State Department of Education Officials Threaten to Close GA Cyber Academy

As Georgians, we should all take note about what may happen in April 2013.  The Georgia Cyber Academy serves 12,000 students with online education.  The students range from grades K-12.  The Georgia State Board of Education is threatening to close the Georgia Cyber Academy as early as April of 2013.  Are most of the students and families being served not happy with the services provided?  NO.  The reason that the Georgia Cyber Academy may close is due to students with Special Education needs not being adequately served.  When I read the article describing the possibility of this catastrophic event, I immediately called the Georgia Department of Education.  You can reach the state superintendent at: (404) 656-2800 or
Toll Free: (800) 311-3627 (GA).

To catch you up on this, if you aren't tuned it to what Georgia Cyber Academy is all about, I'll give you a quick rundown.  If you are a parent in Georgia and you feel that your child is not adequately being served by the local public school, which is likely your only choice for education unless you have the funds to send him or her to private school, you have the option of enrolling them in online public education through the GA Cyber Academy.  If you do not have the option to stay at home or do not have a friend or family member who can supervise your child during the day, then this is not a viable option.  However, there are thousands of Georgia families who pulled their children from public schools due to negligence, bullying, or some other circumstance that made public school a poor fit for the child.  They have the benefit of receiving public education curriculum at home.

I have served students with IEPs in the past.  I am an advocate for students with Special Education needs.  However, to shut down an entire functioning alternative education program in Georgia simply to better serve individual students with IEPS is simply a war on the students of Georgia.  The thousands of students and families who are happy with this alternative education option should not be flushed down the toilet along with the few who are not happy with the services.

When you hear about CHOICES for education in Georgia, this is a vital element of that.  Georgia Cyber Academy is a crucial cornerstone for those whose parents determine that they are better served in an environment other than their neighborhood public school.  For those students and families who are unhappy with the services provided by the Georgia Cyber Academy - they have a choice.  They can simply enroll at the local neighborhood school.  The other thousands of students being served by Georgia Cyber Academy should not suffer because of the complaints of the few, especially when closing will eliminate their choice in public education!  We must all stand in solidarity with the students, parents, and professionals of the Georgia Cyber Academy.  A demonstration on the steps of the Georgia Department of Education building should be planned.  I am happy to organize if you will come out in support of this important issue.