ATLANTA - An enthusiastic crowd of an estimated 2,000 students, teachers, administrators, parents and charter school supporters participated in the "Rally at the Capitol for Charter Schools" event, Friday morning.

The event, which was coordinated by the Georgia Charter Schools Association and sponsored by Connections Academy, featured speeches and performances by students from Ivy Preparatory Academy (Norcross), KIPP WAYS (Atlanta) and DeKalb PATH (DeKalb County), Charter Conservatory for Liberal Arts and Technology, CCAT (Statesboro) and Tech High (Atlanta).

Participating schools included: Amana Academy (Alpharetta), Baconton Community Charter School (Baconton), CCAT, DeKalb Academy of Technology and the Environment (DATE), DeKalb PATH, Imagine International Academy of Smryna, Ivy Prep, KIPP WAYS, Lucius H. Holsey Academy (Fitzgerald), Museum School of Avondale Estates, Scholars Academy (Clayton County), Tech High and University Community Academy (Atlanta).

Also speaking at the event were State Reps. Jan Jones (R-Milton), Alisha Morgan (D-Austell) and Ed Setzler (R-Acworth), along with Black Alliance for Educational Options (BAEO) President Gerard Robinson.

"I think this shows that there is tremendous support for charter schools in Georgia," said GCSA Chief Executive Officer Tony Roberts, Ph.D., who served as the master of ceremonies at the Rally. "We wanted to thank our legislators for their support, and let them see how their support is impacting the lives of thousands of children, families and communities across the state."