ATLANTA (CBS ATLANTA/AP) -
The Georgia House has passed a constitutional amendment that would allow the state to create charter schools.
The measure passed 123-48 Wednesday, garnering the required two-thirds majority. It now goes to the Senate.
Georgia Chamber President and CEO Chris Clark released the following statement:
"Providing students the skills they need to be successful members of the workforce starts in the earliest grades, which is why ensuring excellence in Georgia's K through 12 school systems is so important. Allowing the creation of public charter schools is one proven way to achieve this goal – today these schools are operating at a higher standard through increased accountability and local control. We are pleased that the House agreed to let Georgians weigh in on this issue in November and hope that the Senate will soon do the same."
The amendment would clarify state law after a state Supreme Court ruling outlawed the Georgia Charter Schools Commission. The court found the commission was illegally creating charter schools over the objection of districts.
A House vote on the bill earlier this month fell 10 votes shy of the required two-thirds majority to approve it. If the bill passes the Senate, it must get voters' approval in November.
Opponents say the state should not create charter schools when public school districts are facing $1 billion in state cuts and steep declines in local property tax revenue.
Copyright 2012 WGCL-TV (Meredith Corporation). All rights reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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