Reject Amendment One

The 2012 Elections will have great implications for voters across America. Outside of the hotly contested Presidential election, there are several races that will shift the balance of power with local, state, and federal governments. More specifically, Georgians will have to the chance to approve an amendment that could literally change the landscape of education in the state of Georgia. When you enter the voting booth you will see something called Amendment 1 which states: 

Provides for improving student achievement and parental involvement through more public charter school options.
House Resolution No. 1162 Ga. L. 2012, p. 1364
 

Shall the Constitution of Georgia be amended to allow state or local approval of public charter schools upon the request of local communities?

( ) YES
( ) NO

This vaguely and deceptively worded question will undoubtedly fool some voters into approving this measure. However, PLEASE be educated before you decide to vote on the measure.

Here are some things you should know ahead of November's election:

1. Amendment 1 re-establishes the Georgia Charter Schools Commission (which was said to be unconstitutional by the Georgia Supreme Court in 2011). The Georgia Charter Schools Commission will be an unaccountable, unelected group of people who will approve charter schools even if local school boards don't approve them. Anyone else see the power grab of the state government?
2. The amendment was crafted by Jan Jones. Jan Jones is a metro Atlanta state legislator. Her "school choice" beliefs were probably informed by the American Legislation Exchange Council as known as ALEC. ALEC is a group of conservative lawmakers, corporations, and other pushers of free market ideas. ALEC advocates for the privatization of public education (essentially passing off public education to the hand of greedy organizations). Jan Jones is a member of the education task force within the ALEC organization. Plus she serves on the education committee within the state government. She is pushing dangerous policies upon Georgia's schools. Furthermore, ALEC has funded the push to disenfranchised voters across America.
3. If Georgia's schools are already being unfunded and having funds taken away from them, think about the further impact of local districts who rely heavily on state funds. But of course, critical resources from schools and then when schools fail to meet certain standards....people raise hell.
4. No one is against choice but why create an extra layer of bureaucracy to approve charter schools. There is a process to approve charter schools if they aren't approved on the local level. State Board of Education anyone?
5. Ed reformers (namely politicians that put this amendment on the ballot), this issue is not about school choice and competition. This charter amendment is mostly about the funneling public funds into organizations that funded your campaigns. This is your way to reward them.

Georgians, be smart. Reject this measure to send a strong message to our state government. Oh and please share!