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Charter schools in Georgia

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Charter schools in Georgia are public schools operated independently of public school systems, either by nonprofit or for-profit organizations. Although they are largely publicly funded, charter schools are exempt from many of the requirements imposed by state and local boards of education regarding hiring and curriculum. As public schools, charter schools cannot charge tuition or impose special entrance requirements; students are usually admitted through a lottery process if demand exceeds the number of spaces available in a school. Charter schools generally receive a percentage of the per-pupil funds from the state and local school districts for operational costs based on enrollment. In most states, charter schools do not receive funds for facilities or start-up costs; therefore, they must rely to some extent on private donations. The federal government also provides revenues through special grants. As of March 2017, 44 states and the District of Columbia had approved legislation authorizing the creation of public charter schools. Six states had not.

HIGHLIGHTS
  • According to the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, a charter school advocacy group, there were an estimated 115 total charter schools in Georgia in the 2015-2016 school year. These schools enrolled approximately 82,800 students.
  • Overall, charter school students accounted for 4.79 percent of total public school enrollment in Georgia in 2015.
  • The Georgia State Legislature approved the state's charter school law in 1994.

    • Background[edit]

    History[edit]

    The Georgia State Legislature approved Georgia's charter school law in 1994.

    In 1991 Minnesota became the first state to pass a charter school law.[1]

    The National Conference of State Legislatures defines charter schools as follows:[2]

    “

    Charter schools are publicly funded, privately managed and semi-autonomous schools of choice. They do not charge tuition. They must hold to the same academic accountability measures as traditional schools. They receive public funding similarly to traditional schools. However, they have more freedom over their budgets, staffing, curricula and other operations. In exchange for this freedom, they must deliver academic results and there must be enough community demand for them to remain open.[3]

    		”
    —National Conference of State Legislatures

    Across the nation, charter schools have grown in number since the passage of the first public charter school law. As of March 2017, 44 states plus the District of Columbia had enacted charter school laws, and in 2013 it was estimated that 4.6 percent of all public school students attended charter schools. Performance results of charter schools nationally have been mixed, with some performing demonstrably better and others closing because they could not meet required standards.[2][4][5]

    Georgia's charter school law was enacted in 1994. As originally passed, the law only allowed for the creation of conversion charter schools. In 1995 the first three conversion charter schools in the state opened. In 1998 a law was passed allowing for the creation of start-up charter schools, and the first start-up charter school in the state opened in 2000. In 2008 the Georgia Charter Schools Commission was established as a state-level charter school authorizer. In 2011 however, the Georgia Supreme Court ruled that the commission's existence violated the state constitution. On November 6, 2012 Georgia voters approved a constitutional amendment that gave the Georgia State Legislature the right to create charter schools. As a result of the amendment's passage, the legislature was able to reestablish a state-level charter school authorizer (the State Charter Schools Commission).[6][7]

    Participation[edit]

    According to the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, a charter school advocacy group, there were an estimated 115 total charter schools in Georgia in the 2015-2016 school year. These schools enrolled approximately 82,800 students. Overall, charter school students accounted for 4.79 percent of total public school enrollment in Georgia in 2015.[8]

    Charter schools, 2015-2016
    State Total number of charter schools Estimated enrollment Percentage of total public school enrollment
    Georgia 115 82,800 4.79%
    Alabama 0 0 0.00%
    Florida 656 282,500 10.36%
    South Carolina 68 31,300 4.15%
    United States total 6,824 2,930,600 5.85%
    Note: The percentages in the column labeled "Percentage of total public school enrollment" were calculated by taking the estimated number of charter school students in a given state and dividing by the total estimated number of public school students in that state in 2015. Total public school enrollment estimates came from the National Center for Education Statistics.
    Source: National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, "A Closer Look at the Charter School Movement," February 3, 2016

    Demographics[edit]

    See also: Charter school demographics and Demographic information for all students in the United States

    The table below presents information about the race/ethnicity of charter school students in Georgia in the 2013-2014 school year, as reported by the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools. To facilitate comparison, the same figures are also provided for all public school students.[9][10]

    Enrollments by ethnicity, 2013-2014 (as percentages)
    Data sample White Black Hispanic Asian Other
    Charter schools in Georgia 42.0% 40.0% 11.0% 4.0% 3.0%
    Public schools in Georgia 42.7% 37.0% 13.3% 3.5% 3.4%
    Charter schools in the U.S. 34.9% 27.1% 30.0% 4.1% 3.8%
    Public schools in the U.S. 50.3% 15.6% 24.8% 4.8% 4.4%
    Sources: National Center for Education Statistics, "Table 203.70. Percentage distribution of enrollment in public elementary and secondary schools, by race/ethnicity and state or jurisdiction: Fall 2003 and fall 2013," accessed June 7, 2016
    National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, "The Health of the Charter Public School Movement: A State-by-State Analysis," March 2016

    State law[edit]

    Authorizers[edit]

    Charter school authorizers are, according to the National Association of Charter School Authorizers (NACSA), the organizations "designated to approve, monitor, renew, and, if necessary, close charter schools." NASCA has identified six primary types of charter school authorizers:[11]

    1. Higher education institutions (HEI)
    2. Independent charter boards (ICB)
    3. Local education agencies (LEA)
    4. Non-education government entities (NEG)
    5. Not-for-profit organizations (NFP)
    6. State education agencies

    The table below lists charter school authorizers in Georgia as of June 2016. Click [show] to expand the table's contents.

    Enrollment regulations[edit]

    Generally speaking, charter schools in Georgia "must adhere to the same open admission and enrollment standards as traditional public schools." There are certain legally permitted "admissions preferences," stated below:[12]

    “ In the case of start-up charters the categories allowable under the Charter Schools Act are as follows: siblings of a student enrolled in the start –up charter school; a sibling of a student enrolled in another local school designated in the charter; a student whose parent or guardian is a member of the governing board of the charter school or is a full time teacher, professional, or other employee at the charter school; and students matriculating from a local school designated in the charter.

    Conversion charter schools may legally allow enrollment preferences for: a sibling of a student enrolled in the charter school or in any school in the high school cluster; a student whose parent or guardian is a member of the governing board of the charter school or is a full time teacher, professional, or other employee at the charter school; students who were enrolled in the local school before it became a charter; students who reside in the charter attendance zone specified in the charter.

    State-chartered special schools may give enrollment preferences to a student whose parent is a full time teacher, professional, or other employee at the charter school or to a student currently enrolled in a state chartered special school or a sibling of a student currently enrolled in a state-chartered special school.[3]

    		”
    —Georgia Department of Education


    Funding[edit]

    In Georgia, charter schools receive a portion of their funding from the state.

    The way charter schools are financed differs from state to state, and even between districts within states. Georgia state law dictates that charter schools receive funding equivalent to that given to the traditional public schools:[12]

    “ According to GA Code section 20-2-2068.1(a), "the local board and the state board shall treat a conversion charter school no less favorably than other local schools located within the applicable local school system unless otherwise provided by law. The local board and the state board shall treat a start-up charter school no less favorably than other local schools within the applicable local system with respect to the provision of funds for instruction, school administration, transportation, food services, and, where feasible, building programs."[3] ”
    —Georgia Department of Education

    Charter schools, like their traditional public school counterparts, receive funding from State Quality Basic Education funds, local funds, federal grants, fundraising and charitable donations. Funding allocations are based on student enrollment.[12][13]

    Accountability[edit]

    See also: Accountability measures for charter schools

    Charter schools in Georgia are required to prepare and submit annual reports and financial audits. The State Charter School Commission is required to draft and submit a report on the "academic performance and fiscal responsibility of all state charter schools." There are no similar requirements for local school board authorizers or the state board of education.[14]

    According to the Education Commission of the States, the state board of education may close a charter in the event that one or more of the following conditions are met:[14]

    “
    • If a majority of the parents or guardians of students enrolled at the charter school vote by a majority vote to request the termination of its charter at a public meeting called with two weeks' advance notice and for the purpose of deciding whether to request the state board to declare the charter null and void
    • If a majority of the faculty and instructional staff employed at the charter school vote by a majority vote to request the termination of its charter at a public meeting called with two weeks' advance notice and for the purpose of deciding whether to request the state board to declare the charter null and void
    • If, after providing reasonable notice to the charter school or charter system and an opportunity for a hearing, the state board finds through its own audit or through other means:
      • A failure to comply with any recommendation or direction of the state board with respect to intervention for failing schools
      • A failure to adhere to any material term of the charter, including but not limited to the performance goals set forth in the charter
      • For a charter system, a failure to promote school level governance as required by the charter
      • A failure to meet generally accepted standards of fiscal management
      • A violation of applicable federal, state or local laws or court orders
      • The existence of competent substantial evidence that the continued operation of the charter school or charter system would be contrary to the best interests of the students or the community
      • A failure to comply with any provision of code related to waivers
    • Upon the written request of a local board for termination of a charter for a local charter school located within its school system if, prior to making such request, the local board provided reasonable notice to the charter school and an opportunity for a hearing, and determined the existence of any of the grounds described above.[3]
    		 ”
    —Education Commission of the States

    Charter school law rankings[edit]

    In January 2016, the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools released a report ranking all of the nation's charter school laws. Georgia's law ranked 18 out of 43. The organization ranked each state's law by considering what it called "20 essential components of a strong charter school law." The table below compares Georgia's score with that of neighboring states. To access the full report, including methodology, click here.[15]

    Charter school law rankings, January 2016
    State 2016 ranking 2015 ranking Ranking difference 2016 score 2015 score Score difference
    Georgia 18 23 5 147 137 10
    Alabama 2 N/A N/A 175 N/A N/A
    Florida 9 8 -1 156 156 0
    South Carolina 13 10 -3 152 152 0
    Source: National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, "Measuring Up To The Model: A Ranking of State Charter School Laws," January 2016

    Issues[edit]

    Debate[edit]

    Proponents of charter schools such as the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools argue that, due to their freedom from some state oversight and regulation, they can adopt more innovative educational approaches. This allows them to cater to their particular higher-risk school age populations, which are generally composed of more minority and poor students. In addition, advocates argue that charter schools empower parents and improve traditional public schools through competition.

    Meanwhile, critics such as Diane Ravitch argue that charter schools have not been proven to produce significantly higher levels of academic achievement as promised. It is difficult to find data comparable to traditional public schools. Critics also contend that charter schools divert funds from traditional public schools, which continue to enroll significant majorities of public school students, thereby compounding problems at failing schools and generating unequal outcomes for students.[16]

    Funding inequity[edit]

    In 2014, the University of Arkansas Department of Education Reform released a report identifying disparities between charter school funding and traditional public school funding. Examining 31 states, the researchers considered all sources of charter school funding, including public funds, grants, and philanthropic donations. Researchers found that charter schools received on average 28.4 percent less than traditional public schools. Tennessee's funding disparity was lowest at 0.1 percent, while Louisiana's was highest at 58.4 percent. The disparity in Georgia was -35.1 percent, earning the state an F grade. Charter schools in the state received on average $4,588 less per pupil than traditional public schools.[17]

    Below is a chart that compares Georgia's grade and funding disparity with those of surrounding states. To access the full report, click here.

    Charter school funding disparity by state
    State Grade District per-pupil revenue Charter per-pupil revenue Disparity in dollars Disparity in percents
    Georgia F $13,060 $8,472 -$4,588 -35.1%
    Alabama No charter school law
    Florida D $10,177 $8,047 -$2,129 -20.9%
    South Carolina D $11,019 $9,082 -$1,938 -17.6%
    Source: University of Arkansas Department of Education Reform, "Charter School Funding: Inequity Expands," accessed October 22, 2014

    Charter school management organizations and other groups[edit]

    See also: Charter school management organization

    In the 2010-2011 school year, 84 schools in Georgia were freestanding, four operated under charter management organizations, and 11 operated under education management organizations.[18]

    The Georgia Charter Schools Association, a 501(c)(3) organization, is an advocacy group and "membership organization for Georgia's charter school operators and petitioners." The group's mission statement is as follows:[19][20]

    “ The mission of the Georgia Charter Schools Association is to improve student achievement and promote educational choice by serving and advocating for public charter schools in Georgia.[3] ”
    —Georgia Charter Schools Association

    Innovation[edit]

    See also: Charter school innovation indicators and High-performing charter schools

    Charter school proponents argue that charter schools have the freedom to adopt more innovative practices, which in turn lead to improved academic performance. To get a sense of the level of innovation occurring in charter schools, the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools surveyed charter schools across the country on the various innovative education practices they employed. In Georgia, an average of 25 percent of charter schools reported using innovative practices in the 2011-2012 school year. The table below displays the prevalence of a variety of innovative practices in Georgia as a percentage of all charter schools in the state. The figures are compared with those in surrounding states.[21]

    Charter schools with innovative practices, in percents (2011-2012)
    State Extended day Extended year Year-round calendar Independent study School-to-work Higher education courses Average
    Georgia 59% 18% 0% 18% 27% 27% 25%
    Alabama No charter school law
    Florida 43% 12% 4% 15% 6% 15% 16%
    South Carolina 63% 33% 15% 26% 19% 19% 29%
    Source: National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, "The Health of the Public Charter School Movement: A State-By-State Analysis," accessed October 3, 2014

    Ballot measures and legislation[edit]

    Ballot measures[edit]

    See also: School choice on the ballot and List of Georgia ballot measures

    Ballotpedia has tracked the following statewide ballot measures relating to school choice.

    1. Georgia Charter Schools, Amendment 1 (2012)

    Legislation[edit]

    The following is a list of recent charter school bills that have been introduced in or passed by the Georgia state legislature. To learn more about each of these bills, click the bill title. This information is provided by BillTrack50 and LegiScan.

    Note: Due to the nature of the sorting process used to generate this list, some results may not be relevant to the topic. If no bills are displayed below, no legislation pertaining to this topic has been introduced in the legislature recently.

    Recent news[edit]

    The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms Georgia charter school. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.

    Charter schools in Georgia - Google News

    See also[edit]

    School Board badge.png

    External links[edit]

    Footnotes[edit]

    1. ↑ Public School Review, "What is a Charter School?" accessed October 2, 2014
    2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 National Conference of State Legislatures, "Charter School Finance," accessed October 9, 2014
    3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
    4. ↑ Center for Research on Education Outcomes, "National Charter School Study," accessed October 9, 2014
    5. ↑ National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, "Total Number of Students," accessed October 9, 2014
    6. ↑ Georgia Department of Education, "So You Want to Start a Charter School?" accessed November 20, 2014
    7. ↑ Georgia State Charter Schools Commission, "House Bill 797," accessed November 20, 2014
    8. ↑ National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, "A Closer Look at the Charter School Movement," February 3, 2016
    9. ↑ National Center for Education Statistics, "Table 203.70. Percentage distribution of enrollment in public elementary and secondary schools, by race/ethnicity and state or jurisdiction: Fall 2003 and fall 2013," accessed June 7, 2016
    10. ↑ National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, "The Health of the Charter Public School Movement: A State-by-State Analysis," March 2016
    11. ↑ National Association of Charter School Authorizers, "Types of Authorizers," accessed June 6, 2016
    12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 Georgia Department of Education, "General Frequently Asked Questions," accessed November 20, 2014
    13. ↑ Georgia Charter Schools Association, "FAQ," accessed November 20, 2014
    14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 Education Commission of the States, "Charter Schools Update 2014 - State Profile - Georgia," June 2014
    15. ↑ National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, "Measuring Up To The Model: A Ranking of State Charter School Laws," January 2016
    16. ↑ The New York Review of Books, "The Myth of Charter Schools," November 11, 2010
    17. ↑ University of Arkansas Department of Education Reform, "Charter School Funding: Inequity Expands," accessed October 22, 2014
    18. ↑ National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, "The Health of the Public Charter School Movement: A State-By-State Analysis," accessed October 3, 2014
    19. ↑ Georgia Charter Schools Association, "History & Mission," accessed November 20, 2014
    20. ↑ Georgia Charter Schools Association, "Who We Are," accessed November 20, 2014
    21. ↑ National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, "The Health of the Public Charter School Movement: A State-By-State Analysis," accessed October 3, 2014
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