Attendees at a national charter school conference in Atlanta will tour local charter school campuses today and honor former President Bill Clinton for his support of the concept.
The National Charter Schools Conference begins its education seminars with a tribute to Clinton, a series of workshops on charter school operations and a tour of two metro Atlanta campuses. One, Peachtree Hope Charter School, just had its charter restored last week after it was voided by a state Supreme Court decision. The tour also includes Atlanta Neighborhood Charter School.
“Having the convention here is a wonderful opportunity to showcase the great things we are doing in charter schools,” said Lou Erste, the state’s charter schools director.
Clinton is scheduled to speak after receiving a lifetime achievement award for his support of charter schools, which grew from one to more than 2,000 nationally during his administration. Current Education Secretary Arne Duncan speaks via satellite on Wednesday, when two more campus tours -- of Drew Charter School and Atlanta Heights Charter School -- are set.
On Thursday, conventioneers rally at the state Capitol for equal funding and legal treatment of charter schools.
More than 4,000 people are expected to attend the conference at the Georgia World Congress Center, which comes as some Georgia charters, including Atlanta Heights, are in limbo. A Georgia Supreme Court decision last month overturned the charters of 16 schools approved by the Georgia Charter Schools Commission, saying the board was unconstitutional and that local districts have sole franchise authority over authorizing charter schools.
Two schools imperiled by the ruling have already won state approval, and two more, including Peachtree Hope, got local approval last week. The state Board of Education will hold a special called meeting on Monday at 9 a.m. to vote on applications from the rest.
Nearly 89,000 Georgia students -- more than 5 percent of those in public schools -- attended charters this past academic year.
The National Alliance for Public Charter Schools is co-sponsoring the convention with the state’s charter association. Alliance president Peter Groff said the Georgia high court’s decision will be discussed, noting several states have similar alternative authorizers.
“We want to make sure we are there to show support for those folks who created this law and try to figure out what their options are,” he said.
at the Georgia World Congress Center, which comes as
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