Go To School On The Georgia Charter School Amendment

Georgia voters! Two Georgia high school students "take us to school" on the charter schools amendment on Georgia ballots this November -- be sure to watch before heading to the polls to learn why this amendment to our state constitution is unnecessary and would be a drain on resources.

For more information on the amendment visit:

Georgians for Educational Excellence
http://www.bettergeorgiaschools.com

Vote Smart Georgia
http://www.votesmartgeorgia.com

Better Georgia
http://www.bettergeorgia.com

EmpowerED Georgia
http://www.empoweredga.org

• Category

  Education

[Joan Bailey]

I'm amazed by the commenters who suggest these two kids are puppets. THIS might be the problem with our schools -- not giving enough credit to our kids to do something advanced like producing their own video and voicing their own opinion. Thus, we don't challenge our kids enough. Charter schools are only a way to separate the haves from the have nots much earlier than we already do. STOP IT! Vote NO and start expecting more from all students.

[ponsoldt1]

anyone who FOLLOWS THE MONEY from out of state (and out of the country) "investors" into the hands of lobbyists, into the campaign coffers of atlanta pols, should be able to figure out that this scam is a way for non-georgians to fleece georgia taxpayers, while destroying local control of our schools. if you thought the t-splost pushed by these same pols was a lousy idea (and 2/3 of georgia voters did), this charter school amendment proposal should send critters skittering out of the outhouse.

[noob2r]

fuck republicans

[kthomas8]

Our superintendent listens to no NO ONE except politicians and land developers. School districts are routinely split into rich and a poor schools. Poor schools are ruled by 'virtual' dropouts; those attending only to meet drivers license requirements. They disrupt daily and make it tough on the rest. I hear arguments about funding and unelected committee. But if it forces the super to climb down from his dictator throne and start listening in order to COMPETE and survive, it is not a bad thing!

[Malikah Striving]

FOLLOW THE MONEY if you really want to know what this is all about.....

FACT 3: Our state spent $686 MILLION dollars on central office. 77 out of our 180 districts serve less than 3000 students and have FULL central offices and account for $67 MILLION dollars of the total spent. In these tough economic times, are districts in rural areas combining central offices to reduce duplicative costs?

[Malikah Striving]

FOLLOW THE MONEY if you really want to know what this is all about.....

FACT 2: Nearly one third of the superintendents in this state make in excess of $150,000 yearly. Superintendent Alvin Wilbanks, of Gwinnett County, makes $410,000 annually, followed closely by superintendents from Clayton, Atlanta Public Schools, Savannah-Chatham, Fulton, and Cobb (3 of which are in danger of loss of accreditation, by the way). 47 superintendents took a raise last year while furloughing educators.

[Malikah Striving]

FOLLOW THE MONEY if you really want to know what this is all about.....

FACT 1: Every single one of our school boards are paid for their “public service.” This accounts for $4.1 MILLION dollars in salary. With the austerity cuts, are board members donating their salaries back to put into classrooms? Nope. Just as an aside, charter board members receive $0 in compensation.

[Katie Towe]

I have to agree with these students here. I go to a charter school in Georgia, and to be honest, I feel quite held back compared to come students I have met that attend other public schools. It really does not make any difference. The school I went to use to be a public school, and then it switched to charter. To be truthful, since it switched, it has gotten worse.