Compromise reached on state charter schools

Democrats and Republicans have apparently reached a compromise on a constitutional amendment to allow the state to create charter schools in Georgia.

Sponsors of HR 1162, which failed by ten votes last week, say it has been revised to include language from another measure pushed by the Democratic caucus.

“With lots of hard work and lots of compromise I believe that we’ve come together on something we can agree on,” says Rep. Alisha Thomas Morgan (D-Austell), one of the original sponsors of HR 1162.

The revised version creates a new category of state charter schools and makes it clear that no local dollars will go to fund them.

The new language comes from legislation drafted by Rep. Scott Holcomb (D-Atlanta) who says he can now support the measure after voting against it last week.

“If they wanted to get something passed, something had to move,” he tells WSB’s Sandra Parrish.

He says the measure could come up again as soon as Friday, but more than likely will face another vote on the House floor next week.