that? This amendment would be a godsend to these kinds of communities.
As for improving our public schools, the community here has been trying to do that since before I graduated in 1973. It doesn't help when Gwinnett County is given $150K of Calhoun County's budget... that just happened under some state "equalization" plan. Errr, what? And in my experience, convincing public officials, even those who are supposedly accountable directly to you as a voter, of a position contrary to their own stand is futile. Look at Atlanta's Board of Education: it wasn't until the parents revolted over the cheating scandal and called for their heads that the Atlanta school board even gave the voters/parents the time of day.
Continued...
Marcia Killingsworth
9:41 am on Monday, October 15, 2012
My reply to Jenya, continued...
I'm an outspoken voter, but until there's a revolution of many voices, or an opponent who stands a chance, public officials won't listen. The Atlanta Board of Education didn't start paying attention until the voter uprising... and I'm still not sure I'd call them "responsive."
Many elected officials - especially school boards - are not responsive. Period.
Pataula - which pulls its student body from five different rural Southwest Georgia counties - is an incredibly innovative school, in its formation and its teaching, and is very successful.
But if its survival depends on running candidates who understand the value of charter schools in those five different counties, and having them WIN, well, that's a monumental challenge. And I want to do whatever is necessary to ensure Pataula's survival. I know that's voting locally, not globally, but schools like Pataula need to be able to be created, nurtured and encouraged. Without the passage of this amendment, as Ms. Bantz point out, its doors will close.
This is coming from a convert to this amendment. I was one of the opposition until this weekend. Then I learned more about the hoops - no, obstacle courses - parents and educators with innovative ideas have to endure to get a charter school approved. I was very concerned about the politically appointed board, accountable only to the politician who appointed them, having a say over our local kids...
continued...
Marcia Killingsworth
10:00 am on Monday, October 15, 2012
My reply to Jenya, part 3...
...rather than a local school board who is directly accountable to Calhoun County voters. But while the school board here may be accountable to local voters/ parents, they are not responsive to voters/parents. And we are not an anomaly.
(I could also explain how difficult - if not impossible - it is to unseat an incumbent in any position when there is no media outlet covering local news, politics, issues and elections, and will, if Patch is interested. But it's too complicated for this thread.)
Still that statewide, politically appointed board worried me until a friend observed that its existence will force the local school boards to have a solid, valid reasons to deny a charter, not just the smoke-and-mirrors they get away with now. With a board in place just to hear charter schools appeals, I'm willing to bet that local school boards are more responsive to parents and voters and education experts, and that the new state board wouldn't hear more than two or three appeals a year.
The truth is many school systems are damaged and are being run by people who are not responsive to fresh ideas, and are overseen by boards who just want to keep the status quo. The "can't we all just get along?" syndrome: let's not stir things up; leave us alone.
We need an appeals process that will ensure that someone in authority considers the future of our kids. This to-the-bone left-winger thinks in this election season, this amendment is that insurance.
Frank
10:07 pm on Monday, October 15, 2012
Dear Ms. Brantz:
So very glad you brought up the Pataula Charter Academy (PCA) located in Edison, GA as an example.
You've allowed us to introduce a very important aspect of Charter Schools and their contribution to segregation.
According to the Georgia Department of Education website, Pataula Charter Academy's enrollment of white students is 75%, yet the white demographic in Edison is approximately 32%.
Transportation, or lack thereof, largely determines a student's ability to attend, or not attend a charter school. If you can afford to transport your child to the school, there is an increased likelihood you might choose the charter school option. For many, transportation is unaffordable. It shows more clearly in the following example.
PCA is located in Calhoun County, GA.
92% of Calhoun County students are Eligible for Free/Reduced Meals.
Yet, at Pataula Charter Academy just 54% are Eligible for Free/Reduced Meals.
Hmmm.... Guess which group considers transportation more affordable!
Coincidence???? Doubtful !
There are numerous similar examples throughout the state. Thank you for offering a charter school example that illustrates how charter schools can emulate private schools at public cost.
Frank
10:07 pm on Monday, October 15, 2012
CREDO study, Stanford University revealed 17% of charter schools narrowly bested their counterparts. 37% were worse, 46% showed no statistical difference in their academic performance.
Let's get back to Calhoun County School District and the Pataula Charter Academy (PCA).
Total combined enrollment is roughly 850 students.
About 235 of those attend PCA.
State Avg. Quality Basic Education (QBE) for K12 students is: $4,290.
Approx. 27% of the Calhoun County School District's QBE funding will instead go to PCA (i.e. roughly $1.0 million of $3.7 million).
Fixed operating costs for the Calhoun County School District will thus cost more per student thereby placing an additional burden on families who can least afford the increase.
Oh... here's the real kick in the pants... didn't yet mention that the state is also going to fund PCA at a higher rate per student at $6,392. That's 1.5 times the rate that the state will fund a student in the Calhoun County School District.
So... more funding for those who can afford to transport themselves, less for those who don't along with being saddled with greater fixed expenses.
A district's reaction time to this financial nightmare needs to be considered.
Surprise - Guess what, we hear at the state just approved a state charter school - you have less than 6 months to figure out how to cope with a 30% budget cut! Toodles!
Ashley
8:42 am on Tuesday, October 16, 2012
Frank your comments are appalling and very similar to a jay bookman thread from the AJC , guess u are still trying to get your lies across ... We are nothing like a private school !!! Our free and reduced population is 67% this year... Considering we are only in our third operational year, it will take some time to prove that are population is more reflective of out community.
Considering we serve more than students in Edison ga , you have to consider the population demographics in all five counties we serve ... But you wont do that bc that will make your point look invalid .
We cannot help the more minority children don't take advantage p PCA , just like calhoun county schools can't make more white children come to there school . And like I said before, that is probably due to moronic rumors being spread like this .
If we wanted to be a free private school , we certainly picked the wrong area to open a school . Why would we have opened in a town withy the demographics you pointed out if we didn't want those minorities in our school. ?
I am so sick of this becoming about everything but school choice !!! We are offering a choice to families in swga that don't want the traditional failing public schools and don't want to pay for subpar private school education
Frank
10:52 am on Tuesday, October 16, 2012
Ashley:
The 54% Free and Reduced figure is from the GA Dept. of Ed figures submitted by PCA for the 2010-2011 school year.
I did check the five counties - Baker, Calhoun, Clay, Early and Randolph.
My point is still valid - Based on US Census figures:
The combined population of those five counties is: 31,272.
43.1% of those residing in those counties are reported as being White.
As reported by PCA for 2010-2011, their enrollment of White students is 75%.
Understand my position is pro-charter yet don't want the state making that decision on a local level.
Ashley
8:46 am on Tuesday, October 16, 2012
And Pataula charter academy does offer transportation ... We pay for that out of our general budget without one extra cent given to us for transportation ... I would love to see these wonderful traditional public school offer buses if they didn't get any funding for them !!!
Ashley
11:35 am on Tuesday, October 16, 2012
Then you can't claim to be pro charter b/c local boards are sometime downright hostile when it comes to approving high quality charter schools. And we don't believe that it is fair for a zip code to determine if a child gets a good education...that is why it is very important to have an appeals process and if no local money is taken then why should a local board have that decision ??
Frank
12:20 pm on Tuesday, October 16, 2012
Pro-charter to the core... An appeals process already exists.
If your local board doesn't favor its constituents opinion, your remedy is to support, then vote-in those who favor the constituents position.
Frank
12:39 pm on Tuesday, October 16, 2012
You're splitting hairs on the local money and I like your use of the word "taken" - it implies theft. State commission approved charter schools will "take," some might say receive, 1.5 times the state QBE funding than will local public schools.
You and your neighbors (among others) supply QBE. Pretty local, wouldn't you say? Where do you think the state gets its funds for QBE? News Flash - it's from income tax, sales tax, gas tax, and on and on.... Yes... we know it's not property tax.
The state is going to "give" greater QBE funding ($6,392 per enrolled student) to state commission approved charter schools then it will to local public schools ($4,290 on average per K12 enrolled student). That is 1.5 times the funding for the state commission approved charter school thus leaving fewer dollars for the local public school.
Marcia Killingsworth
5:06 pm on Tuesday, October 16, 2012
Frank,
Pataula is an unusual school: it draws from five counties, and battled five school boards to get established, and finally had to go to the state. As for its lack of diversity, you skate the edge of calling it deliberate. It is not. Take into consideration the fact that 1) it's a young school, 2) it is a new kind of school that crosses county lines, 3) it takes a new and innovative concept of education. These three factors alone mean that it has encountered resistance to its different and fresh approach, and has also faced skepticism about whether it would survive. *Those* two factors might help you understand why not every parent in these five counties is clamoring to send their children there... yet. Building trust isn't a short-term process. But those who have taken the leap and embraced, and been embraced by, its methods are passionately devoted to the school. The student body will grow as the school matures. And as Pataula continues its outreach to under-served communities, I'm confident that its diversity will grow as well. Right now, it's just struggling for its survival so that the children who attend now won't be sent back to the damaged school systems they've fled.
Frank
7:57 pm on Tuesday, October 16, 2012
Marcia: Yes, Pataula is unusual. There's already a pathway for schools like Pataula. "Special Schools." which can already be approved by the State Board of Education. Pataula was even highlighted in a Georgia Charter Schools Association press release where it stated:
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State Approves Charters for 11 Former Commission Schools
ATLANTA – Eleven charter schools that had been approved by the now defunct Georgia Charter Schools Commission, were approved Tuesday by the Georgia Board of Education.
By unanimous vote the full board voted to grant SPECIAL CHARTERED SCHOOL STATUS to Charter Conservatory for Liberal Arts and Technology (Bulloch County), Cherokee Charter Academy (Cherokee), Coweta Charter Academy at Senoia (Coweta), Fulton Leadership Academy (Fulton), Georgia Connections Academy (Virtual), Heritage Preparatory Academy (Atlanta), Pataula Charter Academy (Baker, Calhoun, Clay, Early and Randolph) and Provost Academy
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Georgia already recognizes and it has the current legal authority to grant "Special Status." We don't need a Constitutional Amendment to address situations like Pataula.
Amendment 1 supporters discount or omit from argument that this pathway exists.
While you're at it, look at Baconton Community Charter School in Mitchell County. County demographic is 50% white. Baconton Community Charter School enrollment shows a student population that is 80% White.
As stated in my earlier thread, there a plenty of examples.
Marcia Killingsworth
8:15 pm on Tuesday, October 16, 2012
Am I wrong, or didn't the Supreme Court decision strike down the appeals process you cite, and declared all of those schools unconstitutional? That's why an amendment is required. That's my understanding, anyway.
Frank
9:57 pm on Tuesday, October 16, 2012
Marcia: Sadly and unfortunately, you are wrong.
Georgia has had and continues to have the authority to grant "Special School" status.
Pataula operates currently under that "Special School" status.
A May 2011 Supreme Court ruling concluded the Georgia Charter Schools Commission did not have the authority under the state’s constitution to establish LOCAL PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
You'll find numerous press releases touting Pataula's approval by the State Board of Education as a Special School in June 2011, along with several other schools affected by the May 2011 Georgia Supreme Court decision.
Additionally, during August of 2011, Gov. Deal struck a deal to deliver special funding to these schools. Look it up.
So, the State tried, its Court struck the try, the State did what it should have in the first place and can still do today, and then the State essentially provided rescue funding.
The rescue "forward funded" these "Special Schools" unlike local schools which are funded in arrears by the state.
Marcia Killingsworth
7:59 am on Friday, October 19, 2012
Interesting, Frank. Thanks for that info. I'm still going to vote Yes because I've seen what a difference Pataula has made to its students, but this info is good to have.