Charter Schools

The Georgia Charter Schools Act provides a framework for establishing public charter schools through a performance-based contract approved by both the local board of education and the State Board of Education. Charter schools are designed to foster innovation, expand educational opportunities, and improve student outcomes while remaining accountable for academic, financial, and organizational performance.

For more than two decades, DeKalb County School District (DCSD) has served as a charter school authorizer, partnering with school leaders and governing boards to develop and oversee high-quality charter schools that align with the district's strategic priorities and meet the needs of DeKalb students and families. DCSD's commitment to rigorous authorization practices, ongoing oversight, and continuous improvement has earned the district recognition by the Georgia Department of Education as an exemplary charter school authorizer.

The charter contract serves as the foundation for a collaborative partnership between the district and each charter school. The agreement establishes clear expectations for academic achievement, organizational effectiveness, financial stewardship, and legal compliance while providing schools with the operational flexibility to implement innovative educational models. Through this balance of autonomy and accountability, DCSD supports high-quality charter schools that expand educational opportunities and advance positive outcomes for all students.

Start-Up Charter Schools

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 5, 2026, at 12:00PM EST. Start-up charter school petitioners seeking to operate beginning in school year 2028-2029 may submit letters of intent until July 1, 2026, at 12:00PM EST. Letters of intent should be emailed to charterschools@dekalbschoolsga.org.

Annual Reports

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?

Georgia law requires all charter schools to submit an annual report to the Georgia Department of Education, and the State Board of Education is required to report annually to the General Assembly on the status of Georgia's charter school program. To support transparency and accountability, the state's charter school dashboard provides academic, financial, facilities, enrollment, and waitlist data for both state- and locally approved charter schools.

In addition, the DeKalb County School District monitors charter school performance through its Balanced Scorecard, a student-centered accountability framework that measures key performance indicators and promotes continuous improvement to support positive student outcomes.

Resources

• DCSD Balanced Scorecards (including charter schools)
• Data Sources Compiled
• Oversight and Evaluation Process
• Qualitative Site Review
• Comprehensive Performance Framework (contracts executed before 2026)
• Comprehensive Performance Framework (contracts executed after 2026)
• Intervention Protocol
• Current Interventions

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.

• FY27 Initial Allocations - Charter Schools (updated 06.29.2026)

• FY26 Federal Programs Allocations

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.

• FY26 Department Services Guide
• FY25 Annual Authorizer Fee Report