Op/Ed: Proposed Funding Cuts Would Harm Students Statewide

As the State of Georgia looks to strengthen its public education system and the choices available to parents, we are proud to say that we are part of that reform system.

Four years ago, Georgia Connections Academy (GACA) started offering quality, public education online to students anywhere in the state. Today, we have over 4000 students in grades K-12 and we are the highest academically performing virtual school in Georgia.

There are several advantages to an online charter education: students have access to an award-winning curriculum and numerous electives, receive individualized instruction and have flexibility in terms of scheduling and pace. Students who were not thriving in the traditional school setting—for one reason or another—have a new opportunity to excel.

Online education is the future—it takes advantage of technology tools and digital devices of all forms, even smart phones.

This is what schooling looks like for the 21st century.

So it is somewhat disconcerting that despite extensive communications with the State Superintendent and the Georgia Education Reform Commission about virtual charter schools, not once did the issue of funding come up. Now, the commission is proposing a substantial funding cut—17 percent— to virtual charter schools that already receive significantly less funding than their traditional public charter school counterparts. And, this cut has been proposed without explanation.

Currently, virtual charter school students only receive two-thirds of the state charter school supplement, which places schools like GACA at the bottom of funding among all public schools—an additional hit to our funding would make it near impossible to deliver a high quality program, which is something that GACA administrators and teachers are not willing to compromise.

Delivering a high-quality program requires sufficient funding regardless of whether it is a traditional or virtual public charter school. Adequate funding for a full-time virtual school is between 93 and 98 percent of a brick-and-mortar school, according to a 2015 International Association of K-12 Online Learning study. GACA already receives funding below that level—suffering additional cuts would be detrimental to our program and would adversely impact our students and families.

Charter education in our state was offered as a way for parents to feel more empowered to choose public school options not dictated by ZIP code. In the case of virtual public schools, we not only provide an option for students across the state, we provide an innovative approach that integrates technology into daily schooling.

Parents choose this option for their students for a variety of reasons and they are satisfied with the program— in fact, 94 percent of parents would recommend Georgia Connections Academy to others and said that their children are satisfied with the school.

Why the state would disadvantage these students with a severe funding cut, without reason or study, is unacceptable and unfair. Our families pay tax dollars just like any other in the state, and our students should be treated with the respect and services as all other public school students.

We reject the commission’s proposal to cut funding for virtual charter school students and urgently demand the funding for virtual schools be restored, if not reasonably increased—as it will be for all other school districts under the new formula. Our virtual public schools are always open to constructive direction and change, but unwarranted attacks only hurt our children and their families, as well as the hard-working teachers that serve them.