Charter Schools

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.

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

• Data Sources Compiled
• Oversight and Evaluation Process
• Qualitative Site Review

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.

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.

• FY26 Initial Allocations - Charter Schools (updated 08.29.25)

• FY25 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

Start-Up Charter Schools

Charter Schools

• charterschools@dekalbschoolsga.org

• 678.676.0718

• Kina M. Champion
  Director, School Innovation

• Marcia Campbell
  Administrative Assistant