In a recent study the Center for Education Reform placed Georgia among 28 other states whose charter school laws they say need improvement.

Georgia slipped a grade level from last year because, according to the study, the state didn’t add enough new schools or significantly increase state funding.

Jeanne Allen, the group’s president, says it’s because the board deciding charter schools is hampered by state politics.

"What would help Georgia have a truly successful charter law is making its Georgia Charter Commission truly independent from the state department of education."

Allen says the only states that received A’s had independent groups for authorizing the schools.

Meanwhile, seven Georgia school districts are challenging the constitutionality of state authorized charter schools.

That case is being considered by the state supreme court.

Tags: Georgia Department of Education, charter schools, Center For Education Reform, state department of education