Category Archives: Georgia Department of Education

Georgia School Takeover Plan Passes despite Protests

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With additional reporting Allie McCullen, Special to Atlanta Progressive News   (APN) ATLANTA — In 2016, Georgia voters will be asked whether to amend the state constitution “to allow the state to intervene in chronically failing public schools in order to improve student performance.”   That’s the ballot language codified by SR 287, one of two pieces of legislation that […]

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Teachers, Parents Challenge Deal’s School Takeover Plan Ahead of House Committee Vote

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(APN) ATLANTA — The House Education Committee will soon decide whether to advance Gov. Nathan Deal’s controversial proposal to allow the state to take over and privatize struggling schools.   At a hearing on Wednesday March 18, 2015, State Representatives and members of the public expressed both deep concern and some enthusiasm over the proposal, which, as Atlanta Progressive News […]

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Parent Trigger Bill May Come up Again in Legislature This Year (UPDATE 1)

(APN) ATLANTA — House Bill 123, the Parent Teacher Empowerment Act, commonly known as the Parent Trigger bill, care of State Rep. Ed Lindsey (R-Atlanta) and others, is rearing its ugly head again, this time for a possible State Senate vote.       Having passed the House last year, in a vote of 97 to 74, but dying an […]

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Charter Schools Underperform in Georgia, US, despite Potential Brain Drain

With additional reporting by Matthew Charles Cardinale. (APN) ATLANTA — Georgia voters are currently being faced with a referendum on a possible constitutional amendment which claims as its goal to provide “for improving student achievement” by allowing a state-run commission to by-pass local school board decisions and State Board of Education decisions to approve charter schools that are not approved […]

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Charter School Referendum about Local Control, State Funding

With additional reporting by Matthew Charles Cardinale. (APN) ATLANTA — During the November 06, 2012 General Election, Georgia voters will be presented with a referendum over whether to allow a Georgia Charter School Commission (GCSC) to override the decisions of local school boards to approve and create charter schools in Georgia. If approved, the Commission–which was found unconstitutional in a […]

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