Monday, February 5, 2007
News Senate passes Charter Systems Act
Posted by Max Pizarro on Mon, Feb 5, 2007 at 4:33 PM
You gotta have faith.
Parents know what's best for their kids. Not the bloated bureaucrats. Not the feds. Not the supers. Not the institutionalized automatons.
Friday morning at the Statehouse, Sen. Dan Weber, R-Dunwoody, went to the well to discuss his Charter Systems Act, which would allow local school districts to petition the state Board of Education to become charter school systems. These would be autonomous public schools geared toward producing parent-specified results. Weber's bill approves up to five charter systems a year, with each system eligible to receive a $125,000 startup grant.
This was legislation with advocates in high places.
On the campaign trail last year, Casey Cagle talked about increasing local control, and expanding charter schools in Georgia. As Weber outlined his proposal Friday with now-Lt. Gov. Cagle literally looking over his shoulder, the Dunwoody senator anchored it to the idea that charter school systems would offer "high flexibility to meet the needs of unique communities and unique schools."
The bill would create a charter advisory committee, which would work with the state Board of Education and local school governing councils. Essentially the legislation enables a second structure alongside the existing local school-board structure, producing a double-vision effect. The difference between the structures is choice, Weber argues. The classic board of education is seen as locked into mandates from above. The charter schools' governing council would have a more relaxed initial framework with greater parent participation.
"Parents have the power over their own governing council," Weber said. "The power to vote with their feet. ... We need to have faith that they know what's best for their students and their schools."
As presented, one of the problems with Weber's argument is an intrinsic rejection of government mandates, even as it relies on current federal mandates to gain credibility when doubters challenge the lack of state and local mandates that go along with charter schools. At one point, Weber complained in an offhand remark, "There's nothing we can do to get out from under that," likening the federal No Child Left Behind Act to a crushing burden. Moments later, the senator was solemnly offering No Child Left Behind as an example of how charter schools would be held up to the same testing standards as public schools.
If your goal is to weaken the top-down structure -- beginning with what you can control, namely the state and local boards of education and how they interact with communities -- how can you philosophically justify reliance on federal mandates, which are by definition top-down?
In any case, it was a seeming contradiction lost on the Senate, which overwhelmingly passed Weber's bill -- but not before Sen. Vincent Fort, D-Atlanta, objected.
"I've heard this word 'faith' used," Fort said. "Questioning or trying to analyze shouldn't be seen as a lack of faith. This canard of local control. The fact is we're about to take away from local school boards the power they are given by the Constitution."
A lot of computer screens were popped open on individual desks, bodies crouched toward glowing images.
"I'm going to vote against this bill," Fort railed, but there was no sense that a great debate was unfolding as it had the day before over vouchers.
This was a done deal.
Indeed, when the vote results were tallied moments later, Cagle beamed from his captain's bridge high above the dutiful governing body. Fort and Sen. Ronald Ramsey, D-Decatur, were the only lawmakers to go against him.
It was Cagle's victory, and the senators gave it to him.
"We're having a love-fest with the lieutenant governor," admitted Sen. Steve Henson, D-Tucker. "Some reservations may come up later."
-- Max Pizarro
-- Photo by Joeff Davis (Nov. 7, 2006; Cagle's Election Day victory party)
Comments (2)
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I watched the latest debate between Barack Obama and John McCain. Although the “town-hall”-style TV debate attracted more than 60 million viewers, the majority were not satisfied with countless indirect answers to many of the questions that were asked that night. Instead of providing firm resolution for the well-being of all Americans, they hope to bring on a larger number of citizens to take sides by means of personal criticism. McCain continued to proclaim his “stay the course” stance on Iraq and his oil drilling policies. On the other hand, Obama carried on criticizing Republican policies that he claimed have led to America’s current recession. This unremitting action of theirs only leaves us wondering exactly how either of them would work to prevent further economic catastrophes. America needs a logical economic proposal. Obama encourages the scheme to wipe out the payday loan industry, which is not a logical solution to the real economic problems we face. This is only to add more flavors for the banking and credit union appetizer.
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