Decatur city school board members, upset by a proposal in the state Legislature that they say would force local education dollars into the hands of charter schools, have begun to talk about scuttling their request to become one of Georgia's first charter school systems.

The Decatur board has taken no formal action, but in discussions last week they made clear they viewed the proposed legislation —- HB 881 —- as an attack on local government. In a sense, they have issued a shot across the bow of state officials by threatening to pull out of a high-profile project with national attention.

"I'm really excited about our charter application," said Decatur board member Julie Rhame. But "this is devastating legislation for all districts."

HB 881 in part would force school systems to pass on full per-pupil funding —- including federal, state and local tax dollars —- to charters even if the local board did not approve them.

Decatur board members are not alone in their concerns. Herb Garrett, executive director of the Georgia School Superintendents Association, last week wrote on the association's Web site about testimony on the bill that questioned "the legality or the wisdom of having an appointed state commission award local tax dollars to an entity without the approval of locally elected officials."

Still, the bill has passed the House and is being considered in the Senate.

"We're trying to figure out how to influence what's happening," said Decatur school board member John Ahmann.

Charter schools are public schools that operate independently of local systems but, in exchange for that independence, have to meet specific academic goals or face closure. If local boards, for whatever reason, deny a charter school, that charter may appeal for approval from state officials.

HB 881 would create a second alternative state body that also could approve a charter and then require a local system to help fund it.

"It's bad policy because it removes local accountability," Ahmann said. "Do they want a partnership with local districts or do they want to run us over?"

Local school districts do not have to pass on full funding to charter schools now and can hold back dollars for administrative and other costs.

The proposed legislation comes at a time when state funding of education as a percentage has eroded —- for metro Atlanta systems, it often provides less than 50 percent of a system's funding —- with local taxes making up the difference.

However, it also comes at a time when the concept of charters —- independence coupled with accountability —- is more popular than ever.

Gov. Sonny Perdue last May signed a new state law —- the Charter Systems Act —- allowing an entire school system such as Decatur's to operate relatively free of state control.

The measure, unique nationally, frees entire school systems, not just individual charter schools, from many standard laws and practices in exchange for demonstrable achievement. What that achievement should be would be spelled out in a contract written by the system and approved by the state.

Decatur board members approved in December the city's application to be one of the state's first charter systems. That application is scheduled to go before state school board members in May.