This was an incredible week for Education reform in Georgia.  Congratulations to Senator Chip Rogers for the signing of SB 153 into law. According to a Press Release issued on May 2nd from the Georgia Senate Press Office, "The measure authored by Senate Majority Leader Chip Rogers, is designed to protect teachers who lose their job through no fault of their own."

The release further states that "SB 153 requires that employment records accurately note when a teacher is laid off because of issues not related to performance. The result of this act is to ensure that Georgia teachers can be rehired more easily and not be punished for losing a job over financial issues with the district."

“We must continue to create policy that puts teachers first. During these tough economic times, it is important that our educators do not feel abandoned by our state; we must continue to support those who are on the front lines of our classrooms every day,” said Sen. Rogers. “Teachers should never be punished for the financial decisions of the local district. I am thankful to Governor Deal for signing this important piece of legislation that will further benefit and protect Georgia’s educators.”

Thank you, Chip Rogers, for fighting for our teachers in Cherokee County and across Georgia!

Cherokee Parents for Choice is looking forward to attending this Town Hall in North Fulton.  We support Senator Albers and Representative Jan Jones for their incredible work on HR1162 and we stand proudly in their corner.  Please click below for details on the meeting.

Are You For or Against School Choice in North Fulton?

A Perspective on the "Private Company" Debate

According to the Georgia Public Policy Foundation, private management companies have become the latest target of charter school opponents.  In a March 2012, the Foundation reported that "Charter schools not only have to run a school, they also typically have to replicate all the business and administrative services that traditional schools receive from their central office. Also, most charter schools are small and therefore don't have the economies of scale to maintain a full administrative and business office. In fact, it would be a waste of taxpayer dollars to do so. So, just like most small businesses, many charter schools hire private companies to provide payroll, accounting and other services. Since most charter schools don't receive capital funding, many also lease their facilities from private companies. This isn't crony capitalism - it's efficiency and free enterprise. In fact, traditional school systems could learn a thing or two from charter schools, especially when some districts are spending more than $1,000 per child on their central office."
 

What does the NCLB Waiver Mean for GA Schools?

In the confusion over NCLB and the rush for Georgia to escape its "narrow definitions of success", one might be compelled to ask, what will be our new measuring stick?  Well, it's called the College and Career Ready Performance Index.  (Georgia was one of only 10 states in the U.S. to be approved for the NCLB waiver.)

Below we have posted one of the best articles we could find to summarize how the waiver to NCLB will grant more flexibility in evaluating Georgia schools and how some school systems are already making changes to their daily schedules.   It's just too bad that we had to reach over to Cartersville to find a reliable news source on the subject.  Thank you Daily Tribune! 

Highlights from GA Waiver

When it comes to school choice, it's not just families in Cherokee that are looking at options. Click here to read about the surge in middle Georgia too!


Mid-state Families Consider On-Line Schools

Freedom of Speech? "Not at THIS School!"

It seems you can't work for a government school in Milwaukee unless you support unions.

"Schools were once meant to be places of 'light and air' where students could pursue truth and develop critical thinking skills.  But in too many schools, students and employees are expected to follow the left-wing orthodoxy that is being tirelessly promoted by teacher unions."

Click here for the full story...  School Contractor Fired in Milwaukee Over a Bumper Sticker!

CC School Board Speaks Out

It could not have been easy for three of Cherokee County's Board of Education members to speak out, but speak out they did. CP4Choice stands in favor of the opinions so eloquently expressed in this article and thanks the Cherokee Ledger for publishing it.

School Board Minority Speaks Out