Georgia school districts apply to be charter systems
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports that both Decatur and Marietta city schools have became two of Georgia's first “charter” systems. State officials hope the school systems’ approval will pilot a nationally recognized effort to free local school systems from red tape. The Georgia State Board of Education also approved Gainesville City. However, the board rejected Chattahoochee County’s application on the recommendation of State Schools Superintendent Kathy Cox. Decatur, Marietta and Gainesville join Warren County, a small three-school system that won board approval last month. Charter status for all four systems goes into effect in August with the new school year. The application process took nearly a year to complete and marks what could be a nationally recognized effort by the state to free local systems from red tape. It was made possible by a year-old state law that allows entire school systems to operate relatively free of state control. The law is unique nationally and expands on the popular concept of individual charter schools. It exempts charter school systems from many standard laws and state practices. In exchange, those systems must demonstrate progress or risk losing their special status.
Source: Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 6/12/08, By Kristina Torres
[Editor’s Note: More information about the Georgia program and about other state programs to reduce the regulatory burden on school districts is below.]
NSBA School Law pages on Georgia charter district program
NSBA School Law pages on deregulation of school districts