Myth: Charters Seek to Put the Interests of Families and Students
First
Fact: Proponents of the proposed charter amendment wave the banner of
families and children, while advocating the interests of business interests
over students’ interests.
Fact: For these groups and individuals, support of the proposed charter
amendment equates to making a business investment, instead of investing
in all of our schools and all of our children.
Myth: Charter Schools Increase Student Achievement
Fact: Multiple Studies and Reports Call Into Question the Effectiveness of
Charter Schools.
Fact: Charter school proponents regularly cherry pick data and make
broad comparisons.
First
Fact: Proponents of the proposed charter amendment wave the banner of
families and children, while advocating the interests of business interests
over students’ interests.
- Looking at the list of sponsors for the Georgia Charter School
Association (GCSA), EmpowerED Georgia found a laundry list of for-
profit interests – charter management, school construction,
curriculum, and investment companies -- which will benefit directly
from the passage of the proposed constitutional amendment.5
If GCSA has its way and the Charter Amendment passes, it seems
they might look to a state like Michigan, which has lax charter school
regulations. Michigan has 80% of charters being run by for-profit
management companies. For them, it is about expanding a market
and not about improving education for every child.
Proponents’ claim of representing the interests of families even
expands to the name of the group promoting the passage of the
charter amendment -- Families for Better Public Schools, but their
actions speak louder than their words.
Recently, Families for Better Public Schools (FBPS) held a $1,000
per plate fundraiser (corporate sponsorship was $10,000 per plate).
Not many “everyday” families could afford that kind of fundraiser, so
are they really representing everyday Georgia families?8
Fact: For these groups and individuals, support of the proposed charter
amendment equates to making a business investment, instead of investing
in all of our schools and all of our children.
- Many would think that a true grassroots organization would have a
charter school parent or teacher at its head. However, FBPS’s
Director is Mark Peevy. Peevy is the former President of the Georgia
Charter School Association and current co-owner of a for-profit
company called Ed Innovation Partners, LLC, which provides
services to help clients establish and run charter schools.
A glance at FBPS’s website and promotional materials makes it
appear that they represent the interests of everyday Georgia
families, but beyond the stock photos lies a web of self-serving
actions, instead of student-serving actions.
Myth: Charter Schools Increase Student Achievement
Fact: Multiple Studies and Reports Call Into Question the Effectiveness of
Charter Schools.
- A comprehensive study conducted by Stanford University (which
included Georgia) concluded that 83% of the nation’s charters
performed the same or worse than their traditional school
counterparts. A recent report from the Georgia Department of
Education found that charters in the state do not out perform
traditional public schools.
Fact: Charter school proponents regularly cherry pick data and make
broad comparisons.
- Often, they point to the overall scores of the area’s traditional
schools and compare them to the overall scores of the charter
school. Proponents continue to twist the data in order to push an
agenda. When it comes to true comparisons, the devil is in the
details.
In EmpowerED Georgia's Charter Schools Blueprint, we advocate
that comparisons must be made on a sub-group to sub-group basis
(i.e. comparing the performance of charter school students with
disabilities to that of traditional school students with disabilities). The
proposed charter amendment does not include such a requirement.
| Tweet this article, Post on Facebook, or E-mail to Friend: |
EmpowerED Georgia is an
education advocacy group made up
of over 3,500 members -- students,
parents, educators, and concerned
citizens -- from across the State of
Georgia. LEARN MORE
education advocacy group made up
of over 3,500 members -- students,
parents, educators, and concerned
citizens -- from across the State of
Georgia. LEARN MORE
Navigate this Special Report
> Myth: The State Does Not Have the Power to
Approve Charter Schools That Were Denied by
Local Boards
> Myth: Charter Schools Are More Innovative
and Flexible
> Myth: State Charter Schools Will Not Take
Funds Away from Traditional Public Schools
> Myth: Charter Schools Are Public Schools
> Myth: Charters Serve All Students
> Myth: Charters Seek to Put the Interests of
Families and Students First
> Myth: Charter Schools Increase Student
Achievement
> Charters Will Expand Choice and Create
Competition
> Myth: The State Does Not Have the Power to
Approve Charter Schools That Were Denied by
Local Boards
> Myth: Charter Schools Are More Innovative
and Flexible
> Myth: State Charter Schools Will Not Take
Funds Away from Traditional Public Schools
> Myth: Charter Schools Are Public Schools
> Myth: Charters Serve All Students
> Myth: Charters Seek to Put the Interests of
Families and Students First
> Myth: Charter Schools Increase Student
Achievement
> Charters Will Expand Choice and Create
Competition
