Appeal filed in ruling favoring Georgia charter schools

By D. Aileen Dodd

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

The Gwinnett County Board of Education on Thursday voted to appeal a court ruling that involves state support for charters schools, which is perceived to come at the expense of public schools.

The school board decided unanimously to appeal the case after Gwinnett and six other school districts sued and lost in Fulton County Superior Court. The schools charged that the Georgia Charter Schools Commission were illegally granting charters and dispersing funding. Judge Wendy L. Shoob ruled that charter schools can be legally approved and funded by a state commission in addition to local school systems.

The Board of Education at Bulloch County Schools, another district involved in the suit, was scheduled to vote on an appeal on Thursday night. The outcome was not readily available. However, however, school officials expected the issue to win approval.