DeKalb County Board of Education
July 1, 2013
SCHOOL SYSTEM FLEXIBILITY SCHOOL SYSTEM FLEXIBILITY AND CHARTER SCHOOLS IN GEORGIAAND CHARTER SCHOOLS IN GEORGIA
Overview and ComparisonOverview and Comparison
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What is the Origin of Charter Schools?
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Dr. John D. Barge, State School Superintendent
Dr. John D. Barge, State School Superintendent
Innova
tion C
hoice
Competition
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Dr. John D. Barge, State School Superintendent
Charter system law also passed, followed by
first 4 charter systems in
2008-09
Dr. John D. Barge, State School Superintendent
For locally-approved and system charter schools
State Charter Schools
Commission
For state charter schools
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What Kinds of Charter Schools Does Georgia Have?
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Different starting points, but same end point
Same starting point as a conversion charter, but a
different end point
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DeKalb County Charter Schools Charter School Name Type of Charter
School1 Chamblee Charter High School Conversion2 Chesnut Elementary Conversion
3DeKalb Academy of Technology & the Environment (D.A.T.E.) Start-Up
4 DeKalb Preparatory Academy Start-Up5 Destiny Acheivers Academy of Excellence Start-Up6 Gateway to College Academy School Start-Up7 International Community School Start-Up8 Kingsley Charter Elementary School Conversion9 Leadership Preparatory Academy Start-Up
10 Peachtree Charter Middle School Conversion11 Smoke Rise Elementary Conversion12 The Museum School of Avondale Estates Start-Up13 DeKalb PATH Academy Start-Up
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Georgia Charter Schools Growth
We have begun to address the low numbers of high quality charter school
applications
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1519
22
39 39
61
75
21
4
35
27
0
1519 19
3026
18
40
15
27 8
00
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12
History of Charter School Applications and Approvals
Note: The 2010 number of applications and approvals is significantly higher because of Commission school transitions
Total Applications Commission Apps Total Approvals Commission Approvals
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• Not yet a critical mass of high-quality charter schools
• Concentrated in Metro Atlanta• We had 315 charter schools in
Georgia in 2012-13 – including 77 start-up charter schools, 31 conversion charter schools, and 207 charter system schools in 16 charter systems
• The 15 state-chartered special schools have changed authorizers from the SBOE to the new State Charter Schools Commission
• Not yet a critical mass of high-quality charter schools
• Concentrated in Metro Atlanta• We had 315 charter schools in
Georgia in 2012-13 – including 77 start-up charter schools, 31 conversion charter schools, and 207 charter system schools in 16 charter systems
• The 15 state-chartered special schools have changed authorizers from the SBOE to the new State Charter Schools Commission
Dr. John D. Barge, State School Superintendent
Georgia’s Charter Landscape
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Number of Charter System Schools by District
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Georgia Landscape 2011-2012
National Landscape2011-2012
Georgia Charter Schools Academic Performance
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5-Year % Passing: CRCT Reading PerformanceCharter vs. Non-Charter
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% Passing: CRCT Reading PerformanceBy Charter Type
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5-Year % Passing: CRCT Math PerformanceCharter vs. Non-Charter
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% Passing: CRCT Math PerformanceBy Charter Type
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40.0%42.5%45.0%47.5%50.0%52.5%55.0%57.5%60.0%62.5%65.0%67.5%70.0%72.5%75.0%77.5%80.0%
2008 2009 2010 2011 2012
5-Year EOCT Math Performance TrendCharter vs. Non-Charter
Charter Non-Charter
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40.0%42.5%45.0%47.5%50.0%52.5%55.0%57.5%60.0%62.5%65.0%67.5%70.0%72.5%75.0%77.5%80.0%
2008 2009 2010 2011 2012
5-Year EOCT Math Performance Trendby Charter Type
Start-up Conversion System Non-Charter
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Georgia’s High Quality Charter School Requirements
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* High Quality Charter School
• Petitioners are asked:– What would having a
charter allow you to do differently to increase student achievement that you could not do without a charter?
– Why do you need a charter to implement the innovations you have proposed?
56Dr. John D. Barge, State School Superintendent
Must show the following links:
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Governing Board Autonomy
59Dr. John D. Barge, State School Superintendent
Indicators of Autonomy• Must make personnel decisions (People)• Must make decisions about what happens in the school (Time)• Must set school budget spending priorities (Money)• Can contract for services provided by the district• Must recruit/select governing board members without district or EMO/CMO assistance• Must have independent audit firm and attorney
Indicators of Autonomy• Must make personnel decisions (People)• Must make decisions about what happens in the school (Time)• Must set school budget spending priorities (Money)• Can contract for services provided by the district• Must recruit/select governing board members without district or EMO/CMO assistance• Must have independent audit firm and attorney
The school should be as close to this
end as possible
The school should be as close to this
end as possible
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* Fourth Generation
School District Flexibility and Accountability in Georgia
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• By June 30, 2015*June 30, 2015* each local school system must choose to operate as one of the following: – Investing in Educational Excellence School System (IE2)– Charter System– Status Quo School System• Other options include:– Strategic School System – System of Charter Schools
*Per OCGA §20-2-84.3
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Decision Considerations
*College & Career Readiness Performance Index 68
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Centralized or Decentralized Decentralized
Yes
No Waivers
Decision Structure Considerations
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IE2
SystemSystem of
Charter SchoolsStrategic School
SystemCharterSystem
StatusQuo
>School System seeks waivers – must include at least one of the following: class size; expenditure control; certification; salary schedule
>Schools must state how broad flexibility per-mitted by the Charter Schools Act will be utilized to improve student achievement>School must provide exam-ples of how they will utilize the broad relief from Title 20 permit-ted by the Chart-er Schools Act.
>School System must state how bundled Title 20 waiver requests for flexibility permitted by state statute and State Board rule will be utilized.>School System cannot include the following: class size; expenditure control; certification; salary schedule.
>School System must provide examples of how broad flexibility permitted by the Charter Schools Act will be utilized to improve student achievement
>Waivers granted only in the case of a natural disaster>Statewide waivers expire June 30, 2015
Flexibility and Title 20
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IE2
SystemSystem of
Charter SchoolsStrategic School
SystemCharterSystem
Status Quo
Cannot waive: >Federal rules/ regulations >State and local rules/regulations such as: insurance; physical health; school safety; assessment; QBE funding; etc. >Court orders, civil rights statutes >Conflicts of interest; unlawful conduct
Schools cannot waive: >Federal rules/ regulations >State and local rules/regulations such as: insurance; physical health; school safety; assessment; QBE funding; etc. >Court orders, civil rights statutes >Conflicts of interest; unlaw-ful conduct
Cannot waive: >Big 4>Federal rules/ regulations >State and local rules/regulations such as: insurance; physical health; school safety; assessment; QBE funding; etc. >Court orders, civil rights statutes >Conflicts of interest; unlawful conduct
Cannot waive: >Federal rules/ regulations >State and local rules/regulations such as: insurance; physical health; school safety; assessment; QBE funding; etc. >Court orders, civil rights statutes >Conflicts of interest; unlawful conduct
No waivers permitted except if natural disaster, but cannot waive:>Federal rules/ regulations >State and local rules/regulations such as: insurance; physical health; school safety; assessment; QBE funding; etc. >Court orders, civil rights statutes >Conflicts of interest; unlawful conduct
Waiver Limitations
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IE2
SystemSystem of
Charter SchoolsStrategic School
SystemCharterSystem
StatusQuo
>Flexibility proportionate to student performance goals>School System Strategic Plan is required>School System must conduct a public hearing to share Strategic Plan>Approved by the Local School Board at a public meeting.
>Emphasis on parent/ community involvement, including maximum school level governance>Approved by the Local School Board at a public meeting
>Flexibility is proportionate to increase in student performance goals >School System Strategic Plan is required>School System must conduct a public hearing to share Strategic Plan >Approved by the Local School Board
>Emphasis on parent/ community involvement, including maximum school level governance>Approved by the Local School Board at a public meeting
>School System must conduct a public hearing to provide notice of the system’s intent to select Status Quo>Local board of education must sign statement that the school system has selected Status Quo
Unique Features
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IE2
SystemSystem of
Charter SchoolsStrategic School
SystemCharterSystem
Status Quo
>Possible savings through flexibility>Regular QBE funding with more local school system expenditure controls
>Possible savings through flexibility>Regular QBE funding with local expenditure controls>Potential federal charter school imple-mentation grants possible for each school
>Possible savings through flexibility>Regular QBE funding
>Possible savings through flexibility>Regular QBE funding with more local school system expenditure controls>Possible $100 (pre-austerity cut) per student
>No savings through flexibility
Fiscal Impact
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IE2
SystemSystem of
Charter SchoolsStrategic School
SystemCharterSystem
StatusQuo
>School System may maximize school-level governance by granting local schools authority to determine how to reach goals
>School System must provide each school with substantial autonomy and maximum school-level governance and decision making over budgets, programs, personnel and innovation
>School System may maximize school level governance by granting local schools authority to determine how to reach goals, manage personnel, and develop innovative strategies
>School System must provide each school with substantial autonomy and maximum school-level governance and decision making over budgets, programs, personnel and/or innovation
>No change in school-level governance
Governance
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• Beyond the 4 responsibilities of a school board, everything else is the Superintendent’s responsibility
• Therefore, it is the Superintendent’s authority that is shared with schools in a charter system or a system of charter schools
• The authority of a local Board of Education is not diminished unless it has inappropriately taken the Superintendent’s authority
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Charter System School Governing Team
Autonomy
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Indicators of Autonomy• Ability to make personnel decisions (People)• Ability to make decisions about what happens in the school (Time)• Ability to set school budget spending priorities (Money)• Governing council members selected/recruited without district assistance • Can contract for services provided by the district
Indicators of Autonomy• Ability to make personnel decisions (People)• Ability to make decisions about what happens in the school (Time)• Ability to set school budget spending priorities (Money)• Governing council members selected/recruited without district assistance • Can contract for services provided by the district
The school should be as close to this
end as possible
The school should be as close to this
end as possible
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IE2
SystemSystem of
Charter SchoolsStrategic School
SystemCharterSystem
StatusQuo
>Student performance goals must meet or exceed state averages and exceed previous system performance >Student performance must meet all federal and state accountability measures
>Student performance goals must meet or exceed state averages and exceed previous system performance >Student performance must meet all federal and state accountability measures
>Student performance goals must exceed previous system performance and must show annual improvement>Student performance must meet all federal and state accountability measures
>Student performance goals must meet or exceed state averages and exceed previous system performance >Student performance must meet all federal and state accountability measures
>Student performance must meet all federal and state accountability measures
Performance Evaluation
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IE2
SystemSystem of
Charter SchoolsStrategic School
SystemCharterSystem
StatusQuo
>Loss of governance of non-performing schools: (1) conversion to charter school; (2) operation by another school system; or (3) operation by private or non-profit entity
>Charter status revoked for non-performing schools; those schools lose all flexibility >Possible fiscal impact due to loss of flexibility
>Flexibility status revoked and school system reverts to Status Quo>Possible fiscal impact when converting from Strategic School System to Status Quo due to loss of flexibility
>Charter status revoked and school system reverts to Status Quo >Possible fiscal impact when converting from Charter System to Status Quo due to loss of flexibility
N/A
Consequences
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IE2
SystemSystem of
Charter SchoolsStrategic School
SystemCharterSystem
Status Quo
>Local School System Board of Education and State Board of Education*
>Charter School Governing Board, Local School System Board of Education, and State Board of Education
>Local School System Board of Education and State Board of Education
>Local School System Board of Education and State Board of Education
N/A
Contractual Partners
*Required by statute that the Governor’s Office of Student Achievement participate in the IE2 process.
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IE2
SystemSystem of
Charter SchoolsStrategic School
SystemCharterSystem
Status Quo
>Initial term of contract is for 5 years>Contract may be renewed if contract performance goals are met for at least three consecutive years
>Initial term of individual school contract is for 5 years>Contract status is reviewed annually, based on student performance>Subsequent contract term may range from 5 to 10 years if the charter contract goals are met
>Single contract term of 2 to 5 years>>Contract status is reviewed annually, based on student performance>Follow-up contract must be IE2, Charter System, System of Charter Schools, or Status Quo
>Initial term of contract is for 5 years>Contract status is reviewed annually, based on student performance>Subsequent contract term may range from 5 to 10 years if the charter contract goals are met
N/A
Length of Contract
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IE2
SystemSystem of
Charter SchoolsStrategic School
SystemCharterSystem
Status Quo
>Approved by local board>Petition sent to GaDOE>Petition vetted by GaDOE staff>Petition sent to GaDOE Cabinet>Petition sent to State Board of Education (SBOE)>Contract signed by all parties>Time from receipt of petition to SBOE approval and contract = 8 to 24 months
>Approved by local board>Petition sent to GaDOE>Petition vetted by GaDOE staff >Petition sent to GaDOE Cabinet>Petition sent to State Board of Education (SBOE)>Contract signed by all parties>Time from receipt of petition to SBOE approval and contract = 3 to 6 months
>Approved by local board>Petition sent to GaDOE>Petition vetted by GaDOE staff >Petition sent to GaDOE Cabinet>Petition sent to State Board of Education (SBOE)>Contract signed by all parties>Time from receipt of petition to SBOE approval and contract = 3 to 6 months
>Approved by local board>Petition sent to GaDOE>Petition vetted by GaDOE staff >Petition sent to GaDOE Cabinet>Petition sent to State Board of Education (SBOE)>Contract signed by all parties>Time from receipt of petition to SBOE approval and contract = 3 to 6 months
N/A
Petition Process
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IE2
System System of
Charter SchoolsStrategic School
SystemCharterSystem
StatusQuo
O.C.G.A. §20-2-80 §20-2-81§20-2-82§20-2-83§20-2-84.1§20-2-84.2§20-2-84.3
O.C.G.A. §20-2-2063§20-2-2063.1§20-2-2063.2§20-2-2064.1§20-2-2065§20-2-2066§20-2-2067§20-2-2067.1§20-2-2068§20-2-2068.1§20-2-2068.2§20-2-2069§20-2-2070§20-2-2071
O.C.G.A. §20-2-2063.2
O.C.G.A. §20-2-2063.2
O.C.G.A. §20-2-80
Legal References
Charter School Authorizing in Georgia
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88Dr. John D. Barge, State School Superintendent 04/21/23
What is an Authorizer?
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What Are An Authorizer’s Responsibilities?
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An authorizer is an entity that has the authority to create charter schools
Dr. John D. Barge, State School Superintendent 04/21/23
How Does The SBOE/GaDOE Fulfill Their Obligations as an Authorizer?
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How Does The Commission Fulfill Its Obligations as an Authorizer?
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Charter School Approval Process
93Dr. John D. Barge, State School Superintendent
Start-up petition
SCSS petition
Conversion petition
LBOE GaDOE SBOE
ApprovalReview and make recommendation
to SBOEApproval
New locally-approved start-
up charter school
Review and make recommendation
to SBOEApproval
New state-chartered
special school
Approval Approval
Review and make recommendation
to SBOE
New conversion
charter school
Y
N
Y
Y
Y
N
N
N
End
End
EndEnd
Y
N
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Commission School Approval Process
94Dr. John D. Barge, State School Superintendent
Start-up petition for
defined attendance
zone
Commission petition for
defined attendance
zone
LBOE where school will be located
Commission SBOE
Overrule
New Commission
school
N
N
YEnd
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ApprovalY
EndN
Commission petition for statewide
attendance zone
Petition to district in which
school will be located for
information only (not required for virtual schools)
(See previous page)
YApproval
Charter System Approval Process
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Charter system petition
LBOE GaDOE SBOE
Approval Approval
Review and make
recommendation to SBOE
New charter system
Y
NEndEnd
Y
N
Charter Advisory Committee review and
recommendation to SBOE
What is the SBOE/GaDOE Charter Petition Review Process?
96Dr. John D. Barge, State School Superintendent 04/21/23
CHARTER SCHOOL PETITIONS
CURRENT CHARTER SCHOOLS
Conversion Start-UpChesnut E SKingsley E SSmoke Rise E SPeachtree M SChamblee H S
DeKalb Academy of the Technology and the EnvironmentDeKalb Path AcademyDeKalb Preparatory AcademyDestiny Academy of ExcellenceGateway to CollegeInternational Community SchoolLeadership Preparatory AcademyThe Museum School
2013 – 2014 Letters of Intent to Submit 2014-2015 Charter Petitions
2014 Start-Up Charter School Petitions Under Review
2013 – 2014 Letter of Intent to Submit the 2014-2015 Cluster Charter Petition
2013 – 2014 Letters of Intent to Submit 2014-2015 Charter Renewal Petitions
2013 – 2014 Letters of Intent to Submit 2014-2015 Charter Renewal Petitions
Start-ups: May 16 – 17, 2013
Conversions: August 15 – 16, 2013
Renewals: August 15 – 16, 2013
High School Cluster: August 15 – 16, 2013
When are petitions due to the DeKalb County School District Charter School Office?
When are petitions due to the State Department of Education Charter School Office?
Start-ups: August 1, 2013
State-chartered special schools: August 1, 2013
Conversions: November 1, 2013
Renewals: November 1, 2013
Charter Systems: November 1, 2013
Duration of Charter Term
The petition must be consistent with state law and DCSD policy that the both initial charters will be issued a five-year period and that renewal charters will be issued for 5-10 years, based on whether or not performance goals have been met as specified in charter.
CONVERSION CHARTER SCHOOLS ONLY1. All charter renewal petitions submitted by a charter petitioner to the
local Board must meet all state and DCSD petition requirements.
2. A conversion charter petition shall include a statement detailing the autonomy that the conversion school shall have from the local school system.
3. This statement shall include, among other things, a description of how financial resources will be managed; how human resources will be managed and personnel evaluated; the extent to which parents, community members, and other stakeholders will participate in the governance of the school; and any other innovative practices the school intends to implement.
4. The petition shall describe all policies, procedures and practices the school intends to implement. The petition shall describe all policies, procedures, and practices that will materially distinguish the conversion school from the school’s pre-conversion model.
Dr. John D. Barge, State School Superintendent
CONVERSION CHARTER SCHOOLS ONLY 5. Include a statement that the petitioner has held the appropriate votes, by
secret ballot, required pursuant to O.C.G.A. § 20-2-2064 (a) (1) and (2), and shall describe the procedures and outcomes of those votes.
6. For the purposes of the vote required pursuant to O.C.G.A. § 20-2-2064 (a) (1), each faculty or instructional staff member shall have a
7. single vote.
8. For purposes of the vote required pursuant to O.C.G.A. § 20-2-2064 (a) (2), a student’s parent(s) or guardian(s) shall collectively have one vote for each student enrolled in the school.
9. A conversion charter school petition must be agreed to by a majority of the faculty and instructional staff members and a majority of parent or guardians of students enrolled in the petitioning local school before the petition is presented to the local board for approval.
Dr. John D. Barge, State School Superintendent
CHARTER SCHOOL PETITIONS TO LOCAL BOARDS
A local board now has 90 days from the date of submission to consider an applicant’s petition before it is deemed denied under the law – unless the applicant grants an extension beyond 90 days.
If a local board denies a petition, the petitioner shall not be precluded from submitting a revised petition to the local board that addresses the deficiencies cited in the denial.
If a local board approves a petition, the local board must within thirty (30) days deliver the approved petition to the Georgia Department of Education for review by the SBOE.
Dr. John D. Barge, State School Superintendent
What Steps does GaDOE Take to Ensure Only High-Quality Charter Schools are Recommended for
Approval?
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What Should New and Renewal Charter School Applicants Do to Ensure They Are
High-Quality Applicants?
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What Steps Should Renewal Applicants Take to Ensure They Are High-Quality
Charter Schools?
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When Does GaDOE Recommend An Existing Charter School for Denial?
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When Should an Authorizer Close a Charter School?
*These guidelines are based on NACSA’s Red Flags for identifying “bad” schools.04/21/23 114
Why Should Authorizers Close Schools?
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Accountability Project
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Charter School Grant Opportunities
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118Dr. John D. Barge, State School Superintendent
Where is Georgia chartering headed?
What’s Best for Charter School Students?
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For More Informationhttp://www.gadoe.org/External-Affairs-and-Policy/Charter-Schools/
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Garry McGiboney, Ph.D.Associate Superintendent
Howard Hendley, Ed.D.Director, Policy Division
Louis ErsteDirector, Charter Schools Division
Allan MeyerAssistant Director
Policy [email protected]
404-657-1065
Morgan FeltsProgram Manager and
Senior AttorneyCharter Schools [email protected]
404-656-0027