"Message" Article Serves to Unite

The Cherokee Tribune published the following Letter to the Editor on Sunday, March 18th.  At a time where so-called parent groups are angry and shouting in the name of local control, transparency and false blame for funding woes, we give kudos to the 'Trib' for giving the voters in this county a look at the other side of the issue.

Those of us in favor of school choice are incredibly proud that our message is one of unity and community and freedom! Click below for the link:

Sending Wrong Message On School Choice

GA Public School Students Score Big!

With all the changes to the HOPE Scholarship, Georgia parents saving for college will be pleased with the latest news.  The AJC reported this weekend that Georgia has risen to No. 13 in the nation in the percentage of public school students scoring high enough on Advanced Placement exams to earn college credits. 

Click here for more: GA Students Score Big 

Would LOVE to know who put the "Politics" in PTA?

Wow!  Could never have said it better!
Thank you Mike Dudgeon for this thoughtful article.

Parents or Politics?

What Does a 12 Year Old Think About School Choice?

Why not let the children be heard??  (This letter was edited only to protect the student,teacher and school mentioned.)

"I am a student at a Charter School in Georgia. I love my school.  There are many opportunities for learning and being part of your community.  I am a 6^th grade representative. Beta club member, Future Educators of America club member and honor roll student.  One of my teachers, Mrs. Teacher, teaches in a way that just makes it easier to understand.  She teaches Science which I did not like last year.  This year it is my favorite subject because I understand it.  Many of the Charter teachers do that, not just her.  We have creative projects which I believe are great.  It helps us remember the material and it is more fun that just taking notes all the time.  I think that creativity is mandatory in a kid’s growth.  I believe education is very important, and the Charter schools offer so much more. 

At my last school I was bullied and no one cared.  I was bullied until I cried.  I was just a student in a large class and there was no time for me.  At my Charter School, that does not happen.  I am important at Charter.  My Charter School has changed not just my life, but many of my friends.  We want to come to school now.  Do you really want to send us back to schools where we do not matter? 

I want to ask all the House Representatives  if  you have ever been bullied?  Those of you who raised your hands please close your eyes and think about when you were bullied.    It is not fun and hard to concentrate on school work.  

To quote J K Rowling’s, “it is our choices that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities”. Please make the right choice for me and the children of Georgia and Vote yes for school choice.  

I am your future."

Is it About the Children or the Money?

Wonder if anyone in the local media would like to consider printing/posting the REAL story?


As our state House of Representatives grapple with the tough issues facing our failing education system, the rhetoric from the Georgia School Board Associations, and so-called professional teacher groups has sunk to a new level. Our elected leaders have been berated unscrupulously, even the ones who have reached out to our community to help us come together for the sake of our children. It’s just so sad that these leaders are being attacked for trying to do what is right for our children.

Spending the last two weeks under the gold dome fighting for school choice, I have made an important observation. Every time the opponents to the proposed charter amendment talk, it’s about the money and the funding and the cost. When the School Choice supporters talk, it’s about the children and giving a choice to families. Call me crazy, but the proof is all over that bowl of pudding!

I challenge parents to make up their own minds and not form an opinion based on half truths. The fact is, Cherokee County did not lose because a state-approved Charter School opened. Have you heard about the district FINALLY stepping up to add STEM Academies? Where are the extra furlough days and fired teachers that were promised by the Superintendent directly due to the opening of CCA? How can 800 students leaving CCSD schools cause class sizes to go up? What is fair about CC schools keeping my property tax money to educate children that are not my own?

Parents in Cherokee County should be celebrating Cherokee Charter Academy and fighting for more state-approved Charter schools. Since when did raising the bar and trying new things in education become such a bad thing, especially in a state that ranks at the bottom of the pile in education performance, but at the top for education spending??

As for Chip Rogers and other elected officials, I say a simple and very heartfelt thank you for standing up for what is right for the future of this state. 

Georgia Chamber of Commerce Supports HR1162

The Georgia Chamber of Commerce supports public charter schools and other quality options for students that
help create the educated workforce employers need to compete in our global economy. The Chamber supports a constitutional amendment to restore an alternative route for charter school approval and clarify the state’s role
in funding and governing education. The Chamber has designated HR 1162 as a scorecard issue for 2012.

Thank you Georgia Chamber for stepping up for our children!  Click on this link to read the entire document:
One Pager Charter School Amendment.pdf

Lobby Lessons Learned

We regret that the original list of contacts for our state representatives may have accidentally included personal phone numbers and e-mail addresses.  We are a grass-roots group of parents and not paid professional lobbyists.  We understand that this may have caused some confusion and acted quickly to correct our innocent error. 

We have changed the contact information and have asked all of our advocates to please use office contact information only. We hope our fearless leaders under the gold dome will accept our sincere apologies and know that the contact information we provided, although available from public information sources, was never intended to offend or upset anyone.

We continue to fight for school choice and HR1162, but now we know so much more about how to do it!