Overview
The Georgia charter schools law provides the means to organize a charter public school subject to an academic or vocational performance-based contract approved by both the state and local boards of education.
A group of people (educators, parents, community leaders, or others) write the charter plan (i.e. charter contract) describing the school’s guiding principles, governance structure, and applicable accountability measures. Specific goals and operating procedures for the charter school are detailed in an agreement (or “charter”) between the school system, state department of education, and charter organizers. The charter contract often exempts the school from agreed upon state and local rules, regulations, policies, and procedures and from certain provisions of Title 20 of Georgia law.
Petitions
Performance Scorecards
DeKalb County School District evaluates charter schools using a comprehensive performance framework that includes academic, financial, and organizational performance measures. These measures establish expectations, guide practice, assess progress, and inform decision-making throughout the charter term and during the renewal or revocation process.The three areas of performance covered by the framework—academic, financial, and organizational—correspond with the essential components of the charter school petition and serve as the foundation for ongoing evaluation. In each of these three areas, the framework poses a fundamental question:
- Academic Performance: Is the charter school offering students a better educational opportunity than they would otherwise receive at their traditional local school?
- Financial Performance: Is the charter school fiscally viable and responsible?
- Organizational Performance: Is the organization effective, compliant, and well-managed?
Resources
The DeKalb County School District will accept letters of intent from existing charter school operators seeking contract renewals for School Year 2026—2027 until Monday, January 6, 2025, at 12:00PM EST. Start-up charter school petitioners seeking to operate beginning in school year 2027-2028 may submit letters of intent until July 1, 2025, at 12:00PM EST.
| Key Dates for Charter Petition Cycles | |
|---|---|
| Letter of Intent Due to DeKalb County School District and State Charter Schools Commission (SCSC) |
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| Petitioners Workshop |
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| Petition Due to School Innovation Department |
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Charter School Petition DocumentsStart-Ups
Renewals
Other Required Documents
Evaluation RubricsAll applications should be submitted electronically via DropBox to: Adrienne Lacey Griffin, Manager III, School InnovationSchool Innovation Department DeKalb County School District Administrative & Instructional Complex 1701 Mountain Industrial Blvd Stone Mountain, Georgia 30083 charterschools@dekalbschoolsga.org For more information regarding the charter school petition process, please review the Office of Charter School Compliance’s resources. . |
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Funding Calculations
Funding for a DeKalb County School District (DCSD) charter school’s instructional and administrative programs will comply with the Georgia Charter Schools Act of 1998, Article 31 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, and applicable State Board of Education (SBOE) rules. The District shall fund charter schools pursuant to the funding formula provided by O.C.G.A.§ 20- 2-2068.1 and appropriate SBOE rules.
Department Services Guide
The Department Services Guide provides a description of in-kind and buy-back services available through the DeKalb County School District for charter schools authorized by the DeKalb Board of Education and the State Board of Education. The Guide is reviewed and published annually. The scope of services and costs contained in the Department Services Guide are subject to change at the sole discretion of the District. The Guide is organized by District division.
Start-Up Charter Schools
| School Name | Model | Year Established | Grades Served | Enrollment (March 2025 FTE-3 Counts) | Charter Term/Contract | Website | Contract |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DeKalb Agriculture Technology and Environment, Inc. | Agricultural, Technological, and Environmental Education | 2005 | K-8 | 756 | 2021-2026 | Website | Contract |
| DeKalb PATH Academy | Refugee and Immigrant Communities | 2002 | 5-8 | 368 | 2020-2027 | Website | Contract Extension |
| DeKalb Preparatory Academy | Project-Based Learning | 2012 | K-8 | 500 | 2024-2027 | Website | Contract |
| GLOBE Academy | Dual Language Immersion | 2013 | K-8 | 1086 | 2023-2028 | Website | Contract |
| International Community School | Refugee and Immigrant Communities | 2002 | K-5 | 500 | 2024-2029 | Contract | |
| Leadership Preparatory Academy | Leadership Development | 2010 | K-8 | 255 | 2023-2028 | Website | Contract |
| Museum School of Avondale Estates | Museum Model | 2010 | K-8 | 588 | 2022-2027 | Website | Contract |
| Tapestry Public Charter School | Full Inclusion | 2014 | 6-12 | 292 | 2022-2027 | Website | Contract |