Keeping Charter Schools Alive Benefits Atlanta and the Atlanta Public Schools

Editor's note: Atlanta parents whose children attend public charters are watching an ongoing appeal by Atlanta Public Schools of a judge's December ruling the district illegally held $2.8 million from charter schools. Some have started petitions to press the point that charter schools are a vital component to APS' success. Others, such as the Rosbottom family, have written letters to district officials to make their case directly. Natalie Rosbottom shared her letter that she wrote to APS Superintendent Erroll B. Davis Jr. and Reuben R. McDaniel III, APS board chairman.

Greetings Mr. Davis and Mr. McDaniel,

Our son, Reid, is a product of a K-8th grade constructivist/project-based charter school. He is now in 9th grade at Maynard Jackson High School. His first semester he thrived at MJHS (even during the rough transitions of district, building, staff, and principal changes), ranking No. 2 in the freshman class. His October PSAT scores put him nationally at the sophomore level. He is the result of an amazing charter school and is now a shining star at a traditional Atlanta Public School.

But we do want you to know that Reid initially had gotten accepted to a private school. We, as a family, agreed to put our efforts and time into our local APS school, knowing things would be changing for the better at MJHS. Many local families would have chosen to abandon MJHS, and many charter families WILL abandon their local APS schools if APS continues to appeal Judge Wendy L. Shoob's ruling. This is not a threat, but a reality.

Keeping charter schools alive WILL benefit Atlanta and the Atlanta Public School system.

Thank you for your time.

Mrs. Rosbottom is a parent of a 9th grader at Maynard Jackson a and 6th grader at Atlanta Neighborhood Charter School