OUT OF COMMISSION? Georgias Charter Schools after Gwinnett County - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

OUT OF COMMISSION? Georgia’s Charter Schools after Gwinnett County School District v. Cox Thomas A. Cox Carlock, Copeland & Stair, LLP 191 Peachtree Street, NE Suite 3600 Atlanta, Georgia 30303 404-522-9767 tcox@carlockcopeland.com

Agenda •Types of Charter Schools under Georgia Statutes •Decision of Georgia Supreme Court in Gwinnett County case •What is ahead on legislative and judicial front? 2

Types of Charter Schools in State •Local Charters – Start-up charters – Conversion charters •State Charters – State chartered special schools – System charter schools – Commission charter schools 3

Charter Petition Process Charter Petitioner Submit Petition Local Board of Ed. Yes No State No No Charter Issued Board of Ed. Yes Charter Granted by Local Board 4

White =Charter System Cartersville Gainesville Floyd =Local Start-ups Marietta Decatur = Conversion Charter Warren =Commission Charters Putnam =State Chartered Special Schools 5

GROUNDS FOR SUPREME COURT DECISION IN GWINNETT COUNTY SCHOOLS v. COX •Commission Charters are Not “Special Schools” •“Local Control” by County School Boards •Local tax revenues? Issue not reached 6

STATE RESPONSE TO SUPREME COURT DECISION •Constitutional Amendment Movement •$10 million (in appropriated) funds to support unconstitutional charter schools •Resurrection of state chartered special schools 7

CREDO Report: Performance of Charter Schools vs. Regular Public Schools No Difference 46% Performing Worse 37% Performing Better 17% 8

Funding for KIPP Schools (Western Michigan University Study) 20,000 18,491 (total) 5,760 15,000 ? ? Private Money 10,000 Public Money 12,731 11,960 5,000 9,579 0 KIPP Schools Other Charter Local Public Schools Schools 9

Satisfaction with Public School System and Own Child’s Education 100 80 Satisfaction with Own Child's 60 Education Satisfaction with 40 Public Education 20 0 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 10

Where Does Your Child Attend School? 100 80 Public School 60 Private or Parochial School 40 Home School 20 0 0 2 4 6 8 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 2 2 2 2 2 11