Chip Harp, Valdosta Today Editor:

A group of motivated and highly engaged community leaders recently met at the KIPP:WAYS campus in the Washington Park neighborhood of Atlanta to continue their efforts to advocate for school choice in Georgia.

The group are members of the Georgia Charter Schools Advocacy Committee. The committee’s purpose is to promote the creation of new, high quality charter schools in the state. The committee consists of leaders from the business, education, government and non-profit sectors.

These leaders understand that excellent educational options are a requirement for producing the workforce needed in today’s diverse economy.

The meeting was held at KIPP:WAYS in downtown Atlanta to allow committee members the opportunity to see educational choice in action. KIPP:WAYS Primary and KIPP:WAYS Academy are located in the same facility serving Washington Park, Vine City and English Avenue neighborhoods. KIPP:WAYS is a public charter school in the Atlanta Public School System. WAYS stands for “West Atlanta Young Scholars”. These schools provide families from these neighborhoods with a seamless K-8 college preparatory experience.

Curt Fowler, VP of Finance with True North companies stated “It was a great experience to get to tour the KIPP facility and see another great charter school making a difference in their community. This committee is working hard to make more schools like this a reality in Georgia. I am excited to have the opportunity to play a part in the great work they are doing.”

Mr. Fowler joined the committee this year.