Poll: Support for Charter School Amendment in the Peach State

A poll released late last week shows strong support among likely Georgia voters for a proposed constitutional amendment that will appear on the state ballot this November. The proposed measure would reinstate a key charter school authorizing commission, thereby increasing the number of educational options available to Peach State families.  

Earlier this year, the state legislaturepassed House Resolution 1162 after the state Supreme Court ruled that the Georgia Charter Schools Commission was unconstitutional.  The Commission was a state-level authorizing board that could approve charter schools that had been denied approval at the local level.

The Georgia Charter Schools Association released the poll, which shows 58 percent of those surveyed supporting the amendment. McLaughlin & Associates conducted the poll on March 29-30, surveying 600 likely voters. 

Among the findings, 38 percent strongly supported the amendment and 20 percent reported probable support. A total of 19 percent were undecided.  The survey also showed that 62 percent of respondents under the age of 55 supported the measure.

Reestablishing the Commission would significantly strengthen the educational options in Georgia, a state that currently educates more than 48,000 children in charter schools and more than 11,000 children in two publicly funded private school choice programs.

According to the Augusta Chronicle, the amendment reads:

Shall the Constitution of Georgia be amended to allow state or local approval of public charter schools upon the request of local communities?

If two-thirds of voters agree with the above statement, the Commission can be reinstated, allowing more accountable charter schools to be created in the Peach State. 

- American Federation for Children | Alliance for School Choice, MSG