Georgia

Parents have made their demand for power clear in a state where they had to take their charter law to the ballot box so that it could survive a court’s adverse decision. They won in November 2012. These choices are much in demand as evidenced by the long waiting lists and demand for the state’s new scholarship program. There are also some nice opportunities in Georgia for digital learning and parents can access information pretty readily to make choices. It’s still not enough, but they are making more progress in their efforts over the past few years than they did in almost a century.

The Georgia Special Needs Scholarship Program allows students who have had an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) for one year whose parents are unhappy with their public school to receive a voucher to attend private school. The tax credit program provides students who went to public school the previous year or are enrolling in pre-kindergarten, kindergarten or 1st grade up to 100 percent of state and local per pupil funding. The $51.5 million statewide cap will increase annually and approximately 11,500 scholarships are awarded. The state permits parents choice among public schools (often called open enrollment or public school choice), which permits students to attend any public school in the state if there is room.

SOURCE: The Friedman Foundation for Educational Choice

Georgia now has an above average charter school law, recently improved because of the November 2012 constitutional amendment voters approved to allow for independent authorizers, such as the semi-independent state commission. However, problems still exist with districts often rejecting applications without justification, and funding is still a major concern.

SOURCE: The Essential Guide to Charter School Law 2013 National Ranking and Scorecard

Georgia recently passed two landmark pieces of legislation that create a statewide online course marketplace for students and the state has a robust mix of statewide and district-run online programs. Georgia’s policies are generally supportive of student access to online options.

SOURCE: Digital Learning Now!

Student achievement and growth makes up between 40 and 50 percent of a teacher’s evaluation. Neither tenure decisions nor licensure advancement and renewal are connected to objective evidence of teacher effectiveness. Tenure is given to teachers after three years and it’s not tied to performance.

Teacher salary structure is controlled by a state salary schedule based on seniority and advanced degrees, although bonus performance pay is available as well as bonuses for high-need skills or jobs.

SOURCE: National Council on Teacher Quality

Links to state, district and school report cards are readily accessible and easy to read. In the parents section of the state department of education’s website, a directory of charter schools along with data on charter school performance is available. Elections for the 181 city and county local school boards are held during the general election in November.