Guest Blog: Georgians Will Continue to Fight for School Choice Options

Senator Chip Rogers / June 09, 2011

Better than 97 percent proficient in reading, 94 percent proficient in math, and a perfect 100 percent in writing: These are the most recent criterion-referenced competency test and 8^th grade writing assessment scores for Ivy Preparatory Charter School located in Gwinnett County, a suburb of Atlanta. In a state where K–12 education results are not often highlighted, one would think such scores would be a cause for celebration. Think again.

Instead, other Georgia schools are trying to shut down Ivy Prep.

Public charter schools have become a successful part of the educational freedom movement. In some states, charter schools are a welcome addition. Not so in Georgia. Until recently, Georgia law had  allowed a charter school to exist only if the local school system authorized it. As you might suspect, such an approval mechanism results in little freedom. The rare charter schools that have been created are often just an extension of the local system—perhaps slightly better, but not the groundbreaking movement we need in education. The approval system was so bad that in 2007, 28 charter school applications were submitted to local school systems throughout Georgia, but only two were approved. (more…)