Atlanta, GA – Georgia’s charter school and education reform community will be well represented on Governor Nathan Deal’s new Education Reform Commission – a component of the education reform measures announced in his State-of-the-State address last week.
The new commission will be tasked with studying Georgia’s education system and offering their recommendations for improvement and reform, including suggestions on how to rework the state’s antiquated QBE funding formula. Their work is intended to actualize Governor Deal’s vision of expanded opportunity for all learners, increased access to education, and greater system flexibility.
The commission will be chaired by Dr. Charles A. Knapp, former President of the University of Georgia and chairman of the Commission on the Skills of the American Workforce. Dr. Knapp currently chairs the State Charter Schools Commission, the state-level authorizer of public charter schools restored by the passage of the Charter Schools Amendment in 2012.
Other commission appointees with charter school expertise include, Brooks Coleman, Chairman, House Education Committee, Georgia General Assembly; Tina Fernandez, Partner, Bellweather Education Partners; Hannah Heck, Attorney, Vice Chair and Founding Board Member Westside Atlanta Charter School; Kylie Holley, Principal/Superintendent, Pataula Charter Academy; Bonnie Holliday, Executive Director, Georgia Charter Schools Commission; Cynthia Kuhlman, Director of Educational Achievement, Cousins Family Foundation, Inc
Dr. Tony Roberts, President & CEO of the Georgia Charter Schools Association (GCSA) expressed his delight with the nominations. “Governor Deal continues to show his commitment to improving education outcomes in Georgia. The inclusion of individuals with a deep understanding of charter schools and education reform will provide a strong foundation for our state’s efforts to improve K-12 public education. Along with all the others appointed to the commission, I am confident they will bring balanced and thoughtful consideration to the task of education reform and innovation.”
