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
| Spring 2024 Charter School Start-Up Petition Timeline | |
|---|---|
| Letter of Intent Due to DeKalb County School District and GADOE by 12:00 PM | January 5, 2024 |
| Start-Up Petitioners’ Workshop | January 26, 2024 |
| Petition Due to School Innovation Department via DropBox by 12:00 PM | February 7, 2024 |
| DCSD Review for Completeness | February 7-9, 2024 |
| Notice of Completeness: Petitioner informed via email of the outcome of the review for completeness. Complete petitions will be evaluated by the review committee. | February 9, 2024 |
| Founding Board Capacity Interview(s): All Founding Board members are required to attend. | February 28- March 1, 2024 |
| Initial Memo: School Innovation Department issues the Initial Memo via email. The Memo includes feedback and instructions on how to submit the final revised petition. | March 8, 2024 |
| Petitioner submits written itemized response to the Initial Memo and the revised petition via DropBox by 12:00 PM | March 22, 2024 |
| DCSD Superintendent recommendation for approval or denial presented and voted upon by DeKalb Board of Education (DBOE). | May 2024 |
| Letter(s) of Denial Sent to Petitioners (Electronic and U.S.P.S.) | May 2024 |
| Approved Petitions Submitted to Georgia Department of Education for Review and Recommendation to State Board of Education (SBOE) Charter Committee | May-June 2024 |
| DeKalb County School District Charter School Agreement Finalized | TBD based on State Approval |
| State Board of Education Action | TBD |
| Charter School Petition Documents | |
All applications should be submitted electronically via DropBox to:
Adrienne Lacey Griffin, Manager III, School Innovation School 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 GaDOE’s resources. |
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FY24 DCSD Charter School Funding
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.
(updated 09-29-2023)
FY24 Department Services Guide
Per DBOE Policy IBB, the District will withhold a 3% management fee from the total state and local funds earned by each of its locally approved charter schools to reimburse the District for administrative services and technical support provided to its charter schools. 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.
Click here to access the Guide (updated 06.29.23)