About

1993

Year in which Georgia’s charter school laws were enacted

113

Number of start-up and conversion charter schools

86,549

Number of Georgia charter school students in start-up and conversion charter schools

15,000+

Number of Georgia charter school students on waiting lists for a spot in a start-up charter school

19

Percent of students in APS start-up charter schools

32

Number of charter schools authorized by the State Charter Schools Commission

The Charter Schools Movement

Charter Schools stand at the center of our nation’s growing effort to reform and improve public schools and provide wider options to every family. Like the traditional neighborhood school, charters are public and are open to all students regardless of wealth, gender, race, or religion. Unlike traditional public schools, charters can waive many burdensome rules and regulations, so teachers, principals, parents, and students can focus on learning. In exchange for this freedom, charters sign a contract, promising to achieve specific academic goals for their students. Most importantly, charters are held accountable for their results. Approximately 3.2 million students now attend over 7,000 charter schools in 44 states and the District of Columbia.

About Georgia Charter Schools Association

The Georgia Charter Schools Association (GCSA) is the non-profit membership organization for Georgia’s charter school operators and petitioners. The mission of GCSA is to advocate for, foster and support autonomous, high-quality charter public schools and networks throughout Georgia.

This involves:

• Advancing awareness of charter schools and their mission
• Increasing awareness that charter schools are public schools
• Communicating charter school needs to state and local officials
• Supporting legislation to strengthen charter schools in Georgia
• Facilitating opportunities for networking and collaboration among charter schools in Georgia and across the nation
• Developing and implementing programs and services that advance student achievement, accountability and success in all of Georgia’s public charter schools
• Training charter school governing boards in best practices to meet DOE and state compliance standards