Charter Schools and Charter Systems in Georgia Georgia Grantmakers Alliance Summer Meeting August 16, 2012

2 What are Charter Schools? 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 Charter schools are… Dr. John D. Barge, State School Superintendent 10/6/2015

What is the basic charter bargain? AccountabilityAutonomy Freedom from state, local and EMO/CMO control Flexibility to Innovate Waivers from state and local laws and rules More performance measures Higher Academic Expectations Students outperform local districts/state 3 Dr. John D. Barge, State School Superintendent 10/6/2015

Why charter schools? Innovation Choice Competition Dr. John D. Barge, State School Superintendent 410/6/2015

Conversion charter school Start-up charter school Locally-approved charter school State-chartered special school Charter system school 5 What are the different types of charter schools? Dr. John D. Barge, State School Superintendent Different starting points, same end point Same starting point as a conversion, different end point 10/6/2015

Who creates Georgia charter schools? 6 Local Boards of Education State Board of Education Dr. John D. Barge, State School Superintendent State Board of Education For locally-approved and system charter schools For state chartered special schools 10/6/2015 State Charter School Commission [IF CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT PASSES - For state charter schools]

7 Georgia Charter School History First charter law was passed -- conversion charter schools only First three conversion charter schools open (Addison ES in Cobb is still a charter) 1998 – Charter law allowing start-up charter schools (including SCSSes) First start-up charter school opened (Oglethorpe Charter School in Savannah- Chatham) 2001 – First two state chartered special schools (SCSSes) were created (CCAT and Odyssey School) Charter law establishing Georgia Charter Schools Commission (first schools in 2009) Georgia Supreme Court ruled the Commission law unconstitutional –More than 200 charter schools in operation, including 15 schools serving former Commission students 2012 – Constitutional amendment on the ballot to allow new Commission Dr. John D. Barge, State School Superintendent 10/6/2015 Charter system law also passed, followed by first 4 charter systems in

Georgia’s Charter Landscape 10/6/20158 Not yet a critical mass of high- quality charter schools Concentrated in Metro Atlanta We now have 217 charter schools in Georgia – including 80 start-up charter schools, 30 conversion charter schools, and 107 charter system schools in our 14 charter systems 15 local charter schools or state- chartered special schools were created for students who planned to attend the 16 former Commission schools Not yet a critical mass of high- quality charter schools Concentrated in Metro Atlanta We now have 217 charter schools in Georgia – including 80 start-up charter schools, 30 conversion charter schools, and 107 charter system schools in our 14 charter systems 15 local charter schools or state- chartered special schools were created for students who planned to attend the 16 former Commission schools Dr. John D. Barge, State School Superintendent

A Comparative Perspective National Landscape states plus DC have charter schools 5,275 charter schools nationwide (5.4% of total public schools) 1.8 million students enrolled (3.7% of total public school population) More start-ups 91.2% of all charter schools Fewer conversions 8.7% of all charter schools No Charter System Schools Georgia only Georgia Landscape of Georgia’s 180 school districts have charter schools 162 charter schools in Georgia (4.2% of total public schools in Georgia) 98,263 students enrolled (5.9% of Georgia’s public school population) Fewer start-ups 42% of all Georgia charter schools More conversions 20% of all Georgia charter schools Charter System Schools 38% of all Georgia charter schools

10 Dr. John D. Barge, State School Superintendent 10/6/2015 Chartering Through the Ages

Somewhat “high- quality” charter school Better academic gains than other schools, but not necessarily absolute academic success Good public relations work High levels of parental satisfaction 10/6/ What Made an Old Generation “High-Quality” Charter School?

Strong Academic Results Financial Sustainability Well-Trained and high- functioning Governing Board Legal and Regulatory Compliance 10/6/ What Makes a 4 th Generation Charter School “High-Quality”?

At minimum a high-quality charter school will demonstrate the following academic achievement results: Meet the state accountability standards Meet the academic performance goals set forth in their charter contract 10/6/ Minimum 4G Academic Standards

Balanced budgetFinancial reservesQualified CFO Limited debts or sustainable debt service Meeting GaDOE and local board financial reporting deadlines 10/6/ Minimum 4G Financial Sustainability Standards

Governing board composition reflects the diversity of the community Meets regularly and complies with Open Records and Open Meetings Laws Governing board sticks to governance and stays out of management Autonomous from local district, EMOs or other organizations Receives regular updates on academic operational, and financial progress of the school Participates in regular governing board training each year 10/6/ Minimum 4G Governance Standards

Minimum or no issues associated with federal Title programs or Special Education Complies with Charter Schools Act, Rules, charter contract, Guidelines and Guidance Lottery and application process are fair and legal Incorporated as a Georgia non-profit Participates in TRS EMO does not employ teachers 10/6/ Minimum 4G Legal and Regulatory Compliance

10/6/ Local school systems must choose to operate as an:  Investing in Educational Excellence (IE 2 ) System  Charter System  Status Quo School System Deadline: June 30, 2015 Official Code of Georgia Annotated (OCGA) (b) Where do Charter Systems Fit In?

What is an IE2 system? A local district that has a contract with the SBOE that grants additional flexibility from enumerated SBOE Rules and Title 20 provisions Definition The contract is between the LEA, SBOE and GOSA The system gains flexibility to innovate in exchange for increased academic accountability Facts & Features Decision-making can be either centralized or school-based Relative Advantages Must comply with all federal laws and regulations Must comply with all state laws, rules and regulations not waived by the IE2 contract Federal/State Compliance 18 Dr. John D. Barge, State School Superintendent 10/6/2015

What is a charter system? A local district that has an executed charter from the SBOE that grants the local district flexibility from state law and rules for increased levels of accountability Definition The charter is a contract between the LEA and the SBOE The system gains flexibility to innovate in exchange for increased academic accountability Emphasis is on school-based leadership and decision- making Facts & Features Increased school-level autonomy and accountability Additional per-pupil funding in QBE if appropriated Relative Advantages Must comply with all federal laws and regulations Must comply with all state laws, rules and regulations not waived by the charter contract Federal/State Compliance 19 Dr. John D. Barge, State School Superintendent 10/6/2015

20 Strategic Foundation What decision structure would best serve the strategies? What strategies can be used to close the gap? What are the gaps between goals and data? What are the goals of the district? What does the system’s student performance data show now?

10/6/ CentralizedDecentralized Waivers needed? IE 2 Status Quo Charter System Centralize or Decentralize? Yes No Waivers Decision Structure Considerations System of Charter Schools

For more information Louis J. Erste Charter Schools Division Director Georgia Department of Education 2053 Twin Towers East 205 Jesse Hill Jr. Drive, SE Atlanta, GA (404)