A little closer to home.

[lotstodo]

I really need to research this one. I currently lean more toward no. There are avenues currently available for parents to choose.

I actually like the idea of "community" that is fostered when children grow up in school together. Maybe that is an antiquated notion, but that's how I grew up. Local schools CAN be good and CAN provide a quality education.

I have a lot of people that I trust on a different side of this issue than I, but I am just not currently fully on board with a charter school/voucher system. I need proof it works, and I really don't think it's there yet. There are some failing miserably.

You should read about the Washington DC experiment. It was so popular that it had a long waiting list and it was greatly improving attendance, parental involvement, and test scores. It was killed by Obama immediately after he took office at the request of the teacher's union. The poorest children were attending Hopewell Friends, and the public schools that were "left behind" were improving too. It was brilliant pilot program.

That was the same school Obama's children attended was't it?

Yup.

Most of my friends in Florida send their children to either private or charter schools, so I know they like them. I did ask a few of my teacher friends here about why they are voting no and following are some of the responses. (General, it is Saturday ) no one was writing much, just giving me a response.)

Local approval for charter schools is already in place, they have no idea why a "constitutional amendment" is needed.

They (local charters) are not required to hire professional standards commission certified teachers.

How the question is worded would allow states to create and fund a charter taking money out of the local school system and also run them without local input.

1) many local boards have shown that they are more concerned with losing the status quo than with approving a good idea that might attract bright kids. (Not all, but many).

2) The state tried to create a channel whereby charters disallowed by local boards may appeal to the state. That law was shot down as unconstitutional in Georgia, because by state Constitution, only the local municipality could create a new school. That's why the amendment is needed.

3) Although Georgia Law does not specifically mention that Charters must use 100% certified teachers, Federal Law does state that "teachers of record" must be "highly qualified". This has been taken to mean certified. Charter schools do use paraprofessionals to do specific tasks under the direction of a certified teacher, as do many traditional schools. The GA Professional Standards Commission has sent draft legislation to be considered this session to specifically enumerate what "highly qualified" should mean under State Law. In other words, this is a red herring.

4) That is not the intent of the law. There is no suggestion that funding "per student" would be affected. That is the normal measurement of education funding. If the local district loses students to a state chartered school, then the money per student, local and state, would follow that student. Non-local funding has always been based upon enrollment. If the district wishes to avoid this, then they can approve the charter themselves, or apply to charter the entire district for that matter.

 

[mei lan]

The poorest children were attending Hopewell Friends, and the public schools that were "left behind" were improving too. It was brilliant pilot program.

That was the same school Obama's children attended was't it?

Yup.

Negative. The Obama children attend, and have always attended in DC, Sidwell Friends, one of the most expensive private schools in the country.

 

[Foxmeister]

I really need to research this one. I currently lean more toward no. There are avenues currently available for parents to choose.

I actually like the idea of "community" that is fostered when children grow up in school together. Maybe that is an antiquated notion, but that's how I grew up. Local schools CAN be good and CAN provide a quality education.

I have a lot of people that I trust on a different side of this issue than I, but I am just not currently fully on board with a charter school/voucher system. I need proof it works, and I really don't think it's there yet. There are some failing miserably.

You should read about the Washington DC experiment. It was so popular that it had a long waiting list and it was greatly improving attendance, parental involvement, and test scores. It was killed by Obama immediately after he took office at the request of the teacher's union. The poorest children were attending Hopewell Friends, and the public schools that were "left behind" were improving too. It was brilliant pilot program.

That was the same school Obama's children attended was't it?

Yup.

He probably wanted to make sure his kids weren't mingling with kids beneath them in social class. So much for "Reaching for the Top."

 

[lotstodo]

The poorest children were attending Hopewell Friends, and the public schools that were "left behind" were improving too. It was brilliant pilot program.

That was the same school Obama's children attended was't it?

Yup.

Negative. The Obama children attend, and have always attended in DC, Sidwell Friends, one of the most expensive private schools in the country.

I said Hopewell, I meant Sidwell.

 

[Madea]

How much of an option is it really in places like Paulding ("bedroom communities") where most parents are not able to provide transportation to and from school for their children?

I think Cobb transforming a school to include a performing arts school was a cool thing to do, it gave kids who weren't college bound more options, and I like that. I'd like to see more technical programs similar to that too. But, I have no information on how successful that has been for them.

It is an option for Paulding if someone decides to open a Charter School. I think I know how the BOE would vote in Paulding. A number of local BOE have had the request before them and they refused. Before the push for Charter Schools became a hot button issue not one had been approved by a local BOE. That is what spurred the Amendment question. Given a choice most of them would not approve CS because they see it as money removed from their budget. Charter Schools are Public schools and this is a smoke screen. I will vote YES!!! Give parents the power to choose the best type of education for their children. :cheer1 :cheer1 :cheer1 :cheer1

Madea, would you take the choice away from parents who are willing to transport their children just because some could not?

No, absolutely not. I was just wondering if it would even be utilized in places like Paulding.

 

[newsjunky]

How much of an option is it really in places like Paulding ("bedroom communities") where most parents are not able to provide transportation to and from school for their children?

I think Cobb transforming a school to include a performing arts school was a cool thing to do, it gave kids who weren't college bound more options, and I like that. I'd like to see more technical programs similar to that too. But, I have no information on how successful that has been for them.

It is an option for Paulding if someone decides to open a Charter School. I think I know how the BOE would vote in Paulding. A number of local BOE have had the request before them and they refused. Before the push for Charter Schools became a hot button issue not one had been approved by a local BOE. That is what spurred the Amendment question. Given a choice most of them would not approve CS because they see it as money removed from their budget. Charter Schools are Public schools and this is a smoke screen. I will vote YES!!! Give parents the power to choose the best type of education for their children. :cheer1 :cheer1 :cheer1 :cheer1

Madea, would you take the choice away from parents who are willing to transport their children just because some could not?

No, absolutely not. I was just wondering if it would even be utilized in places like Paulding.

I think it will and sooner than you may think. In my opinion the BOE will not want to approve one.

 

[unionmom]

Ok, somebody help me out ... Sidwell is a private school, not charter. How would the "poorest children" be getting into Sidwell? (Clearly I have not followed anything with the DC public schools. Not a chance in h-e-double hockey sticks that I would ever have kids living in DC.)

 

[unionmom]

(wow ... that was weird ... delayed double post)

 

[Foxmeister]

DC had a voucher system.

 

[unionmom]

DC had a voucher system.

That covered $33,000??

 

[newsjunky]

DC had a voucher system.

That covered $33,000??

If the underprivileged child's name was drawn in the lottery for the slot it did. There were a limited number of slots.
I read somewhere that 23% of the students received some sort of assistance with tuition.

 

[unionmom]

I don't agree with including private schools in such programs. Not by force, anyway. If they voluntarily choose to participate, fantastic. :thumbsup Which was it in DC?

(I'm assuming you mean that the school lowered tuition for the lotto kid to a level that the vouchers cover.)

 

[ShoeDiva]

DC had a voucher system.

That covered $33,000??

If the underprivileged child's name was drawn in the lottery for the slot it did. There were a limited number of slots.

There was only one or two slots for Sidwell and it did not cover the full cost. The voucher was 8 -12,000. (This info was provided to me by a friend that has a child there.)

Edit: I left out they did also get "some" financial aid, but some cost was still the families.

 

[newsjunky]

I don't agree with including private schools in such programs. Not by force, anyway. If they voluntarily choose to participate, fantastic. :thumbsup Which was it in DC?

(I'm assuming you mean that the school lowered tuition for the lotto kid to a level that the vouchers cover.)

I think it was paid for out of public school funds and the amount was lowered by the school. It is a Quaker school.

 

[unionmom]

Ok, if the voucher covered up to $12,000 then Sidwell could have been worked out. They do financial aid for some where they knock off 2/3 of the tuition.

It's an incredibly good school. I had some friends that went there. My parents had apparently considered sending me there at one point.

 

[Foxmeister]

I'd like to see a voucher system that allows the money to be used towards tuition at private schools. I think every kid should have the opportunity to receive the best education they can get.

 

[newsjunky]

Ok, if the voucher covered up to $12,000 then Sidwell could have been worked out. They do financial aid for some where they knock off 2/3 of the tuition.

It's an incredibly good school. I had some friends that went there. My parents had apparently considered sending me there at one point.

Public school costs $27,000 per child in DC or so I read. That is for a failing system.
Link:http://blog.heritage.org/2012/07/25/d-c-public-schools-spend-almost-30000-per-student/

 

[newsjunky]

I'd like to see a voucher system that allows the money to be used towards tuition at private schools. I think every kid should have the opportunity to receive the best education they can get.

::ditto

 

[unionmom]

I'd like to see a voucher system that allows the money to be used towards tuition at private schools. I think every kid should have the opportunity to receive the best education they can get.

::ditto

As long as the private school are not forced to lower their tuition or forced to participate, I'm ok with it.

 

[ShoeDiva]

Ok, if the voucher covered up to $12,000 then Sidwell could have been worked out. They do financial aid for some where they knock off 2/3 of the tuition.

It's an incredibly good school. I had some friends that went there. My parents had apparently considered sending me there at one point.

Public school costs $27,000 per child in DC or so I read. That is for a failing system.
Link:http://blog.heritage.org/2012/07/25/d-c-public-schools-spend-almost-30000-per-student/

Public school may cost that, but that is not what they give in vouchers. (I have no clue why...but they do not.)