CALLING ALL PARENTS AND ADVOCATES FOR EDUCATION REFORM

HB 251 is now effective, empowering parents to access public school choice within the district in which they reside and if there is space. Parents are also responsible for transporting their child.

Some school districts across the state are already finding ways to subvert the law and create roadblocks for parents who wish to exercise this choice. As a matter of procedure, the State Department of Education has created non-binding guidelines that school districts are supposed to follow. The State Department of Education also has the option of promulgating rules that districts must follow, but must first be voted on and approved by State Board members.

Our goal is to work with school districts as they work to comply with the new law. Our goal is not to create any problems or present any roadblocks to systems. Schools systems that refuse to comply or create roadblocks must be addressed. In order to make sure parents have the opportunity to choose, we must do our due diligence on the front end.

WHAT the bill does:

HB 251 is a public school choice bill that allows school districts to create uniform and streamlined processes for school transfers within a given district, provided there is space in the receiving school and transportation is supplied by the transferring family.

If you are trying to utilize HB251 in your district; here’s what you should know:

• School districts are required to inform parents of the opportunity to transfer and which schools have space.
• If you choose to transfer your child, you are responsible for transportation to and from school each day.
• Transfers may only be made to schools within the district you reside. Additionally, space must be available at the receiving school for it to be eligible to accept students.
• Schools should not use test scores, grades, behavior or other indicators upon which to base transfers.

WHY it’s important:

Before now, demonstration of "hardship" and/or the subjective discretion of a principal or other school official was necessary to implement an administrative school transfer, effectively locking parents out of the process -- parents who wanted to access educational environments and options that better suited their children's unique needs.

WHEN was it implemented:

• HB251 is now effective and school systems MUST comply with the law. However, until the State Board votes on rules, the guidelines sent by the Department are non-binding. Parents will have to ensure your districts comply with the law and its intent.
• Schools will set a request or application process and parents must work within the timelines set by the district.

PLEASE NOTE: State guidelines recommend that districts provide at least a 14 day period to accept transfer requests. This is a minimum. Parents should be diligent in obtaining this information to ensure they don’t miss the deadline for transfers

WHERE you can find more information:

Center For An Educated Georgia has launched a forum on their website to allow parents and other education stakeholders an online resources to voice and capture your thoughts and challenges regarding how HB 251 is working in your local community.

To share your stories with other Georgia parents and advocates and for continued updates on HB 251, visit:

http://educatedgeorgia.org/forums-f73-p132767-Exercising_Your_School_Choice.aspx

For additional questions or concerns, please email Rep. Alisha T. Morgan at Alisha@AlishaMorgan.com

HOW you can get involved:

In order to ensure school districts comply with the law and its intent to empower parents to access the school in the best interest of their child, we are asking parents and advocates to do the following:

• Find out what your district's procedure is on HB 251. Make time to attend the hearings and testify before the board about your thoughts. Acknowledge the district if they are complying. Let them know your concerns if they are not. Make your voice heard as a taxpayer and voter and urge your school board to comply with the law and its intent. Share your personal experiences about the need for school choice and why this law is important to your family.
• Write letters to the editor in your local newspaper. Become a part of this public campaign to get school boards to do what is right for parents and students. You can also blog, send messages on Facebook and any other social media that will help get the word out.
• Set up a meeting with your school board member(s) and superintendent. Make sure they know how important this law is to you.
• Forward this information to your friends and family around the state. Stay tuned for additional updates as our campaign on HB 251 will shift and the process begins to urge the State Department of Education to create the state rules and have the State Board vote on them. Ask them to join our campaign and send an e-mail to Alisha@alishamorgan.com to be added to our communications list for the most up-to-date information on HB 251.