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Who We Are. Coalition of Locally Elected School Boards, School Superintendents, Educators, Georgia PTA, Local Chambers of Commerce and Local business Leaders in the state. Who We Are. GACIS - Georgia Association of Curriculum and Instructional Supervisors
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Who We Are • Coalition of Locally Elected School Boards, School Superintendents, Educators, Georgia PTA, Local Chambers of Commerce and Local business Leaders in the state
Who We Are • GACIS - Georgia Association of Curriculum and Instructional Supervisors • GAEL - Georgia Association of Educational Leaders • GAESP - Georgia Association of Elementary School Principals • GAMSP - Georgia Association of Middle School Principals • GASPA - Georgia Association of School Personnel Administrators • GASSP - Georgia Association of Secondary School Principals • G-CASE - Georgia Council of Administrators of Special Education
Who We Are • GMEA - Georgia Music Educators Assocation • GPTA - Georgia Parent Teacher Association • GREA - Georgia Retired Educators Association • GSBA - Georgia School Boards Association • GSSA - Georgia School Superintendents Association • PAGE - Professional Association of Georgia Educators • SEF - Southern Education Foundation
Background • Last year, the GA Supreme Court struck down a 2008 law allowing the state to create and fund a dual system of state charter schools against the wishes of local school boards and communities.
The Amendment • NOT about Charter Schools. • An expansion of state government. • Gives unchecked power to an appointed and unaccountable state commission to approve charter or other schools without the approval of a local school board. • State control vs. Local control.
Misleading Ballot Language • "Shall the Constitution of Georgia be amended to allow state or local approval of public charter schools upon the request of local communities?" • Only the state is gaining new power.
The Reality: • Local school boards can already approve charter schools. • Gives a state commission power to make decisions about our children’s education. • Where is the accountability to voters?
Charter Schools • Charter schools differ from traditional public schools. Charters can waive state laws and local board policies that regular public schools must follow. • For-profit charter school companies are responsible to their shareholders, not students.
Think About Your Vote • Protect voters’ control of public schools – locally elected school boards are locally accountable to the voters who elect them. • Taxation without representation. • Protect funding for Georgia’s public schools. The state has cut public school budgets by $3 billion in the last 3 years, and another $1 billion for the upcoming school year.
Think About Your Vote • Georgia is not funding existing local charter schools and traditional public schools. • The amendment will allow the state to take more money from Georgia’s public schools.
Think About Your Vote • Class sizes increase • More cuts to quality public education • More teacher furloughs and layoffs • Smaller schools close • Over 2/3 of all Georgia school systems now have a school year less than 180 days.
Think About Your Vote • Why should we allow the state to create a dual school system and pay for it at expense of existing local charter and public schools? • Faceless political appointees in Atlanta will decide where to place schools in your community and who that school will serve.
Donate Today • If you wish to help Public Schools think about donating to the Vote SMART campaign. • Donate online at: www.votesmartgeorgia.com • Mail check to: Vote SMART Georgia P.O. Box 766, Lawrenceville, GA 30046
Think About Your Vote • This is not about choices, it’s about WHO chooses. • Vote Smart and think about Public Schools • Keep it Local on November 6 • www.votesmartgeorgia.com