Question 1: “Shall the Constitution of Georgia be amended to allow the state to intervene in chronically failing public schools in order to improve student performance?”
Question 1: “Shall the Constitution of Georgia be amended to allow the state to intervene in chronically failing public schools in order to improve student performance?”
The Opportunity School District (OSD) amendment would allow Georgia to create a mechanism to remove failing schools from their geographic school districts and put them under the leadership of the state. This new district would oversee schools that have failed to meet specific, measurable goals for a pre-determined amount of time no matter where in the state they are located.
Once a school is deemed to be failing, decision-making, governance, and oversight will be given to the state’s OSD with the goal of improving student education and performance. The newly formed OSD would be run by a superintendent who reports directly to the governor.
Governor Deal explains the need for OSD this way, “While Georgia boasts many schools that achieve academic excellence every year, we still have too many schools where students have little hope of attaining the skills they need to succeed in the workforce or in higher education. We have a moral duty to do everything we can to help these children. Failing schools keep the cycle of poverty spinning from one generation to the next. Education provides the only chance for breaking that cycle. When we talk about helping failing schools, we’re talking about rescuing children. I stand firm on the principle that every child can learn, and I stand equally firm in the belief that the status quo isn’t working.”
Senate Resolution SR287
Implementing Legislation SB133
To learn more about the OSD, visit www.gaopportunity.org
