Proposed legislation would cut funds to APS, DeKalb schools. Are these crippling blows?

Credit: Maureen Downey

Credit: Maureen Downey

She cited Gov. Deal's proposed Opportunity School District, which she said had the potential of redirecting millions of tax dollars if an entire cluster of the city's schools was seized by the state.

Carstarphen used the Carver cluster as an example, saying state takeover there would represent "a $60 million hit...that would hurt and shock every single cluster left in Atlanta Public Schools."

Voters will decide in November whether to grant the state sweeping new powers to take over local schools and absorb them into a portfolio district run by an appointee of the governor.

Carstarphen also mentioned House Bill 633, which would exempt older residents from paying Atlanta Public Schools taxes. Estimated to cost APS $23 million, the bill would grant an exemption for residents over 70.

"If both of those things happen, we might as well go home,” Carstarphen said. “You can’t absorb that kind of consistent shock.”

And there's another potential financial blow in the works.

As the AJC reported:

Taylor's bill could APS $36 million a year in lost revenue.

The impetus behind these measures is the belief more money hasn't led to dramatic improvements in either DeKalb or Atlanta schools.

But where is the evidence giving these systems less money will improve them?

I have to point out the obvious: Both of these urban districts have seen an increase in students in poverty, who cost more to educate because they come to school less prepared and have the least advantages. There is no evidence that less is more when it comes to children from low-income communities.