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.