ATLANTA – State Representative Barbara Massey Reece (D-Menlo) today released the following statement regarding the Georgia Supreme Court’s recent decision concerning the Charter Schools Commission:
“I voted against HB 881, the 2008 bill which set up the statewide Commission on Charter Schools, and I applaud the recent Georgia Supreme Court decision that found this legislation unconstitutional. I opposed HB 881 because it usurped the authority of our local public school systems and their school boards. These local government bodies are responsible for planning and providing education instruction and opportunities for students within their local district, which includes the approval of all new schools – including charter schools. This traditional delegation of responsibilities vested education authority in the individuals most responsive to their local communities.
“The legislation creating the Commission on Charter Schools changed this system by allowing an unelected state organization to override the authority of local school boards by authorizing the Commission to approve or deny charter school applicants without any involvement or approval from local public school boards. In addition, state tax monies have been diverted from local school systems to charter schools because the schools approved by the Commission are considered public schools.
“I have no problem with charter schools, but I believe their approval should be a cooperative effort among parents, community leaders, and the local school board. Georgia has several charter schools which were set up in this manner and have proven to be a successful part of their community’s education system. These charter schools provide quality instruction with a high level of student success while working with their local system, not against it.
“This issue simply concerns the unconstitutional loss of local control by a locally elected body to an appointed commission in Atlanta. This appointed commission undermined local school boards, but more importantly it undermined Georgians and their voting authority.”
Representative Barbara Massey Reece represents the citizens of District 11, which includes Chattooga County, as well as portions of Floyd County. She was elected into the House of Representatives in 1998, and currently serves on the Education, Reapportionment, Science & Technology, and State Institutions & Property committees.
# # #