In a straw poll, voters in Georgia turned down a constitutional amendment to permit the state to open charters over the objection of local school boards.
Democratic voters, perhaps remembering that school choice was always the banner of segregationists, voted down the proposal. In Georgia as a whole, 56% of voters opposed the proposal.
The objections were first, and accurately, that money for the charters would drain public school budgets. The second was that charters would be against the interests of the neediest children.
School superintendents opposed the measure as well. They thought that it reduced local control by eroding the power of the local school boards to decide how local money is spent.
The vote will come up again in November in the general election.
Diane Ravitch's blog 
Let’s hope that Georgia is able to maintain local control. NACSA and Greg Richmond are peddling model legislation (with ALEC until a few months ago) that usurps local control from states that don’t submit to charters. They’ve been successful in Illinois, no doubt they will be successful elsewhere unless we rise up against them. We’re onto him in New Jersey and will make sure our legislators do not adopt this legislation that hands over control of our schools.
http://mothercrusader.blogspot.com/2012/07/greg-richmond-takes-local-control-from.html?m=1
It was interesting to learn that the governor refused to reconsider a transportation funding bill that was also on the docket with the charter bill. The charter bill is okay to be reconsidered is that code for lobbyist interest. The secretary of education endorsed a candidate who is widely known as being absolutely pro charter anti public schools. So it is a mixed message but there is hope as 90% of the students in Ga are in public school and in some areas, the parents are extremely supportive of their children;s schools.
Diane, your post does not make clear that this straw poll question was ONLY for Democrat voters in Georgia. The referendum to which the straw poll referred was approved by a bipartisan majority of BOTH legislative houses. The November referendum will be the only time ALL voters in Georgia will consider the charter amendment. Since 44% of Democrats FAVORED the charter amendment in their own party’s straw poll, and since GOP voters poll very high on approval, passage of the amendment is as close to a sure thing as one is likely to find in politics. I expect Georgians to state clearly that they favor choice, whether it comes from local boards or from the state.
Also, check your Georgia history – the Democrat party was firmly in control of Georgia when it was segregationist. Finally, this charter amendment will benefit at risk minorities in greater proportions than does the current, traditional approach to educational funding and governance.
First, I don’t think the Georgia GOP has a better record on civil rights than the Georgia Democratic party. Second, if charters are passed, they will enroll very small proportions of students, will take money away from most districts, and will hurt the neediest minority students.
The assertion that charters take money away from districts completely ignores the fact that the money they are “losing” pays for the students they are also losing. What could be more fair?
And what is a more pressing civil right than the right to an excellent education, no matter your location, race, gender or economic status? Again, all voters from all parties seem poised to support this amendment.
Charters may have a small enrollment initially, but their very existence will be a game changer, ultimately for the better, for public schools that will have to compete to get better. It is the American Way in every sense!
Let’s Be Honest:
“And what is a more pressing civil right than the right to an excellent education, no matter your location, race, gender or economic status?”
Yes, what is a more pressing civil right than the right to an excellent education of, for and by the people? The problem is that many charter schools fall short on “of” and “for,” but they are really interested in the “by” part.
Diane is correct; charters do not and cannot educate the public as a whole unless they are actually public charters that accept, oh I don’t know…THE PUBLIC COMMUNITY as a whole, warts and all. By siphoning funds from one system to another, you are creating holes in the greater system thus weakening both the public and the charter entities.
Why not put the per-pupil funds that will be deferred to charters back into the public schools and fund resources for a better community for the children who live there? Enough with this “what’s in it for ME” attitude. This is what got the economy in the toilet–now this attitude is going to strip away education.