I've still got some reading to do before I decide how to vote on this. I've read plenty of politicians' opinions, but nothing that's gone into a sufficient amount of detail.

ANYTHING to improve the educational results for our children. What we have today, overall, is NOT GETTING IT DONE. LOOK AT GRADUATION RATES, TEST SCORES, etc ......THE PROOF OF THE PUDDING IN IN THE EATING THEREOF!

Each educational dollar can only be spent once (unless by some miracle our State Government does the right thing and raise revenues enough to adequately fund education).
Therefore, giving state money to an ill-advised, unproven, unaccountable educational gimmick is just 'stealing' that same money from the existing, approved educational funding structure.
It really is that simple!

Probably will vote for it. Anything to get control away from the Dekalb County Board of Education. BTW, simply calling it giving control to the state is a talking point of those against it. You admit you don't know enough about it to decide how to vote and yet you write an article about it using one sided comments.

Forgot to say I will vote for it - more than once if I can!!!

Support public education and all of the intown and Midtown families working with their children, teachers and the school administration to make the local public schools the best they can be. Vote against amendment 1!

If you trust the DCSD to do what is right and represent the best interests of every student in the district, vote no. If you don't trust the district who is running $20M+ in the red and paying little attention to the voices of parents, especially here in North Dekalb, VOTE YES! If you trust advocates for our children such as Nancy Jester, VOTE YES! If you'd rather listen to the likes of Eugene Walker, vote no and keep the power where the power-hungry wants it to be.

VOTE NO! The For profit charter school folks are pouring money into the state in support of this unnecessary amendment. Charter schools are already allowed and legal, just not for profit.

We all want better schools but I feel that giving an as of yet unnamed state level commission the power to make decisions about how local school money is spent is not the best idea. We have charter schools and will continue to have charter schools whether or not this amendment passes...DeKalb County has 13, if I'm not mistaken. This new commission will add another level of bureaucracy to the mix and encourage a "Mom said no so let's go ask Dad" scenario. Our school boards are elected by us. If we are not happy with the decisions they are making we should voice our concerns with them and vote them out of office if we feel they are not working in our best interest. I am all for charter schools and giving parents more choices for education. Charter schools are all about giving parents more local control of their children's education. It doesn't make sense to move the decision making process on the establishment of these schools out of the local communities.

This question is not about whether one approves of charter schools or not. Rather, it is whether an appointed board controlled by political heavies can trump a decision of a local school board and force a charter school onto a community. With for-profit "educational" corporations pushing hard for this, and with the open corruption in Georgia's highest offices, it's easy to see why this is a bad idea. Vote "no" and we will still have charter schools.

The myth that state commissioned Charter schools take money away from the local schools is getting out of hand. Educate yourselves...

Here is a good starting point: www.mattshultz.org

When in doubt, vote 'no' on constitutional amendments. And there's plenty of doubt surrounding this.

5-6 billion dollars of state funding has been taken from GA public schools since 2003... It's no wonder public schools are hurting. Gwinnett alone is teaching 10,000 more kids with 2000 less teachers since 2008. The state has created the problem and then proposes a solution that takes more funding away from locally elected boards in lieu of an unaccountable bureaucracy...

There was a proposed amendment that would have prevented for-profit companies coming in to Georgia... but, not surprisingly, that amendment was dispatched. The wording of the amendment is manipulative at best... duplicitous at worse. 95% of the funding for the pro-amendment lobby is coming from out of state because they have the best interest of kids? I doubt it; there is money in dem dere hills and it breaks my heart to see such rapacity aimed at public education.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=saQW_P1p51c

I'm for any public school that can prove itself a better education for a reasonable amount of funding and smaller classrooms that is embraced by an entire community--or alternatively have neighbors at each others' throats (due to exclusion)--not destabilizing (massive neighborhood school evacuation)-- I favor "neighborhood" schools with EQUITABLE access in neighborhoods that have proven capacity to fully support their schools.

From those standpoints, charter schools hold great promise--and in the case of traditional schools that have been converted to charter schools, have proven themselves.

Unfortunately, we can only judge whether a particular (privately financed/built and operated/community led) school will do those things as they are approved and operated over a reasonable amount of time. Georgia has many with the biggest differences accomplished (even if still underperforming by averages) in the areas where results were the worst to being with.

If Amendment 1 had in place a limit of (privatized public) schools to be approved (Washington passed a law limiting to 7 per year for the next five years and has community poverty thresholds); an appeal process for stakeholders with community boundaries defined in charter applications; restrictions on municipal bonds used for financing; regulations against for companies "cherry picking" affluent areas; required van transport; ...

in other words...Amendment 1 is poor policy and poor law.

If you believe in local oversight and control over public schools, then vote against this amendment. It is designed to overrule a decision by the Georgia Supreme Court which upheld the principle of LOCAL charter schools — not STATE charter schools. Local school boards can create —and have created—charter schools. This amendment will begin to create a two-tier system of public schools — a bad idea. As a former PTA co-president at Lakeside High, I agree we need to improve public schools — but there is NOTHING in this charter amendment that will fix things. As others have well stated, it is designed to create for-profit state schools.

The manipulative wording of the propossed amendment is enough to vote no...send a message that we want real leaders and honest, straight-forward ammendments when needed, not this game.

No

The amendment amends nothing. Why would any sane person transfer control of individual school systems to one party, particularly one whose members sit in Atlanta but many of which don't represent the ATL MSA. That is better left to the counties as it is now.

I can understand why folks distrust the DeKalb County School System. And there are great charter schools that put DCSS to shame. But Amendment One is not a solution, it's just a transfer of power from one group we don't trust to another group we don't trust. It's like dealing with a gang by inviting another gang in to compete with it.

I voted against this simply because there are already charter schools in Georgia. They have the funding and are also funded privately, so why take away from public schools?! Secondly, there are ways put in place to put children in charter schools and the parents need to take the steps to put their children onto those schools. Lastly, if this passes, what are parents going to do if the school fails in the curriculum?
I believe the best solution is for parents, teachers, and students stand up against politicians and leaders who are constantly attacking our public education system and say enough is enough!

Not at all. This has nothing to do with improving education. This is just another ploy by organizations who already make a lot of money with Charter Schools to make even more money. It's also interesting to see the amount of $ and interest from folks outside of Georgia in this amendment. Even the lovely Koch brothers...imagine why. And finally, why would I want to trust the current dominant leadership in the Georgia GA?

This is not at all an appellate process, it is an override. An appellate court corrects errors committed by the trial court. The only error a local board of education could make is to deny a charter that politically connected elements want granted. It's a judgment call, and in those cases an appellate court does not substitute its judgment for that of the trial court. absent some articulated error.

typical. afraid of competition, and outright lying about funding. Boy the rats on the gravy train sure are getting scared! we rank 49th in USA educational stastics ( take THAT Mississippi! ) Vote Yes, and give inner city poor kids a choice!

Many people keep mentioning their corrupt local boards, namely DCSS, and as a resident of DeKalb I agree, they stick. However, this Amendment doesn't affect just DeKalb, Fulton, or even Clayton, it affects the entire state of Georgia. That's about 150 counties and about 180 school districts. I understand the frustrations of those who are dealing with problamatic boards, mine included. However, the vast majority of districts do not have these problems. This Amendment would give new power to the State allowing an unelected group to intervene and overrule local elected Boards. I just don't see giving this power to the State. We can work hard to change our local boards, but that change will be meaningless if in the meantime we give away our local power to the State and surrender out political voice to a panel of political appointees.

Also, the wording of this Amendment is highly misleading. If it is such a worthy idea, why did they feel the need to mask the intent in deceitful language.

The rally for the amendment may be bipartisan but it would serve everyone well to know that the Democrat Alicia Thomas Morgan's top campaign contributor in 2010 was American Federation For Children, a group created to push vouchers and privately owned public school charters.
http://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php/Alisha_Thomas_Morgan
Click on 2010 campaign contributions. For some reason it is hidden whereas 2008 is not.
American federation for Children:
http://www.federationforchildren.org/

Chip Rogers is the state chairman representing ALEC, American Legislation Exchange Council:
http://www.alecexposed.org/wiki/ALEC_%26_Education#Tipping_the_Scales_in_Favor_of_Charter_Schools_Over_Public_School_Innovations
ALEC has several model bills allowing for the privatization of public schools in several states.

The state of Georgia already has the means to create charters locally and an option to apply to the state if the charter is denied. This change to the State Constitution is not necessary. We must ask why then it is being pursued so strongly with such misleading ballot language.
Follow the money.

See this link, and read the posts....this is why we need Amendment ! .... Vote YES! http://dekalbschoolwatch.wordpress.com/

Voted YES! and would do it again if I could..about the students and parents!

I voted yes too! Lots of conspiracy theories abound but charter schools are simply options for families. Spoke to a woman recently who went through this about 15 years ago hen she wanted to home school. The 'system' didn't want that either and fought it hard. They really hate to be threatened. I wish they'd see the different approaches as a successful way to educate all our children.

I stand corrected, Eddie. It appears Georgia mean SAT scores us 48th instead of 49th http://www.commonwealthfoundation.org/policyblog/detail/2010-sat-scores-by-state
If you are a parent of school aged children in Fulton or Dekalb county and you vote 'no' you are voting against your childs best interests. competition invites performance. vote yes for poor inner city kids with parents that care!

ELF--SATs as test are so yesterday--and you are just parroting the interests of "progress" (monry making). We rank in the top 10 for % of students who take the test and Top 15 for states with over 40% taking the test.
So yesterday--so for profit--including the AJC causing contraversy for $.

Very informative letter in the Buford Patch from former members of Georgia Charter School Commission...

http://buford.patch.com/articles/former-members-of-the-georgia-charter-commission-speak-out-3fd55f08

more excuse making. *rolls eyes* Both my wife and I are former teachers who enrolled our child in ANCS in Grant Park. You know that one the 'burned down' on a saturday in 2002? Or how about Kipp which 'conveniently' burned down last year at 5am? Please dont begin to think about 'schooling' me on whats going on down here. We live it. When I worked at the Children's School in the 90's, all the people who threw out flattering stats about APD ( like Bill Cambell and Hosea Williams, most of the City Council, etc..) sent thier kids there. Vincent Fort is against the CS amendment, sat on the Senate Education Comittee, yet did his children go to the public schools? Call and ask, I will even give you his # 463 2260. Go ahead! How about this nice little stat: http://www.trulia.com/real_estate/Grant_Park-Atlanta/2588/schools/
Now, the ANCS outperforms EVERY school around it. Previous to it's inception, you only choices were private $chools or moving. I want this kind of 'choice' Statewide. And the reason we have this discussion in the first place is the local BOE's SUED the State to remove the old CS 3 person commission, and they have been doing a piss-poor job. Vote yes so other kids have a 'choice' just like the local politicians and board members who send thier precious snowflakes to out of district schooling because they KNOW how awful it is!

Yes Shawn--very informative: where can one find these requirements and regulatory details in the law? I'm still looking for the requirement that private companies recruiting local groups for business would do that in low income, underperforming areas before they mine for already-performing zone--or maybe has one in the underperforming area for every one in a performing area--or maybe for those "mechanistic" companies (with dozens of schools--see Florida) that they be required to open 5 schools for every one in a performing area.

I'm also looking for the appeal process where 95% of a community DOESN'T want a charter school in their area.

Here's a mistake by a local school district trying to "do the right thing"--

This school also got an economic development bond from the City of Alpharetta to build--financing from a city? City school. Why? Because they thought it would bring business to town square--maybe it would--still inappropriate public funding. Really, someone needed to unload some real estate.

There obviously are many articles but found this off the AJC beaten path that most people read (its confusing, but comments below are interesting too).
http://alpharetta.patch.com/articles/charter-school-advocate-and-mom-will-vote-no

Is Ivy Prep in Norcross a success story? How were they approved? How are the results looking?:

http://int.ivyprepacademy.org/ivy-prep-outperforms-gwinnett-again/

Profit for who? This goes wayyyyyy beyond management companies and suppliers. Bearing on the explosivity and scammy reasons this will explode with full funding: The people that make money have nothing to do with education--real estate, bond dealers, attorneys--even on the stock market:

stock market (note relevance to the private college scam--and stock bubble):
http://truth-out.org/news/item/12117-education-profiteering-wall-streets-next-big-thing

real estate:
http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/09/19/v-fullstory/2541051_florida-charter-schools-big-money.html#storylink=addthis

shawn shawn shawn--these are different times and most importantly more funding available under the law. The apps will quintuple and approvals will be fast and furious--there are more companies licking their chops--other states have increased the momentum--financiers will exert greater pressure, much more "creative"...

shawn--the argument that we shoudln't fear whole new "charter industrial complex" because we already have a "public school industrial complex" is contradictory. What would we want with a second industrial complex which will be more "parallel" than "competitive"--the same damn people--double the profit?

http://www.gpb.org/blogs/passion-for-learning/2012/10/23/charter-school-amendment-debate#

I showed this link to some of my younger friends and neighbors and asked them to truthfully give me thier opinion. They all agreed that the anti-charters looked terrible. I challenge anyone who is undecided to watch this video, then make up your own mind.

Tom, I appreciate the talking down to. We can agree to disagree over your paranoia. Good day, Sir.

the most damning part is when Valarie Wilson started whining about vouchers. You could tell her interest was not about 'the kids'. More like protecting the 'system'. watch that video and tell me who you think is really looking out for the kids.

I guess such belief in faeries is the result of 20 years of faux-newz and an inculcation with the falsehood that 'the free market always does a better job'.
I also guess that is why common sense opposition seems to catch people flat footed, even when the catch commercials don't automatically change people's minds.

again, the 'reason' we are 'having this discussion' is because the CURRENT SYSTEM is NOT working. The ROI is awful. were 47th in GRADUATING kids. Facts. It's too far gone, now. Dollittle, too late. Sorry, double E the ride os OVER. Competition is here, step up your game or get out of the way! #waiting for superman

I'm all for reforming public schools so our children are prepared to work in a rapidly evolving technical society. Unfortunately, change will take decades if we expect it to come from the people who are working within the "system". Just like in business, we need a "disruptive technology" to change the paradigm of education. Charters are the closest thing I know to that, though there are other hopeful ways... like the Khan Academy on YouTube. I'm voting YES.

Eddie you said:
"I'm glad there are not a sufficient number of people who believe in 'free market magic' nonsense to pass this monstrosity."
Unfortunately for civilization, there have enough been in any state its been offered and plenty will just check "yes" here. BTW--the only difference between this and the TSPLOST we "cancelled" is that people think it's free..
...and conservatives back it lock stock and barrel...no Tea Party opposition.

Education leaders in Finland (you know the global leader in those test results that put the US last of all the developed world, politicians use conveniently--mainly Republicans)--
they think moving to market based schools is the worst thing any nation can do.

They are quite honest that they know much of our difficulty with public school "performance" in the US is socio-economic disparity--and are quite certain that market based schools will fair no better under the same conditions.

For anyone on the fence (or in favor because somebody they 'trust' thinks it's a good idea) take a moment, enlighten yourself. There is nothing new in this 'amendment' and the focus has nothing whatsoever to do with improvement of publicly financed education.

If you have never visited the site, please, go to www.alecexposed.org.
Read the proposals on education carefully and look at what it is the 'business friendly community' really wants to do with YOUR tax money.
If this still seems like the greatest idea since sliced bread to you, I don't know what to say.
But if you fall within the average, middle class, too busy to stay on top of things that might sneak up on you, I feel a few minutes of enlightenment might provide you with sufficient cold sweat to not only vote against this nonsense, but go out and find at least three other people to vote against it.
Once a stupid 'stealing' policy like this is in place, the road back to sanity is very, very difficult.

Why do we need this amendment? The state can already approve charter schools if the local boards do not. I just do not trust the legislators on this one. The wording is completely biased and there are too many questions as to what will happen to the rest of the children that are left behind in the underfunded public schools.

Educational reform is needed, but I don't believe this Amendment will solve the problems we are experiencing in education. Where is all the money coming from to open all these new schools if money isn't being pulled away from public schools?

Something is fishy.

I'm voting NO in NOvember.

EE--that's becoming clear. I couldn't have put your statement more diplomatically. Altho from firends I know they do work on both sides of the aisle. (Oh shoot! This isn't partisan--then again almost nothing really is).

This is enough for me to vote “No” on the amendment:
http://www.ajc.com/news/news/state-regional-govt-politics/filings-pro-charter-amendment-campaign-swamps-oppo/nSpfn/

Monty Brewster: you said--
"ELF - if you have the ability, you may want to analyze the information on the link you posted. Georgia tests 80% of its student population. There are only four states that test a higher percentage. In fact, 18 of the top 20 test less than 10% of their top students. "
That's only the beginning--we are also the 4th largest immigration state-and wer'e not talking about doctors and engineers. You don't suppose that affects our test scores does it?
Oh--and dropout rate? Every state does that differently--and Georgia's system penalizes schools--mainly because they don't know who of that immigrant population is "dropping out" and who is moving from school to school (THEY DON'T TRACK RECEIVING SCHOOLS!!)--your parents move from free-rent special to free-rent special every six months? You're a dropout.
I think somewhere there are stats on Georgia's Top 25% (still far higher % than most states test-takers)--we're in the Top 10 in the freaking country!!
Where do you suppose we'd be just doing the Top 10% (like Minnesota's 9 goddam %)--we'd be in the Top 5!!!!!!
BTW--

here we go again. bad stats? excuses. "Oh, the reason we stink on SAT's is because we make all our 'little dummies' take the test." boo hoo. The reason we rank 47th in graduating kids? Blame the immigrants *rolls eyes*. Cheatting scandal? Dont blame the teachers who cheat, blame the test. Or, the kids: http://atlanta.cbslocal.com/2012/08/28/school-teacher-helps-students-cheat-because-she-says-theyre-dumb-as-hell/
quite frankly, spin away all you want but it wont pass the 'sniff test'. When the local politicians and APD Board members ENROLL thier own kids in these failing schools, and not high priced private schools, THEN we might see a change. For now, Charter Schools fill that void: at least in my neghborhood. Vote Yes and give other kids a chance.

So we begin acting childish when your use of inaccurate, irrelevant statistics is called out? The spin is using the "apples to oranges" comparison, saying we are last in the nation. You must be quite disoriented as your sniff test seems to be up the backside of the corrupt legislators. How about the ethics ranking of 50th in the country? There's a good stat for you to use.

Here's what you can expect if this amendment passes:
California - http://articles.latimes.com/2012/aug/24/local/la-me-banks-cheating-scandal-20120825
Louisiana - http://www.nola.com/education/index.ssf/2012/08/new_orleans_charter_school_is.html
Florida - http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/12/10/v-fullstory/2541157/how-some-states-rein-in-charter.html
New York - http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/13/education/online-schools-score-better-on-wall-street-than-in-classrooms.html?_r=0
* http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/03/AR2010020303959.html
* http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/local/articles/2010/02/08/20100208charterschools0208.html

ELF--don't blame the system using stats unless you're prepared to defend the stats. You got a case to make? Make them without bad stats.

Lets get back to basics--very few people disagree that school choice is a good thing. Let's do charters the way we're doing them, do conversion charters the way we're doing them, allow local zones to start their own STEM schools and other alternate methods. Just don't enshrine privatizing the public school system by favoring that alternative from a General Assembly that doesn't have 10% of the forethought and regulatory regime required to keep CharterGeddon under control.

thanks Monty Brewster for this:

http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/12/10/v-fullstory/2541157/how-some-states-rein-in-charter.html

(see 7th comment below story)
"FOUR SCHOOLS I HELPED GO TO A CONVERSION CHARTER SCHOOL TODAY ARE ALL "A" SCHOOLS WITH A CASH RESERVE AT THE END OF THE SCHOOL WITH OVER $2,500,000 MILLION DOLLARS ON THE LOW SIDE AND $4,500,000 MILLION ON THE HIGH SIDE BASED ON STUDENT POPULATION.

DO NOT ALLOW THESE MANAGEMENT COMPANIES SUCK UP ALL THOSE TAX DOLLARS AND LEAVE THE CHILDREN BEHIND SINCE THEY ARE A FOR PROFIT COMPANY. THEY HAVE INVESTORS AND STOCKHOLDERS TO ACCOUNT FOR NOT YOUR CHILD OR YOU.

BE SMART AND USE THE LAW TO YOUR ADVANTAGE, THEY ARE COUNTING ON YOU AND YOUR COMMUNITY NOT TO BE SMART ENOUGH TO RUN A SCHOOL.

WOLFGANG W HALBIG
352-729-2559

Tom Doolittle - CharterGeddon is a great image.

@Decatur Mom,
Valarie Wilson is speaking as President of GSBA. Saying she is speaking on behalf of all of the children in the State is as far from the truth as it gets.

Acquaint yourselves with a parallel blog (register and comment)-note tho that the blog is targeted at DeKalb schools dysfunction, so most there have a bit of a provincial view of the need for a STATE law--in my view biting off far more than they can chew and toothpaste they will want to put back in a tube later.

http://dekalbschoolwatch.wordpress.com/2012/10/28/fran-millar-why-i-will-vote-yes-on-the-charter-school-amendment/

Rae, would that be like Nina Rudin and all the Charter Principals emailing their employees about what to say to parents and friends about the amendment, and then saying they weren't trying to influence anyone?

I don't know about that, but I do know about the emails and flyers sent home with the kiddies telling their parents to Vote NO

Well, that is further proof that the proponents of this amendment have no idea of what is really happening around them. This was covered nationwide by the Associated Press. Meanwhile, where is this so called flyer sent home to vote no? Can you produce said article?

Whether or not I do, it really doesn't matter. It wouldn't change your mind if I did and would only hurt someone else in the process. My point is, Valarie and the other leaders of Educator organizations AND charter groups have a right to speak, I am simply pointing out that her interests lie with GSBA, not all the children of Georgia.

So, she can't speak on their behalf, but you can speak for her? All the while spreading rumors without any evidence. Sounds like that pretty much sums up the whole campaign for the amendment supporters.

Hmmm...Sounds like what the opponents have been doing all along. But like I said, nothing I say will change your mind. And of course, nothing you say will change mine.

Rae, I'm not on here to convince you otherwise. You've clearly made up your mind. I'm on here because I have children that attend public schools and have seen class size rise drastically over the last few years as funding continues to decrease. More charters will cause further decrease in funding that will go towards the new charters. I'll be honest with you, in that I would normally support charter schools, but the people supporting this amendment have done nothing other than attack our schools in order to promote charters. While that has nothing to do with this Amendment, it is the campaign. I'm on here to help those voters that are undecided to not be fooled by the untruths and fear-filled rumors spread by many supporters of the Amendment.

The Amendment is about creating a separate commission that does not answer to the voters of Georgia. They are even given incentive to approve charters as they will receive a 3% kickback. This commission will essentially do the same exact thing that the State DOE is already doing. It's more bureaucracy.

Education is continually changing. Legislators change laws and educational policy all the time. Curriculum is changed all the time. They start something and then it doesn't work and start something else wasting money all over the place. Those mistakes are easily changed, but we don't get that money back. Changing the STATE CONSTITUTION is a HUGE deal and won't be easily changed after we see how we all been duped.

Button:
You want the gubmn't to start a completely new industry (entitlement) with tax dollars based on "MAYBE"? This isn't an experiment--it's a vortex that will suck in everything anywhere near it--all community energy (lotteries, meetings, envy, arguments, accusations of corruption and favoritism with people who once called themselves friends), evacuation of current schools (and buildings), bond financing, real estate transactions ...and that's BEFORE any reviews of school performance and financial management begin (which will take a few years to get a good picture)...toothpaste that can NEVER be put back in a tube...

...all based on the MAYBE of poorly thought out law and process.

Amazing that all of the attention on Amendment 1 is allowing Amendment 2 to just slip and out. It's just so "coincidental" that the Leg wants "state agencies" to be able to have multi-year leases. Interesting to see how that will be used to assist the placement of "public" schools with privatized operations. The Charter "School Board" will be a state agency--and the schools will be defined as an extension of that agency. City bonds or private investment will develop the property and buildings based on guaranteed taxpayer payback--covering the apparent shortfall in per pupil allocation between local schools and charter schools.

(Of course, Amendment 2 really is a payoff to a weak property development industry in every respect--school development will just be one area).

Voters (aka citizens) don't stand a chance against the special interest Referendum industry. Somebody please stop it in its tracks (railroad tracks).

All Atlanta public schools are atrocious. It's too bad that most people in Atlanta have never seen a public school system that you are proud to be a part of for your children's growth. Until there is a fundamental change in overall vision and leadership the APS will continue to fail our children. I wouldn't send our kids to APS or charter if you paid me.

http://www.greatschools.org/georgia/atlanta/2651-Neighborhood-Charter-School/
http://www.trulia.com/real_estate/30316-Atlanta/
OPM, I share in your disgust at the sorry state of the APD. If your moniker is accurate, we are neighbors. I live in Ormewood Park as well.
My child attends ANCS, and is 'on the spectrum'. Given the sorry choices (look at the links above ) what 'choices' did I have? A: sell and move to a better school district, Not really an option. B: private school. A viable option. C: Parkside Elementary ( we 'toured' this school in 2010-11 the principal exclaimed 'we were one of the non-cheating schools, 4 weeks later the truth comes out) not an option. D: Atlanta Neighborhood Charter School. An option.

What the power brokers and vested interest peeps ( just read through the thread, usually these people are more concerned with protecting thier rackets then actually giving inner city kids a choice) dont want you to know is 'how' this CS succeeds. Why it does better then Imagine Wesley and Stanton? Part of the reason is the fact that while ANCS does not 'hand pick' it's students ( baldface lie, there) it does 'hand pick' the parents involvement. You simply cannot be a 'drop em off and forget em' parent there. If you dont try to make a difference: by volunteering part of your time, by actively getting involved with your childs education, they can boot you and your kid right out the door, and there is a line of kids waiting to fill that spot. If a teacher stinks, they get canned. If the principle drops the ball: she gets fired. If the school slip below the minimum standard ( whic will never happen) the school gets CLOSED.We've seen this is simply not the case in Fulton and Dekalb County. And DeKalb county is abhorrent. The obvious corruption and incompetance makes me weep for those poor kids over there. At least we have an option in Ormewood Park if you child gets the lucky ping pong ball.
Vote yes and break the stranglehold. For the kids!

Let the money follow the child. Not the school, the teacher or the administration. If you let the money follow the child you will start to see "real" improvements. Vote Yes to Charter Schools!

Why not give families and children the option? This is less about teaching children and more about teacher unions and highly paid administrative folks who don't want competition and/or to lose power over YOUR TAX MONEY that you so kindly send them every year. Well i am sorry, as Donald Trump would say "you had your shot and you are fired!" Vote yes for competition, student choice and yes for charter schools!

Re flyers going home from school systems urging parents to vote no: I have seen none. Has anyone else? Can we see proof? This seems like more manipulation of the truth, just like the wording of the Amendment.

More--more, more, more. Handwriting on the wall.
http://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/blog/capitol_vision/2013/01/parent-trigger-bill-touted.html?ana=e_du_pap&s=article_du&ed=2013-01-14

More parent choice. Excellent move.

More parent choice yes--but is this the way?
Lets get "educated"--round 27.

http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/Bridging-Differences/2011/10/the_trouble_with_the_parent_tr.html

(excerpt)
"...But giving the current parents the power to close the school or to hand it over to a private management company is akin to saying that whoever uses any public facility should have the same power, the power to transfer control to a private entity. It means if those who use Central Park in Manhattan don't like the way the city of New York takes care of it, they should be able to sign a petition and privatize it. If a majority of those who patronize a national park sign a petition, they should be able to hand control of the park over to private managers. This makes no sense.
The Parent Trigger should be recognized for what it is: A stealth assault on public ... (assets)