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GA SB82

GA SB82
"Local Charter School Authorization and Support Act of 2025"; enact

summary

Introduced
02/03/2025
In Committee
03/21/2025
Crossed Over
03/06/2025
Passed
04/10/2025
Dead
Signed/Enacted/Adopted
04/28/2025

Introduced Session

2025-2026 Regular Session

Bill Summary

AN ACT To amend Article 31 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, the "Charter School Act of 1998," so as to enact the "Local Charter School Authorization and Support Act of 2025"; to provide for the State Board of Education in collaboration with the State Charter Schools Commission to establish a program for the purposes of promoting and supporting the approval of new local charter school petitions by local boards of education and to provide incentive grants to local boards of education that approve new local charter school petitions; to provide for the award and use of such incentive grants; to provide for the Department of Education to implement and administer such incentive programs and for the Office of Charter School Compliance to provide technical assistance to local school systems; to require local boards of education to provide certain written statements to the State Board of Education and the Office of Charter School Compliance upon denying a local charter school petition whereupon the corresponding state charter school petition is approved by the State Charter Schools Commission, subject to an exception; to provide for accountability for local boards of education that deny two or more local charter school petitions whereupon the corresponding state charter school petition is approved by the State Charter Schools Commission during a certain period; to provide for local boards of education to reconsider the denial of local charter school petitions; to require the Office of Charter School Compliance to prepare guidelines for local boards of education for the evaluation of charter school petitions; to revise reporting; to provide for legislative findings and intent; to provide for automatic repealers; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

AI Summary

This bill aims to encourage and support local charter school authorization in Georgia by introducing several key provisions. The bill establishes an incentive grant program that will provide local school boards with $250,000 annually for three years for each new local charter school they approve, subject to available state appropriations. It requires local school boards to provide detailed written explanations when denying charter school petitions, which must be published on the Office of Charter School Compliance's website. The bill introduces accountability measures for local school systems that consistently deny charter school petitions that are subsequently approved by the State Charter Schools Commission, potentially impacting their ability to renew charter system status or strategic waivers. Additionally, the Office of Charter School Compliance will be tasked with preparing comprehensive guidelines for evaluating charter school petitions, including standardized evaluation criteria and best practices. The legislation also modifies reporting requirements, mandating an annual report on the charter school program to be submitted to various state legislative committees and leadership. These provisions are designed to promote innovation in education, increase school choice, and provide more transparent and supportive processes for charter school authorization. The bill includes an automatic repeal date of July 1, 2035, suggesting it is intended as a time-limited experimental program to support charter school development.

Committee Categories

Education

Sponsors (8)

Last Action

Effective Date 2025-04-28 (on 04/28/2025)

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