A Georgia Senate committee met on Friday to discuss options moving forward to help thousands of Georgia students get back into the classroom of their choice.  Hundreds of concerned parents, legislators, and other interested parties gathered in an effort to save school choice in the Peach state.

"It's not good when you make the New York Times for the wrong reasons," Senate education chair Fran Millar said at Friday's hearing.  "We've got to find a way to make this thing work.  We're being looked at by the world to see how we deal with this situation."

One possible solution to the problem , and one that some of the brick and mortar commission schools are considering, is to apply to receive one-year charters from local districts.  This would only be a short-term solution, as the schools would only be guaranteed for one year.

An additional solution, and one being promoted by Atlanta education attorney Doug Rosenbloom, is for the GA Supreme Court to reverse its decision.  The final vote, which was 5-4 would only require one justice to change his or her position and vote to not strike down a law that enabled thousands of students to exercise their right to a quality education of their choice.

"The most respected charter school advocates do not suggest that school choice alone is a silver-bullet solution to our education dilemma," said Rosenbloom.  "But the greater public must appreciate high-quality charter school authorization as a public service no less important than reliable sewage treatment, trash removal or highway maintenance."

As summer break begins, students across the state are left unsure whether they will be able to see their friends in the fall, or if they will be forced to attend a traditional school that very likely failed them in the first place.  Hopefully a long-term solution can be found, saving these students from education purgatory!