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Georgia may replicate Louisiana’s charter school system

Republican Gov. Nathan Deal said this week that he wants legislators to review a plan that would call for turning poorly performing schools into charter schools, which Deal considers a more cost-effective method of school reform in the state.
Sept. 11, 2014
2 min read

Georgia’s governor is looking to Louisiana for inspiration on how to improve education across the state, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported.

Republican Gov. Nathan Deal said this week that he wants legislators to review a plan that would call for turning poorly performing schools into charter schools, which Deal considers a more cost-effective method of school reform in the state.

Louisiana’s system, known as the Recovery School District, was created in 2003. It allows the state to become involved after a school is categorized as “academically unacceptable” for four straight years.

“We are faced with some of the similar situations that Louisiana is faced with,” Deal was quoted as saying in the AJC. “We’re continuing to put money into school systems that continue to fail. That is not the end result that we want.”

Deal made these comments at a campaign event that included political supporter and Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, who said more than 90 percent of New Orleans students are enrolled in charter schools today.

“There are too many kids in America who are trapped in failing schools,” Jindal said at the campaign event, according to the AJC. “And charter schools are simply one more way to give those parents and children another option.”

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Jill Nolin

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