Georgia Charter School Reforms Lauded in National Charter School Policy Analysis
December 8, 2015 | Media Contact | Categorized: 2015 State Policy Analysis | Tagged: GA
Report lauds Georgia's reforms to strengthen charter school oversight and encourages adoption of additional recommendations being put forth by the Georgia Education Reform Commission
Strong charter school oversight provisions enacted by the Georgia legislature and regulatory updates made by the State Board of Education last year led to huge gains on a national ranking of charter school policies released today by the National Association of Charter School Authorizers (NACSA).
The report, "On the Road to Better Accessibility, Autonomy, and Accountability," provides an analysis of current charter school oversight policies across the nation. Each state is scored against eight known best practices in state policy that help to ensure a consistent, high-performing charter sector.
"Georgia is putting children first by taking the necessary steps to improve the quality of its charter schools," said Jen Saba, Director of State Policy at NACSA. "We see it in the reforms enacted over the past two years, as well as in the recent recommendations being put forth by the Georgia Education Reform Commission."
The report highlights new provisions in state law that increase transparency and accountability for charter school performance. Authorizers—the groups that approve and monitor charter schools—are now required to publicly report on the academic and financial performance of the schools they oversee. In addition, the new law creates a strong renewal standard, so that only schools that achieve their goals will continue to serve Georgia students.
The report recommends that policymakers address three additional areas to continue strengthening the state's charter sector, which are also included in the Georgia Education Reform Commission's recommendations. These include requiring authorizers to follow best practices in charter authorizing in accordance with national professional standards; implementing a rating system for the state's authorizers; and creating a process that automatically closes consistently underperforming charter schools.
"We are proud of the work we have done to strengthen our state law and are excited to see it recognized on a national level," said Dr. Tony Roberts, CEO of the Georgia Charter Schools Association. "These policies will result in stronger charter schools for our students, which means stronger neighborhoods, stronger communities and ultimately a stronger Georgia for all."
To view Georgia's full analysis or to read the full report, visit www.qualitycharters.org.
The National Association of Charter School Authorizers (NACSA) is an independent voice for effective charter school policy and thoughtful charter authorizing practices that lead to more great public schools. Our research, policy, and consultation work advances excellence and accountability in the charter school sector. With authorizers and other partners, we have built the gold standard for charter school authorizing. Through smart charter school growth, these authorizers will give hundreds of thousands of children an opportunity for a better education each year. More at www.qualitycharters.org