Charter Schools: The Process in Georgia

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Charter SchoolsThe Process in Georgia

• Georgia Department of Education
• State Board of Education Workshop
• March 10, 2004

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Interested Petitioners

• A local school, private individual or
  organization, or state or local public entity has
  interest in starting a charter school (law)
• May call GDOE for assistance
• May apply for a planning grant
• 5,000.00 grant
• Peer reviewed
• Application on website

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Submission to LEA

• Petitioner submits charter petition to LEA (law)
• LEA has 60 days to approve or deny petition (law)
• Petition judged on 2 factors
• Complies with rules, regs, policies, and
  procedures of the charter code section and Title
  20
• Is in the public interest (law)
• Initial charters may be granted for a term of 3
  to 5 years, unless the petitioner requests a
  shorter period (law)

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After LEA Decision

• If APPROVED,
• Petition is sent to the state board for approval
• If DENIED,
• LEA has 60 days to (law)
• Specifically state reasons for denial,
• List all deficiencies with respect to the charter
  law, and
• Provide a written statement of the denial to the
  petition and state board

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GDOE Enters.

• LEA approved charters
• Charter Schools Unit ensures that petition meets
  all requirements according to law and rule (law)
• Once the petition is complete, it is sent to the
  state board for a vote (law)
• Note state board may refer the petition to a
  Charter Petition Review Committee (rule)
• If state board amends charter, LEA must accept or
  reject amendments within 30 days (rule)
• LEA denied charters
• If petitioner requests mediation, state board may
  grant request (law)
• If state board grants request, mediation must be
  initiated within 30 days of receipt of request
  (rule)

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After Mediation

• If mediation is successful, the LEA will approve
  the charter and send to the state board
• If mediation is unsuccessful, the petitioner may
  apply to the state board to be a state chartered
  special school (law)
• NOTE conversions may not apply for state
  special status (law)

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State Chartered Special Petitions

• Generally the same as traditional petitions
  (rule)
• However, budget must reflect lack of local
  support (rule)
• Petitions due to state board by December 1 for
  opening the following fall (rule)

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State Chartered Special Petition Review

• Mediation must first be attempted between LEA
  petitioner (rule)
• State board shall refer the petition to the
  Charter Petition Review Committee. From the
  approved list, there must be the following
  (rule)
• Local school board member or rep
• DOE staff member Finance
• DOE staff member Charter School Unit
• Teacher
• Parent
• Rep. of charter community
• Rep. of business community

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Charter Petition Review Committee

• Review of petition must be completed within 30
  days of the referral to the Committee (rule)
• Committee will
• Review the petition and ensure that it meets the
  requirements for a state chartered special school
  as specified in the rule, and
• Recommend approval or denial and the reasons for
  the recommendation (rule)
• State board will approve or deny Committees
  recommendation within 60 days of completion of
  Committees review (rule)

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Approved Charters

• May apply to GDOE for an implementation grant
  (computers, books, furniture) (federal grant)
• Current implementation grant levels
• 200,000-conversions
• 400,000-start-ups
• 600,000-state chartered special
• (federal grant)

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Charter School Renewals

• Must meet same requirements as petition (rule)
• Submitted to the state board by December 1 of the
  last year of the charter (rule)
• Renewal terms may be for up to five years (law)

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Charter Terminations

• State board may terminate if (law)
• Majority of parents vote to terminate, or
• Majority of faculty vote to terminate, or
• After notice and an opportunity for a hearing,
  the state board finds
• Failure to comply with school improvement
  directives for failing schools (20-14-41), or
• Failure to adhere to any material term of the
  charter, or
• Poor fiscal management, or
• Violation of applicable federal, state, or local
  laws, or
• Substantial evidence that the continued operation
  of the school would be contrary to the best
  interests of the students or community, or
• Failure to comply with any provision of 20-2-2065
  (requirements for operating and control of
  charter schools), or
• Upon written request of the LEA if the LEA has
  previously provided notice an opportunity for a
  hearing to the charter school

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Office of Charter School Compliance (aka Charter
Schools Unit)

• Prepare charter school guidelines to be approved
  by the state board
• Distribute charter school petition information to
  inquiring parties
• Process all charter school petitions for
  consideration by the state board
• Administer any state or federal charter school
  implementation grant program
• Contract with an independent party to evaluate
  the performance of charter schools
• Compile information necessary to produce the
  annual report (law)
• Monitor the compliance of all charter schools and
  report monthly to the state board regarding such
  schools (rule)

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Charter Schools Unit

• Program Manager Jennifer Rippner
• Program Specialist Beverly Schrenger
• ½ time Secretary TBA
• ½ time Research Assistant TBA

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The Future.

• Rule / procedure revisions this spring and summer
• More technical assistance to charter schools,
  petitioners, and authorizers
• Standardized, independent evaluation and
  monitoring systems