2010 Charter Schools Conference to Draw Close to 500 Next Week
Annual Conference features nearly 50 sessions and workshops for teachers, administrators, parents, lawmakers and other supporters of Georgia’s growing charter school movement
ATLANTA – Nearly 500 charter school supporters – from teachers and principals, to board members, parents and politicians – are expected to attend the Eighth Annual Georgia Charter Schools Conference, March 10-12, at the Hilton Hotel & Conference Center in Marietta (500 Powder Springs Street).
The Conference, sponsored by the Georgia Charter Schools Association (GCSA), is the only statewide meeting of Georgia’s charter schools community and will feature close to 50 informative breakout sessions covering a wide range of topics – from a “Parent Advocacy Workshop,” to “Challenges in Charter Founding and Leadership,” to “Helping Children Who Have Behavioral and Attention Issues in the Classroom.”
Also at this year’s event, two of the country’s most respected experts in education reform will be featured. Dr. Harry Wong, an award winning author and educator, and Kevin Chavous, a nationally recognized attorney, author and outspoken advocate of charter schools, will deliver keynote addresses.
Charter school movement growing in Georgia, nationwide
The 2010 Conference comes at a time when the popularity of charter schools – public schools of choice which operate with freedom from many of the rules and regulations of traditional public schools – continues to grow both nationwide and in Georgia.
- The number of charter schools in Georgia has skyrocketed from 48 in the 2005-06 school year, to 121 in 2009-2010.
- The number of Georgia students enrolled in charter schools has grown from 21,100 in 2005-06 to nearly 65,000 in 2010.
- The State Charter Schools Commission has approved charters for nine schools, two of which are already in operation, and seven that will open in the fall.
- Nationally, there are nearly 1.3 million students attending 4,300 charter schools in 40 states and the District of Columbia.
- President Barack Obama and Education Secretary Arne Duncan have expressed support for the charter school concept, and Sec. Duncan visited an Atlanta charter school – Tech High – in December.
GCSA Chief Executive Officer Tony Roberts, Ph.D., said charter schools continue to grow in popularity in spite of the state of the economy in Georgia and throughout the country.
“The funding and facilities issues that have always plagued charter schools are magnified because of the economic downturn,” Roberts said. “But providing our children with quality educational options remains paramount, here in Georgia and across the nation.
“And so the GCSA will continue to support and cultivate the charter school movement with programs and events like the annual Conference,” Roberts said. “The goal is to provide those involved in Georgia’s charter community with an opportunity for networking, learning and inspiration.”
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