Georgia school systems can compete for more freedom from state regulations under a bill signed into law Tuesday.
The law allows communities can apply to the state board of education to turn their school districts into "charter school systems." Like individual charter schools now, these systems could replace state regulations with their own.
Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle has championed the idea of charter systems as a way of giving communities more control over their local schools.
"I don't think that there is a one-size-fits-all model that works across the board all over Georgia," he said at the bill signing. "The needs in Savannah are different than the needs in Gainesville or Valdosta."
Cagle says school systems could get their charters revoked if students failed to meet achievement standards.
Teachers' unions have criticized the program. They say it allows school administrators to circumvent state laws governing the hiring and firing of public school teachers.
The board of education will allow just five school systems to become charters during the first year of the program.
The law allows communities can apply to the state board of education to turn their school districts into "charter school systems." Like individual charter schools now, these systems could replace state regulations with their own.
Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle has championed the idea of charter systems as a way of giving communities more control over their local schools.
"I don't think that there is a one-size-fits-all model that works across the board all over Georgia," he said at the bill signing. "The needs in Savannah are different than the needs in Gainesville or Valdosta."
Cagle says school systems could get their charters revoked if students failed to meet achievement standards.
Teachers' unions have criticized the program. They say it allows school administrators to circumvent state laws governing the hiring and firing of public school teachers.
The board of education will allow just five school systems to become charters during the first year of the program.
