ATLANTA – State Representative Alisha Thomas Morgan (D-Austell) will host a free conference call to give parents an opportunity to learn more about House Bill 123 – the “Parent Trigger” bill currently under consideration in the General Assembly – on Tuesday, February 26, 2013, at 6:00 PM. Anyone who would like to participate in the call should send their email address and phone number to renardo@alishamorgan.com.
“This could be parent engagement at its height,” said Rep. Morgan. “With legislation this important we need to hear from parents to ensure their voices are included in this debate. I’m hosting this call to provide information and to listen to one of the most important stakeholder groups in education, parents.”
HB 123 provides parents and teachers several options for transforming low-achieving schools. These options would allow parents and teachers to decide whether their low-achieving school should: 1) remove administration; 2) restructure the school; 3) allow for an option to transfer a student to a better performing school in the district; 4) utilize a school management team; 5) impose student improvement plans; and/or 6) convert to a charter school. To enact these options, more than 50 percent of parents or teachers in a low performing school would have to sign a petition. The petition would then go before the local school board for consideration.
The board would be required to act within 60 days of receiving such a petition. If a petition is supported by more than 60 percent of parents or teachers, the local school board would need a 2/3 vote to reject the petition.
For more information on HB 123, please click here.
Representative Alisha Morgan represents the citizens of District 39, which includes portions of Cobb County. She was elected into the House of Representatives in 2002, and currently serves on the Appropriations; Education; Governmental Affairs; Health & Human Services; and Juvenile Justice committees. Rep. Morgan may be reached at 404-656-0109 or by e-mail at Alisha.Morgan@house.ga.gov.###