Constitutional amendment set for vote Thursday

A vote is expected Thursday in the House Education Committee on a proposed constitutional amendment that appeals to charter school supporters and is opposed by public school groups.

The amendment would effectively override last year's Georgia's Supreme Court ruling by reinstating the state's authority to create and fund charter schools over the objections of local school boards. It also would affirm that state and local governments both have a role in public education -- something that amendment proponents say was called into question by the court ruling.

Opponents say the ruling did not have such broad implications. They say it would allow the state to approve charter schools and give them access to already stretched local education dollars.