Co-Sponsor of Pro-Charter
Constitutional Amendment Calls
Opponents Beholden to Special Interests
While Receiving Thousands in
Contributions from Pro-Choice Interest
Groups
‘Do As I Say, Not As I Do’
State Representative Alisha Morgan has been an outspoken proponent of
charter schools and school choice in Georgia. Morgan appeared in a
recent pro-choice documentary called Making the Grade: Georgia.
Morgan is also a co-sponsor of HB 1162, a pro-charter constitutional
amendment that would expand state powers and limit local control of public
education in Georgia.
In Making the Grade: Georgia, Representative Alisha Morgan calls on
fellow lawmakers to stop focusing on whether “this particular PAC [Political
Action Committee] is going to keep supporting me” and “focus on families
and kids.” Recently, Morgan held a press conference in support of the
charter amendment. Pro-choice organizations at the press conference
echoed Morgan’s words saying: “Today, many Representatives chose to
put the entrenched political interests of adults over the interests of
children.”
Source: http://www.11alive.com/News/Education/226604/11/Ga-House-
deals-blow-to-charter-school-movement
Morgan seems to suggest that lawmakers who do not support the pro-
choice movement are being bought and paid for by special interest dollars
and that she has the real interest of “families and kids” at heart.
Morgan Received $12,550 from Pro-Choice Allies During the Last
Election Cycle
However, Morgan has received thousands of dollars in campaign dollars
from pro-choice education groups. During the last election cycle,
Representative Morgan received $12,550 from pro-choice PACs,
companies, and individuals.
Some Contributions Came from Groups Facing Allegations of
Financial and Academic Fraud
On the documentary, Morgan was a part of a cast that exposed the
greatness of expanding vouchers and charter schools. Ironically, she has
received contributions from for-profit charter schools with questionable
track records.
During an election year, Morgan received $1,500 in contributions from K12
Management, a for-profit online learning company. A recent New York
Times investigation reported that “[Teachers employed by K12
Management] felt pressured to pass students who did little or no work so
that the company could continue to collect public money for the students it
enrolled. Some teachers also said they were forced to take on as many as
70 to 100 students in each of their classes.” Source: http://news.yahoo.
com/blogs/lookout/nyt-report-online-learning-company-stock-plunges-
204816105.html
Morgan also received $1,500 from Whitehat Management, a for-profit
company that operates charter schools in Ohio and Florida and looks to
Morgan to help them expand markets into Georgia (if Morgan-sponsored
HB 1162 is allowed to pass, then companies like Whitehat would be allowed
to set up shop in Georgia). Whitehat has been under investigation from
refusing to hand over financial reports to local school boards. State Impact
reported that local systems gave up 96% of their funds while Whitehat
refused to open up its financial books for any oversight. Cleveland Weekly
called Whitehat “the Master of Charter Disaster.”
Source: http://stateimpact.npr.org/ohio/2011/12/28/judge-says-white-hat-
must-open-its-books/
Source: http://www.clevescene.com/scene-and-
heard/archives/2011/12/28/florida-gets-acquainted-with-ohios-master-of-
charter-school-disaster
Given K12’s and Whitehat’s questionable behavior, will Representative
Morgan call for legislative investigations? Will she donate the tainted
contributions to a charity?
Page 1 2
Constitutional Amendment Calls
Opponents Beholden to Special Interests
While Receiving Thousands in
Contributions from Pro-Choice Interest
Groups
‘Do As I Say, Not As I Do’
State Representative Alisha Morgan has been an outspoken proponent of
charter schools and school choice in Georgia. Morgan appeared in a
recent pro-choice documentary called Making the Grade: Georgia.
Morgan is also a co-sponsor of HB 1162, a pro-charter constitutional
amendment that would expand state powers and limit local control of public
education in Georgia.
In Making the Grade: Georgia, Representative Alisha Morgan calls on
fellow lawmakers to stop focusing on whether “this particular PAC [Political
Action Committee] is going to keep supporting me” and “focus on families
and kids.” Recently, Morgan held a press conference in support of the
charter amendment. Pro-choice organizations at the press conference
echoed Morgan’s words saying: “Today, many Representatives chose to
put the entrenched political interests of adults over the interests of
children.”
Source: http://www.11alive.com/News/Education/226604/11/Ga-House-
deals-blow-to-charter-school-movement
Morgan seems to suggest that lawmakers who do not support the pro-
choice movement are being bought and paid for by special interest dollars
and that she has the real interest of “families and kids” at heart.
Morgan Received $12,550 from Pro-Choice Allies During the Last
Election Cycle
However, Morgan has received thousands of dollars in campaign dollars
from pro-choice education groups. During the last election cycle,
Representative Morgan received $12,550 from pro-choice PACs,
companies, and individuals.
Some Contributions Came from Groups Facing Allegations of
Financial and Academic Fraud
On the documentary, Morgan was a part of a cast that exposed the
greatness of expanding vouchers and charter schools. Ironically, she has
received contributions from for-profit charter schools with questionable
track records.
During an election year, Morgan received $1,500 in contributions from K12
Management, a for-profit online learning company. A recent New York
Times investigation reported that “[Teachers employed by K12
Management] felt pressured to pass students who did little or no work so
that the company could continue to collect public money for the students it
enrolled. Some teachers also said they were forced to take on as many as
70 to 100 students in each of their classes.” Source: http://news.yahoo.
com/blogs/lookout/nyt-report-online-learning-company-stock-plunges-
204816105.html
Morgan also received $1,500 from Whitehat Management, a for-profit
company that operates charter schools in Ohio and Florida and looks to
Morgan to help them expand markets into Georgia (if Morgan-sponsored
HB 1162 is allowed to pass, then companies like Whitehat would be allowed
to set up shop in Georgia). Whitehat has been under investigation from
refusing to hand over financial reports to local school boards. State Impact
reported that local systems gave up 96% of their funds while Whitehat
refused to open up its financial books for any oversight. Cleveland Weekly
called Whitehat “the Master of Charter Disaster.”
Source: http://stateimpact.npr.org/ohio/2011/12/28/judge-says-white-hat-
must-open-its-books/
Source: http://www.clevescene.com/scene-and-
heard/archives/2011/12/28/florida-gets-acquainted-with-ohios-master-of-
charter-school-disaster
Given K12’s and Whitehat’s questionable behavior, will Representative
Morgan call for legislative investigations? Will she donate the tainted
contributions to a charity?
Page 1 2
|
Source: State Ethics Commission: Campaign Disclosure Forms
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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
> Do As I Say, Not As I Do
> Morgan Received $12,550 from Pro-choice
Allies During the Last Election Cycle
> Some Contributions Came from Groups
Facing Financial and Academic Fraud
> State Rep's Husband: School Board Member
and Registered Lobbyist
> Husband Lobbies; Same Group Donates
Thousands to His Wife
> State Rep Uses E-newsletter to Recruit
Candidates for Lobbying Group Employing Her
Husband
> Do As I Say, Not As I Do
> Morgan Received $12,550 from Pro-choice
Allies During the Last Election Cycle
> Some Contributions Came from Groups
Facing Financial and Academic Fraud
> State Rep's Husband: School Board Member
and Registered Lobbyist
> Husband Lobbies; Same Group Donates
Thousands to His Wife
> State Rep Uses E-newsletter to Recruit
Candidates for Lobbying Group Employing Her
Husband
