Gwinnett school board votes against charter school amendment

UNDATED - The Gwinnett County School Board unanimously passed a resolution Thursday night, urging the defeat of a proposed charter school constitutional amendment in November.

According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Board member Robert McClure said if the amendment passes, state officials would go from being partners with local school systems to competitors.

The board vote follows an announcement by State Superintendent John Barge earlier this week opposing the amendment. If the amendment is approved, it would reinstate the state's authority to create charter schools.

Gwinnett County Schools won a state Supreme Court ruling in 2011 that the Georgia Charter Schools Commission did not have the authority to approve and fund charter schools over local school boards' objections.