Chambliss Praises Georgia Charter Schools during National Charter Schools Week

U.S. Senator Saxby Chambliss, R-Ga., today expressed his support for Georgia’s charter schools and applauded those working to expand the charter schools system. This week, May 5 - May 9, 2008, is National Charter Schools Week.

“Georgia’s excellent charter school system continues to raise the bar for educational standards, and I applaud the Georgia Charter Schools Association for their commitment to education,” said Chambliss. “Charter schools' emphasis on empowerment, innovation, and local control provide quality alternatives for many families, and they give our students a good foundation to succeed. I am proud to offer my praise for Georgia’s charter schools during National Charter Schools Week.”

Charter public schools in Georgia have grown from 37 three years ago to 73 this school year, with numerous communities looking at chartering as a way to provide parents and students with more choice. For the fourth year in a row, charter public schools have outperformed traditional public schools in Georgia with regard to percentage of schools making AYP, percentage of students passing the Georgia High School Graduation Test, and percentage of minority students passing AYP while serving a higher percentage of economically disadvantaged students.

Charter schools now serve nearly 1.2 million students in over 3,400 schools across the nation.