Atlanta, Ga. 鈥� February 7, 2012 鈥撎�Metro Atlanta clergy plan to gather on Tuesday to join with legislators, Representatives Alisha T. Morgan (D-Cobb) and听Rahn听Mayo (D-Dekalb) and听the Brighter Georgia Education Coalition in supporting HR 1162, a constitutional amendment to help charter schools in Georgia.
The听group of clergy hope听to bring political parties together on the issue of education at a time when听political differences threaten to dominate the discussion.
听鈥淲hen it comes to educating our kids, one听size does not fit all. 听That鈥檚听why we need as many high-quality educational options as possible for our children,鈥� said Bishop Brian Hodges from Gathering of Champions听church. 听鈥淲e say we want parental involvement so we must put politics aside and give parents options in the public school system.鈥�
鈥淎nd yet, if local boards had exclusive control, as the Supreme Court has ruled, we鈥檇 be without such high quality options as Ivy Preparatory Academy and Fulton Science Academy,鈥� said Tony Roberts, president of the Georgia Charter Schools Association, which is a member of the Brighter Georgia Education Coalition. 听鈥淲hich is why we need an appeals process for these schools that are too often听wrongly, denied at the local level. 听And why we need this amendment.听
鈥淭his is not a Republican issue or a Democrat issue. 听It鈥檚 not about black or white. 听It鈥檚 about coming together to close the achievement gap and give every child in Georgia an opportunity to learn. 听Until every child has a chance, every option is on the table,鈥� said Pastor Wilbur Purvis of Destiny World听Church.
The group of clergy will address members of the media at 10:30 a.m. in the Senate Press Room听203听in the Coverdell Legislative Office Building.
For more information, visit .
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