Charter Schools and Charter Systems in Georgia STATE CHARTER SCHOOLS COMMISSION BRIEFING January 30, 2012
What is the Origin of Charter Schools? 1/30/2013 2
What are Charter Schools? Charter schools are… • Public schools of choice • Publicly funded but organized and governed by a charter school governing board • Free from many of the regulations that govern traditional public schools • Based on partnerships with local communities and businesses Dr. John D. Barge, State School Superintendent
What is the basic charter bargain? ACCOUNTABILITY AUTONOMY Higher Academic Flexibility to Expectations Innovate Students Waivers from state outperform local and local laws and districts/state rules Freedom from More performance state, local and measures EMO/CMO control Dr. John D. Barge, State School Superintendent
Why charter schools? Com petition Dr. John D. Barge, State School Superintendent
Innovation Advocates see charter Freedom from many schools as incubators of state and district innovation where best regulations inspires practices will be creativity implemented 1/30/2013 6 Dr. John D. Barge, State School Superintendent
Choice Can have a specific Provide choice to Can serve as an focus or model that parents and alternative to failing provides a better fit students schools for some students 1/30/2013 7 Dr. John D. Barge, State School Superintendent
Competition Provide market Traditional public competition to schools must respond traditional public to the challenge to schools as an incentive retain or win back for change students 1/30/2013 8 Dr. John D. Barge, State School Superintendent
Four Overlapping Generations of Chartering 1 - PIONEERS 2 - ENTREPRENEURS • Parents, teachers, administrators • For-profit companies • Do it our way • Some focused more on student results • Different is better • Some focused more on the bottom line • Limited or no accountability • Limited or no accountability 4 - PROFESSIONALS 3 - SOCIAL REFORMERS • Experienced school & organization people • Non-profit organizations with proven record of effectiveness • Focused only on student results • Student achievement is the top priority • Urban areas • High levels of academic, financial, • Models that work governance, and compliance accountability • Increased academic accountability 1/30/2013 9 Dr. John D. Barge, State School Superintendent
Georgia Charter School History 1998 – Charter law 1993 - First charter 1995 - First three allows start-up law was passed conversion schools schools (including allowing conversion open (Addison ES in state chartered charter schools only Cobb is still a charter) special schools) Charter 2008 - Charter law 2001 – First two state 2000 - First start-up system law establishing Georgia chartered special charter school also passed, Charter Schools schools were created opened (Oglethorpe followed by first 4 charter Commission (first (CCAT and Odyssey Charter School in systems in schools in 2009) School) Savannah-Chatham) 2008-09 2011 - Georgia 2012 – Constitutional 2013 - State Charter Supreme Court ruled amendment passed Schools Commission the Commission law to allow new appointed by SBOE unconstitutional Commission and begins work Dr. John D. Barge, State School Superintendent
Georgia Charter Schools Commission School Transitions – May 2011 to March 2013 June 2011 - 16 June 2011 - 5 May 2011 - Georgia Commission schools Commission schools June 2011 - 3 Commission Supreme Court ruling apply to become state withdraw their state schools are approved by leaves 16 Commission chartered special their local districts and 2 of charter applications; schools without an these are approved by the schools; 7 also apply for local approval for 1 is authorizer SBOE; 4 are denied locally local charter approval rescinded May 2012 - 1 locally- November 2012 - 1 May 2012 – The second June 2011 - SBOE approved former former commission locally-approved former authorizes 12 state- Commission school school receives a 5-year Commission school chartered special schools receives a 5-year charter charter renewal from receives a 2-year state to serve Commission renewal from its local the SBOE charter from the SBOE school students district and the SBOE February 2013 - 3 more March 2013 – 14 state January 2013 – SBOE January 2013 - SBOE former Commission chartered special schools approves 5-year charter approves 5-year charter schools will be serving Commission for the 4th former renewals for 6 schools recommended to the students will be eligible commission school to serving former SBOE for 5-year charter to apply for new receive local approval Commission students renewals Commission charters 1/30/2013 11 Dr. John D. Barge, State School Superintendent
Who creates Georgia charter schools? For locally-approved and system charter schools Local Boards State Board of Education of Education For state chartered special schools State Board of Education For state charter schools State Board State Charter Schools of Education Commission (60-day review) Dr. John D. Barge, State School Superintendent
Georgia charter partners • An appointed committee that reviews charter Charter Advisory system petitions, provides recommendations to the State Board on approvals, and provides Committee technical assistance to charter systems • A non-profit charter system organization that Charter System will serve as a conduit for sharing resources, innovative ideas, and informing policymakers Foundation about the efforts of charter systems • A non-profit legislative/legal advocacy organiza- Georgia Charter tion that supports charter schools with training, certification, job fairs, technical assistance, policy Schools Association templates, data analysis, and annual conference • TCSG’s office dedicated to increasing both the Office of College and number of and the overall quality of college and Career Transitions career academies 1/30/2013 13 Dr. John D. Barge, State School Superintendent
National charter partners • A national non-profit committed to advancing the National Alliance charter movement of Public Charter • Highlights: Public Charter School Performance Dashboard, Charter Law Ranking Database, Annual Schools (NAPCS) Conference (5,500 people) National • A national non-profit devoted exclusively to improving Association of public education by improving the policies and practices of charter school authorizers Charter School • Highlights: Authorizer Principals and Standards, The Authorizers Fund for Authorizing Excellence, Authorizer Comparison, Annual Conference (400 people) (NACSA) 1/30/2013 14 Dr. John D. Barge, State School Superintendent
What Kinds of Charter Schools Does Georgia Have? 1/30/2013 15
What are the different types of charter schools? Same starting point as a Different starting points, conversion charter, but a but same end point different end point Conversion Start-up Charter Charter School Charter School System School (LBOE & SBOE) Locally- State State Charter Approved Chartered School Charter School Special School (Commission) (LBOE & SBOE) (SBOE) 16
What is a conversion charter school? • Traditional public school that becomes a charter school • Gains additional flexibility in exchange for higher levels of Definition accountability • Can only be locally approved (with SBOE) • 31 conversion charter schools in Georgia Facts & Features • Strategy for turning around low-performing schools Relative • Student population, building, and operational systems and structures are already in place Advantages: Federal/State • Must comply with all Federal laws and regulations • Must comply with all State laws, rules and regulations not Compliance waived by the Charter 1/30/2013 17 Dr. John D. Barge, State School Superintendent
What is a start-up charter school? • Started by private individuals and private organizations, as well as state and local public entities Definition • Can be locally approved (school district, with SBOE), a state chartered special school (SBOE only), or a state charter school (Commission, with SBOE review) • Did not exist prior to the petition Facts & Features • Most common type of non-charter system charter school in Georgia (77 – including 15 state chartered special schools) Relative • Opportunity to start a school with everything needed to be a successful school Advantages Federal/State • Must comply with all federal laws and regulations • Must comply with all state laws, rules and regulations not Compliance waived by the charter contract 1/30/2013 18 Dr. John D. Barge, State School Superintendent
What is a career academy ? • A locally-approved, start-up charter school that Definition partners with a local district, area businesses, and a technical college • Most career academies start off as programs • Career academy courses are a reflection of the Facts & Features community’s needs and businesses • 19 career academies with individual charters in Georgia Relative • Local districts are able to demonstrate their commitment to preparing their students for either Advantages college or a career • Must comply with all federal laws and regulations Federal/State Compliance • Must comply with all state laws, rules and regulations not waived by the contract 1/30/2013 19 Dr. John D. Barge, State School Superintendent
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