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"Modern-Day Version of Taxation Without Representation"

The following is a letter from Superintendent Wilbanks to the state legislators regarding the possible Georgia constitutional amendment, HR 1162.

Dear Members of the Gwinnett Delegation,

I am writing to follow up on conversations I have had with most of you prior to the start of the session on a number of critical issues, including the possibility of a constitutional amendment to address the charter school issue, an amendment you are now working on as HR 1162. In those conversations, some of you very candidly told me you were going to "fix" the charter school situation. When I asked how, you indicated that this would occur through a constitutional amendment. I told you then, and I reassert now, that if an amendment on this issue was presented in a fair and accurate manner to the voters of Georgia, I would not oppose it. I have faith in the Georgia electorate that they would see the value of their public schools and the value of local control.

I now have had the opportunity to review the language of HR 1162. At best, this resolution is misleading and is based on faulty reasoning. To promote this constitutional amendment as being "for the purpose of raising student achievement by allowing state and local approval of public charter schools upon the request of the communities" is disingenuous as there already is a process for local and state approval of public charter schools. More egregious is the insinuation that charter schools are the answer to the question of how to raise student achievement. The data I have studied extensively on this issue shows clearly that the impact of charter schools on student achievement varies significantly across schools. You cannot and should not try to paint all charter schools with the same broad brush of excellence. Data proves that is not the case. I urge you to consider the available research, and respectfully ask that you oppose HR 1162 as it is currently written. The proposed language for amending the Constitution as it stands now could be viewed as a legislative sleight of hand intended to manipulate voters, institute a modern-day version of taxation without representation, and diminish local control.

I caution you to be prepared as I believe the voters of Georgia will see HR 1162 as an attack on local school systems and a direct strike at their children's education. They will question why the education of a small percentage of children in charter schools is so much more important than the education of their children, who are among the 92 percent of Georgia’s children served by traditional public schools. Your answer to that question is certain to have powerful and lasting implications.

As always, I am available to discuss this issue with you or answer any additional questions you may have.

J. Alvin Wilbanks
CEO/Superintendent

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