Georgia State University’s College of Law will host a nonpartisan panel discussion Monday, Oct. 10, on Amendment 1, a state constitutional amendment before Georgia voters this November to approve or reject a proposed statewide Opportunity School District.
 
The panel will be held at noon, Monday, Oct. 10, in Room 242 of the College of Law building at 85 Park Place N.E. State Rep. Valencia Stovall (D) of District 74 and Andrew Lewis, executive vice president of the Georgia Charter School Association and a proponent of the amendment, are among the panelists who will highlight the pros and cons of the proposal.
 
Amendment 1 would allow the state government to oversee schools deemed as chronically failing. The OSD and its appointed superintendent would take control of such schools, including their budgets and authority over the hiring and firing of teachers and principals.
 
Other participants in the panel, taking place during an education law course, will include Georgia Parent Teacher Association President Lisa-Marie Haygood, Executive Director of 50CAN in Georgia Michael O’Sullivan, Carl Jordan, a high school teacher, and Jasmine Shortt, an elementary school teacher.
 
"Given that education is such an important right provided for in the Georgia Constitution, we should consider very carefully any measure that could improve or impair the quality of education students receive," said Tanya Washington, a professor of law who teaches the education law class.
 
In addition to the 2016 Education Law Class, the event is sponsored by Muslim Law Students Association, Black Law Students Association, GSU Association of Women Lawyers, OUTLaw Association and Parents Attending Law School.