Democrat former Minnesota state Senator Ember Reichgott Junge will be in Savannah, Macon, Atlanta and Columbus
ATLANTA (Sept. 27, 2012) – The author of the nation’s first charter school law – a Democrat former Minnesota state Senator — is speaking next week at events across Georgia. Ember Reichgott Junge, a pioneer for drafting the first charter school law in 1991, will visit Savannah Oct. 1, Macon Oct. 2 and 3, Atlanta Oct. 4 and Columbus Oct. 5.
She begins her trip Monday in Savannah, speaking on Charter Schools and Economic Developmentto education, community and government leaders at Savannah State University at 6 p.m. On Wednesday, Oct. 3, she will join Macon Pastor Tony Lowden to speak to the Milledgeville Exchange Club.
On Thursday, Oct. 4 Sen. Junge is the keynote speaker at the Georgia Charter School Association’s 10th Annual Conference at 8:15 a.m. at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta. At each of her stops statewide, she is available for interviews concerning Georgia’s attempt to passAmendment 1– an initiative on the Nov. 6 ballot which would pave the way for more public charter schools in Georgia.
Junge’s speaking tour comes as Georgians prepare to vote Nov. 6 on a constitutional amendment that would allow the state to provide for an appeals process for public charter schools that are denied by local school boards.
”We are fortunate to have Senator Junge here to explain how charters are not only friendly to parents and students but friendly to public education,,” said Dr. Tony Roberts, CEO of the Georgia Charter Schools Association. ”There is no one better to explain the long road charters have taken to bring options to families who are trapped in failing schools, and how Democrats and Republicans across the country agree on this avenue of providing choice.”
Junge is available to discuss her intent in creating the first-in-nation public charter schools, which at the time were unique to education reform and parental choice in public education. She can also discuss the current status of Georgia’s public charter schools and the charter school amendment on the November ballot, and how the outcome of the Georgia charter amendment will affect public education policy across the nation.
Public charter schools operate with more freedom from state and local regulation than traditional public schools so they can use innovative methods. Charter schools are held to certain academic standards in return for more autonomy. School boards consider renewing each charter every three to five years, depending on the individual school’s contract.
In 2000, Junge won the Innovations in American Government Award from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. She earned a law degree from Duke University. Her book, ”Zero Chance of Passage,” about the battle to pass Minnesota’s first-in-the-nation charter school bill, was published this year.
