Education

Equal funds for charter schools

The editorial "Stealing school tax dollars" questions the constitutionality of HB 881, creating a new authorizer for charter schools and awaiting Gov. Sonny Perdue's signature (@issue, April 21).

According to the Georgia Constitution and legal scholars, the bill is constitutional. Wherever the Legislature is authorized to provide for the creation of funding public schools, it may create systems for the establishment of other public schools. In Georgia, charter schools are public schools. The children they serve are public school students. Their education should be funded the same way all public school students in Georgia are funded —- including local dollars, regardless of who authorizes them.

The public tax dollars funding these schools do not belong to the local school boards, but to the taxpayers who expect it to be spent for their kids. States with multiple authorizers grow more and better public schools. Isn't that what education should be about?

KARA HORNUNG

Hornung is director of communications at the Center for Education Reform in Washington, D.C.

To solve dropout problem, start in homes

The article "New rules to address dropout problem" (News, April 23) was enlightening and disturbing.

The Department of Education, by establishing these rules to standardize dropout rates, is trying to fix the wrong problem. The real problem is with the family structure. While we as a culture have been saying it makes no difference what kind of family structure a child comes from, study after study says the traditional structure is best.

Instead, through these new rules, the Bush administration is trying to fix the shortfalls in the family through the schools. All this will accomplish is creating more failing schools and diverting monies away from education to try to keep students in school.

STEVEN LINCOLN

Kennesaw

Arts can fill out students' days

Scot Lehigh's column "A school reform long on common sense" highlights one school's efforts to bridge the worlds of school and after-school to improve student success (@issue, April 15).

Research shows providing time for students to participate in the arts, engage in community projects and explore college and careers is critical to student success. Yet these activities are often eliminated from the regular school day due to budget constraints and competing priorities. By creating partnerships to deliver an extended school day, schools and community organizations can provide multiple approaches to learning, engage students in enriching environments and help ensure youth are safe, healthy, educated, employable and connected.

JILL J. RIEMER

Riemer, of Atlanta, is executive director of the Georgia Afterschool Investment Council.

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Dunwoody bound to fall short as a city

There is a good reason why local businesses should be wary of the City of Dunwoody ("Dunwoody: businesses wary of 'city'," Metro, April 10).

An impartial look at the proposed budget of the city reveals that it is full of unrealistic assumptions. In addition, at least one major item has been omitted: The county currently pays $500,000 per year for street lighting in the Perimeter Community Improvement Districts, and has stated it will not pay this after incorporation. This item alone will put Dunwoody in the red in its first year.

Since the city charter limits the raising of residential property taxes, who will make up the difference? Most likely the businesses within the city.

KEITH KAYLOR

Dunwoody