“So often, our own fear of failure is the thing that keeps us back.” – Michelle Obama
There is a call to action for women in Georgia to support thousands of children in Charter schools. As we celebrate Women’s History Month and International Women’s Day, I am petitioning all mothers, retired and current educators and women across Georgia speak out for children in Georgia charter schools. We need parents and supporters to join the GeorgiaCAN and Georgia Charter School Association letter writing campaign. The letter writing campaign is to support HB 787 currently in the state senate. If this bill is passed, it will increase funding for state charter schools. This bill will help increase academic performance of thousands of Georgia students who are excelling in their school of choice. We need your support in helping them continue to be successful!
GeorgiaCAN and the GCSA are partnering together to meet with parents and stakeholders desiring to help HB 787 for a Letter Writing Event. Please RSVP Here and see additional information below:
What: State Charter School Funding Advocacy Event
When: Saturday, March 10, 2018, at 10:00 am – 11:30 am
Where: Moonbird Coffee, 5394 Peachtree Rd, Atlanta, GA
Information on HB 787
GeorgiaCAN asks citizens to support the funding of the charter facility grant program
In 2017, GeorgiaCAN worked with coalition partners to pass House Bill 430, which aimed to improve Georgia’s charter school environment. Acknowledging that facility costs are one of the biggest challenges these schools face, HB 430 included language authorizing an annual facilities grant for charter public schools. Now, this line item must be funded. GeorgiaCAN will advocate strongly for this funding to be included in the FY2019 budget.
GeorgiaCAN asks citizens to help ensure charter public schools are equitably funded
Despite educating more than 32,000 students, charter public schools authorized by the State Charter Schools Commission do not receive any local share of funding. To make up for this shortfall, the state appropriates a supplement based on the average of the five lowest spending districts in the state. As a result, State Commission charter public schools receive 20 percent less funding on average than traditional schools and in comparison to a district such as APS the difference is nearly twice as much. For a charter school to reach their full potential, charter public schools should be funded the same as any other traditional public school. GeorgiaCAN will support any effort to decrease this funding disparity and ensure that charter public schools are more equitably funded.
Jason has worked in education for over 15 years as a teacher, blogger and community advocate. He speaks and writes primarily about the need to improve education for Black boys, particularly increasing the number of Black male educators in schools. In addition to blogging here at EdLanta, Jason is also a featured writer at Education Post.