Dozens protest proposed law to take over failing schools

Dozens of students, principals and education leaders attended a rally Monday at the Capitol to protest legislation that would allow the state to take over persistently failing schools.

The rally was organized by the Georgia Association of Educators and the Georgia PTA to build support against Senate Resolution 287 and Senate Bill 133, which would create a "Opportunity School District" to assume control of troubled schools. The legislation passed the Georgia Senate and is now being considered by the House.

Students held signs that read “makeover not takeover” and GAE members led protesters in a chant of “my school belongs to me” inside the Capitol. They say control of schools should stay with local communities and believe the legislation doesn’t consider the problems a school faces.

“You’ve given us 10 years of cuts. We’ve had to cut teachers and increase class sizes,” said Sid Chapman, president of GAE. “We haven’t been able to recruit the best because who wants to come to a cheap school in a cheap state.”

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