Greg Richmond, president and CEO of the National Association of Charter School Authorizers, issued the following statement today on the passage of Georgia’s charter school referendum:

“By amending the constitution, voters have given Georgia’s students the chance to get a better education. Currently, one-third of Georgia students don’t finish high school. Charter schools will help more students graduate from high school better prepared for college and with better career opportunities.

“Charter schools are a powerful choice for students and families if they are excellent schools. With a statewide authorizer, Georgia will be able to open and support more highquality charter schools. The Commission will be able to focus its time and resources solely on charter authorizing, building expertise devoted to making sure that the schools it charters meet high academic and financial standards. We look forward to working with the Commission and Georgia’s district authorizers to support their work in developing innovative, effective, and excellent public charter schools.”