UPDATE: Museum School Supporters Rally to Save Avondale Estates Charter

As Patch reported Monday, the Supreme Court of Georgia struck down the act that created state commissioned charter schools, ruling them unconstitutional.

The ruling affects thousands of children in the state, including which could be forced to close if a solution is not found.

"Our No. 1 priority today is to let our voices be heard," said Katherine Kelbaugh, principal of The Museum School. "Our students, staff, teachers and current and future parents, and our community are here supporting us."

In addition to the Museum School, other affected charter schools gathered outside the Capitol on Tuesday morning to ask for state support for their institutions. The Georgia Charter Schools Association and government officials also spoke outside the Gold Dome.

"The fight has only just begun," said Rep. Jan Jones, speaker pro tem of the Georgia House of Representatives. "One size [education] doesn't fit everyone."

Tony Roberts, president and chief executive officer of the Georgia Charter Schools Association, said there's government support that could help the schools that are already open, stay open.

"I can't see the state turning their backs on these schools," Roberts said, in an interview just before the rally. "If we need a constitutional amendment, as early as November, 2012, we will get it. The constitution was written when there was no such thing as a charter school. The law will have to chage to reflect realities."

The Museum School in Avondale opened last fall and has already raised more than $300,000 toward its development goal. The school also has a kindergarten wait list of students hoping to get in.

Avondale Estates Mayor Ed Rieker, who attended the rally, said the city and surrounding communities support the school and said keeping it open is a "priority."

"There are enough people that have come together to support the school," Rieker said, "Closing is not going to be an option."

Kelbaugh added, "We are absolutely confident we will be serving students this fall. We will do whatever we need to do to keep our school growing and thriving."

Gov. Nathan Deal appointed a 20-member panel to look at how public schools are funded in the state. Serving on the panel will be lawmakers and State School Superintendent John Barge and Scott Austenson, chief operating officer of the Georgia Department of Education. The panel will make recommendations by September, 2012.

Other charter schools are petitioning their local school districts, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

It's also a potential option for The Museum School, though it's unclear if they, too, have made a request, in their case, to DeKalb County.