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Tag Archives: public schools

Long-Time Education Advocates Launch New Organization, Public Education Matters Georgia

November 25, 2015 ANNA SIMONTON Leave a comment

(APN) ATLANTA — With controversial changes to public education coming down Georgia’s legislative pipeline, parents and teachers are ramping up their organizing efforts, among them three Atlanta women who recently launched a new group called Public Education Matters Georgia (PEMG). Former Atlanta Public Schools Board of Education Member Cecily Harsch-Kinnane (District 3), Janet Kishbaugh, and Carolyn Wood have been […]

Sen. Fort Announces Ethics Bill in Response to APS Erin Hames Contract

November 4, 2015 ANNA SIMONTON One comment

(APN) ATLANTA — Georgia State Senator Vincent Fort (D-Atlanta) has announced new legislation to prevent unethical arrangements like Erin Hames’s recent deal with Atlanta Public Schools. As Atlanta Progressive News previously reported, Hames was Gov. Nathan Deal’s education policy advisor until she left her post to work as a consultant for schools that face the possibility of state takeover […]

Georgia Fourth Graders Get Pocket-Sized U.S. Constitutions

September 15, 2015 BARBARA PAYNE Leave a comment

(APN) ATLANTA — In an act to promote civic involvement at the grade school level, Richard Woods, Superintendent of the Georgia Public School System, tasked his staff to provide a mini-Constitution, entitled “Words That Built America,” to be handed out to all 130,000 fourth graders in the State. “Superintendent Woods told me two things, to have a mini-Constitution in […]

Overview of 2013 Legislative Session, post-Crossover Day

March 11, 2013 MATTHEW CHARLES

(APN) ATLANTA — The Georgia General Assembly wrapped up its Crossover Day on Thursday, March 07, 2013, which was the thirtieth day of the forty-day legislative session. This is the last day that legislation has to pass in either the State House or State Senate in order for the legislation to be taken up this year in the other respective […]

Parent Trigger Act Another Threat to Public Education in Georgia (UPDATE 1)

January 12, 2013 MARKO ROBINSON Leave a comment

(APN) ATLANTA — HB 123, the Parent and Teacher Empowerment Act, also known as the Parent Trigger Act, is the latest effort by some, mostly Republican, legislators, to promote charter schools in Georgia and continue to undermine the public education system and public schools. The Act was introduced on January 28, 2013 by State Reps. Edward Lindsey (R-Atlanta), Brooks Coleman […]

Out-of-State Corporate Interests Fund Charter School Amendment Push

November 5, 2012 MARKO ROBINSON Leave a comment

(APN) ATLANTA — Out-of-state corporate interests have spent millions of dollars to fund the campaign in favor of the constitutional amendment referendum related to charter schools that appears on the November 06, 2012 General Election ballot. Overall, some of the groups that have been in support of the amendment include Families for Better Public Schools, Georgia Parent Advocacy Network, Georgia […]

Angela Brown Attack Mailer Distorts APN Interview

December 1, 2011 MATTHEW CHARLES Leave a comment

(APN) ATLANTA — A mailer attacking Angela Brown, candidate for Atlanta Public Schools Board of Education District 2, was received by voters throughout District 2 in recent days. It states “She says she wants Atlanta school children to cross dress,” completely misrepresenting Brown’s interview with Atlanta Progressive News. The mailer includes quotes from Brown’s interview with APN in which APN […]

APN Chat with Dwanda Farmer, APS Board Candidate

September 8, 2011 MATTHEW CHARLES Leave a comment

(APN) ATLANTA — In our ongoing series of interviews with candidates for the Atlanta Public Schools Board of Education District 2 Special Election, Atlanta Progressive News sat down with Dwanda Farmer. Previously, APN has interviewed Byron Amos. APN also has requested an interview with Angela Brown and did receive a response from her campaign. In the near future, APN hopes […]

APS Ethics Panel Member Resigns to Protect Chairman El

June 14, 2011 MATTHEW CHARLES Leave a comment

(APN) ATLANTA — A fourth member of the Ethics Commission of the Atlanta Public Schools Board of Education, David Dorsey, has resigned, Atlanta Progressive News has learned. In Dorsey’s letter of resignation, he writes that APS BOE Chairman Khaatim El appears to be guilty of violating Board policies, but that Dorsey would rather resign than find him guilty because he […]

Atlanta Council Opposes APS Board Replacement Law

May 4, 2011 MATTHEW CHARLES Leave a comment

(APN) ATLANTA — The City Council of Atlanta voted Monday, May 02, 2011, to express their opposition to SB 79, which Republican Governor Nathan Deal has signed, and which gives Deal the power to recommend removal of the Atlanta Public Schools Board of Education members. The resolution states that the Council is not supportive of the law and asks the […]

APS Ethics Panel Pursuing El Cases, Considering Outside Officer for English Case

February 10, 2011 MATTHEW CHARLES Leave a comment

(APN) ATLANTA — Several Atlanta Public Schools parents have contacted Atlanta Progressive News to report significant progress at last night’s Atlanta Public Schools Ethics Commission meeting, of Wednesday, February 09, 2011. First, the Commission agreed to investigate the two ethics complaints filed against APS Board of Education Chairman Khaatim El. As previously reported by APN, El received private, pro bono […]