Georgia charter school and charter systems...the Georgia Department of Education's District Flexibility and Charter School Division...annual report [2015]

Georgia Charter Schools and Charter Systems

2014-2015 and
2015-2016

An overview of Georgia's charter schools and charter systems

The Georgia Department of Education's District Flexibility and Charter Schools Division Annual Report submitted on behalf of the State Board of Education

Georgia General Assembly State Capitol Building Atlanta, GA 30334
December 31, 2015
Dear Members of the Georgia General Assembly,
Georgia law requires all charter schools and charter systems to submit an annual report to the Department of Education each year and the State Board of Education to report to the General Assembly each year on the status of the charter school program [see O.C.G.A. 20-2-2067.1(c) and 20-2-2070]. To facilitate the meeting of these requirements, the Georgia Department of Education's District Flexibility and Charter Schools Division each summer conducts an Annual Report process for charter schools and charter systems. The Department then compiles the Annual Report data along with academic assessment data and prepares and conveys to the General Assembly this report on behalf of the State Board of Education.
It is my privilege to chair the State Board of Education's Charter Schools and District Flexibility Committee. During the past nine years I have seen significant innovation within public education in Georgia. Charter schools and charter systems are an integral part of the educational mission in Georgia.
The State Board of Education in September 2015 adopted revised Charter Rules to combine the charter rules and guidelines and implement legislative changes from the 2015 session. The new rules provide stakeholders with greater clarity regarding the charter schools petition process and authorizer roles and responsibilities. The weighted lottery provision passed during the 2015 legislative session was also incorporated, giving charter schools the opportunity to accept a greater proportion of educationally disadvantaged students.
State School Superintendent Richard Woods this fall released the Georgia Department of Education's new strategic plan. The strategic priorities are designed to ensure every child in Georgia is ready to learn, lead, and live. This mission is achieved through five pillars:
1. Guaranteed and Viable Standards 2. Challenging Goals, Effective Feedback and Supports 3. Collegiality and Professionalism 4. Safe and Healthy Environment 5. Family and Community Engagement
Georgia Department of Education December 31, 2015 Page 2 of 69

Charter schools, charter systems and strategic waiver school systems are woven into the strategic plan with each strategic priority. They each set challenging goals that are aligned with Georgia performance standards during their charter application process. Their progress is monitored through the annual report and audit process and they have opportunities for feedback and support through monitoring visits, and their desk audits, and the probation process.
Family and community engagement is the bedrock of all charter schools, charter systems and successful strategic waiver school systems (SWSS). Without families and concerned community members, charter schools and charter systems would not exist. It is communities that have bonded together to address their own needs through chartering.
Georgia now has 441 charter schools, including 97 start-up charter schools (three of which are statewide virtual schools), 18 conversion charter schools, and 326 charter system schools in 32 charter systems.
Georgia's charter schools on average have consistently outperformed non-charter schools on the College and Career Ready Performance Index (CCRPI) during the past three years. Only start-up charter schools perform lower overall on the CCRPI than do other public schools. That is because they server higher-need students than other schools. The CCRPI is the state-driven accountability system that replaced the federal government's No Child Left Behind system based on Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP).
Charter schools also outperformed non-charters in the last year of the EOG and EOC administration.
Please note that this annual report includes definitions in an Appendix. Additional information on individual charter school, charter system or strategic waiver school system performance may be requested from the District Flexibility and Charter Schools Division of the Georgia Department of Education or through the annual Report Card published by the Governor's Office of Student Achievement.
Thank you for your ongoing dedication and hard work in helping to strengthen Georgia's public education system.
Sincerely,
Brian K. Burdette, Chair District Flexibility and Charter Schools Committee State Board of Education
Georgia Department of Education December 31, 2015 Page 3 of 69

Table of Contents

Characteristics: Charter Students and Charter Schools

5

Georgia Charters vs. Charters Nationally

12

Charter Schools by the Numbers

14

Charter School Locations in Georgia

15

College and Career Academies in Georgia

23

Charter Systems in Georgia

28

Charter School Enrollment Trends

31

Charter Schools and Accountability

33

Charter School Climate Star Rating

38

Charter Schools and Academic Performance

39

Charter Partnerships

52

Charter Schools and Charter Systems Rules and Guidelines

62

Appendix

64

Georgia Department of Education December 31, 2015 Page 4 of 69

Characteristics: Charter Students and Charter Schools

Charter School Enrollment
For the 2015-2016 school year, 325,806 (or 18% of) Georgia public school students are enrolled in a start-up or conversion charter school or a charter system school. This is 18.5% higher than in 2014-15. Student enrollment in conversion and start-up charter schools (excluding charter system students) is 5.1% of the student population, up 21% since 2014-15 and up 32% since 2013-14.

Figure 1: Charter School Student Enrollment Growth
10-Year History of Charter School Enrollment
350,000

300,000

Number of Students

250,000

200,000

150,000

100,000

50,000

0 2005- 2006- 2007- 2008- 2009- 2010- 2011- 2012- 2013- 2014- 201506 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16

Conversion and Start-Ups 21,094 26,299 33,299 33,229 43,928 50,420 58,611 60,853 68,841 75,247 90,875

All Charter Schools

21,094 26,299 33,299 56,228 61,175 89,606 130,492 225,259 245,995 265,431 325,806

Source: GaDOE Student FTE Collection Period 1

The distribution of students by grade within charter schools mirrored that of non-charter schools within the state. For the 2015-2016 school year, 44.6% of charter school students are enrolled in elementary school grades, 21.3% in middle school grades, and 34.1% in high school.

Figure 2: 2015-16 Charter School Student Enrollment by Grade Level

Grades Served

Georgia Charter Schools Enrollment

Number of Students

% of Total Charter School
Enrollment

Non-Charter Schools Enrollment

Number of Students

% of Total NonCharter School
Enrollment

Elementary Grades: K-5

145,206

44.6%

682,454

47%

Middle Grades: 6-8

69,382

21.3%

330,118

23%

High School Grades: 9-12

111,218

34.1%

429,186

30%

Total Enrollment

356,142

18%

1,441,758

82%

Source: GaDOE Student FTE Collection Period 1

Georgia Department of Education December 31, 2015 Page 5 of 69

Charter School Enrollment (Continued)
Charter school lottery has grown from 12,045 students for the 2014-2015 school year to 14,922 students for the 2015-2016 school year.
There were 12 schools without a waitlist at the opening of the 2015-2016 school year, up 7 from last year.
There were 51 schools with a waitlist at the opening of the 2015-2016 school year, up 3 from last year.
There were 46 schools without a lottery at the opening of the 2015-2016 school year, up 2 from last year.

Figure 3: Charter School Lottery

2014-15 vs. 2015-16 Charter School Lottery

60

51

50

48

44

46

40

30

20 12

10

5

0 No Waitlist

Waitlist

No Lottery

2014-2015 2015-2015

Source: Charter Schools 2015 Annual Reports

Georgia Department of Education December 31, 2015 Page 6 of 69

Charter School Demographics
The racial and ethnic composition of Georgia charter schools also mirrored that of non-charter schools.
However, charter schools, in the aggregate serve a higher percent of White and Asian students and a lower percent of Black students than non-charter schools
Figure 4: 2015-16 Student Demographics Charter and Non-Charter
2015-16 Student Demographics

45.0% 39.6%

38.2% 32.1%

White

14.5% 14.4%

Black

4.0% 4.7%

0.2% 0.2%

0.1% 0.1%

3.3% 3.4%

Hispanic

Asian

American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races

Non-Charter Charters

Source: GaDOE Student FTE Collection Period 1

Georgia Department of Education December 31, 2015 Page 7 of 69

Charter School Demographics (continued)
Start-up charter schools serve a significantly higher proportion of Black students (57.1%) than all other types of public schools, and serve the lowest proportion of White students (25.4%).

Figure 5: 2014-2015 Student Demographics By Charter Type
2015-16 Student Demographics
(By Charter Type)
57.1%

48.8% 46.8% 45.0%

48.0%

39.6%

25.4%

38.2%

38.4%

32.1%

28.7%

25.6%

14.5%14.4%15.8%

16.8%

9.9% 6.7%

White Non-Charters

Black

Hispanic

All Charters Charter Systems State Start-up Start-up Conversion

Source: GaDOE Student FTE Collection Period 1

Georgia Department of Education December 31, 2015 Page 8 of 69

Charter School Demographics (continued)
Georgia charter schools served a slightly lower percentage of economically disadvantaged students than non-charters 60.8% of charter school students were eligible for free and reduced price meals compared to 68.9% of non-charter school students. Each category of school had an increase in the number of students eligible for free and reduced price meals.
Charter System schools serve the highest percentage of economically disadvantaged students (61.8%) and State Start-up charter schools served the least (48.5%).

Figure 6: 2015-2016 Student Demographics Economically Disadvantaged
2015-2016 Free and Reduced Lunch Eligibility (By Charter Type)

68.9%

60.8%

61.8%

48.5%

61.4%

57.1%

Non-Charters

All Charters System Charters State Start up Start-Up Charters Conversion Charters

Non-Charters State Start up

All Charters Start-Up Charters

System Charters Conversion Charters

Source: GaDOE Student FTE Collection Period 1

Georgia Department of Education December 31, 2015 Page 9 of 69

Charter School Demographics (continued)
Georgia charter schools serve similar percentages of students as non-charters English language learner students. Georgia charter schools had a slight decrease, 7.9% to 7.3% English language learner students from 2014-15 to 2015-16.
Figure 7: Comparison 2014-15 vs 2015-2016 Student Demographics ELL
Charter School Support Services--ELL (By Charter Type)
12.9%

8.5% 7.9%
7.0%

8.1% 7.1% 7.3%

10.4%

3.9%

4.0%

1.0%

0.7%

2014-2015

2015-2016

Non-Charters All Charters System Charters State Start-up Start-Up Charters Conversion Charters

Source: GaDOE Student FTE Collection Period 1

Georgia Department of Education December 31, 2015 Page 10 of 69

Charter School Demographics (continued)
Georgia charter schools serve a slightly smaller percentage of students with disabilities as non-charters students with disabilities. Georgia charter schools had a slight increase, 10.8% to 11.0% students with disabilities from 2014-15 to 2015-16.
Figure 8: Comparison 2014-15 vs 2015-2016 Student Demographics SWD
Charter School Support Services--SWD (By Charter Type)

12.2%

12.0%

10.8%

10.0%

9.7%

12.4%

11.8%

11.0%

10.1%

10.0%

7.3% 6.7%

2014-2015

2015-2016

Non-Charters All Charters System Charters State Start-Up Start-Up Charters Conversion Charters

Source: GaDOE Student FTE Collection Period 1

Georgia Department of Education December 31, 2015 Page 11 of 69

Georgia Charters vs. Charters Nationally

Charter school students nationally represent 5.1% of all public school students in the 2013-14 school year (the most recently available national data).1 Using Georgia's most recent data, charter school students (with charter system schools excluded for national comparability) in 2015-16 is 5.9% of all students in the state which is higher than the national percent of charter school students. Note that including charter system school students the percetage increases to 18.4% of the public school population in Georgia for the 2015-16 school year.2

Figure 9: Student Enrollment National Charters vs. Georgia Charters
Student Enrollment
National Charters vs. Georgia Charters

18.4%

5.1%

5.9%

% National Student Enrollment

% Georgia Student Enrollment (Charter % All Georgia Students (Including Charter

Systems Excluded)

Systems)

1 The Public Charter Schools Dashboard, A Comprehensive Data Resource from the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools. Retrieved from:http://www.publiccharters.org/dashboard/students/page/overview/year/2014 2 Enrollment based on October 2015 (FTE 2016-1) count and can be retrieved from: https://app3.doe.k12.ga.us/owsbin/owa/fte_pack_enrollgrade.entry_form
Georgia Department of Education December 31, 2015 Page 12 of 69

Charter School Counts National Charters vs. Georgia Charters (charter system schools excluded)
Charter school numbers nationally represent 6.7% of the nearly 100,000 public schools3, Georgia charter schools (excluding charter systems) represents 5.1% of just over 2200 schools in Georgia.4
Figure 10: Charter Schools National Charters vs. Georgia Charters (Charter Systems Excluded)
Charter Schools National Charters vs. Georgia Charters
19.5%

6.7% % National Schools

5.1%

% Georgia Schools (Charter Systems % All Georgia Schools (Including Charter

Excluded)

Systems)

3 The Public Charter Schools Dashboard, A Comprehensive Data Resource from the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools. Retrieved from:http://www.publiccharters.org/dashboard/students/page/overview/year/2014 4 Georgia School count retrieved from: https://app3.doe.k12.ga.us/ows-bin/owa/fte_pack_school_count.display_count
Georgia Department of Education December 31, 2015 Page 13 of 69

Charter Schools by the Numbers
The growth of Georgia charter schools continued in the 2015-2016 school year. The total number of charter schools increased 14.7% from 382 to 438 schools including system charter schools between 2014-15 and 2015-16.
Figure 11: Ten-Year Charter School Growth
10-Year History of Charter Schools

363 310

441 382

217

162

113

121

71 59 48

100

110

108

111

117

115

71

76

79

48

59

2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 2015-16

Total Charter Schools

Non-System Charter Schools

The 2015-16 school year saw a loss of 10 conversion charter schools, with half (5) joining a charter system, an increase of 12 new start-up charter schools, split equally with 6 locally-approved and 6 state charter schools, and the addition of 4 charter systems with 36 schools total. There are 153 charter campuses across the state, excluding charter system schools.

Georgia Department of Education December 31, 2015 Page 14 of 69

Charter School Locations in Georgia
There are 136 charter school campuses spread across 59 counties in Georgia, reflecting the distribution of students throughout the state.
The nine districts that make up Metro Atlanta comprise 50% of charter school campuses (68 of 136).

Figure 12: Percentage of School Campuses that are Charter Schools, 2015-16

System Name

Non-System Charter School
Counts

Total School Count

Percent Charter School

System Name

Non-System Charter School Counts

Total School Count

Atlanta Public Schools

17

106

16.04%

Habersham County

1

14

Baldwin County

2

7

28.57%

Hall County

6

36

Barrow County

1

16

6.25%

Henry County

3

49

Bartow County

1

20

5.00%

Houston County

1

37

Berrien County

1

5

20.00%

Jackson County

1

13

Bibb County

4

39

10.26%

Lamar County

1

4

Bleckley County

1

5

20.00%

Laurens County

1

9

Bulloch County

1

16

6.25%

Liberty County

1

14

Calhoun County

1

4

25.00%

Lowndes County

1

12

Carroll County

1

24

4.17%

Lumpkin County

1

6

Chatham County

5

55

9.09%

Madison County

1

8

Cherokee County

1

38

2.63%

Mitchell County

1

5

Clarke County

2

21

9.52%

Muscogee County

2

54

Clayton County

5

62

8.06%

Newton County

1

22

Cobb County

5

111

4.50%

Pickens County

1

8

Coweta County

3

31

9.68%

Polk County

1

11

DeKalb County

16

141

11.35%

Rabun County

1

5

Dougherty County

1

23

4.35%

Richmond County

3

52

Douglas County

2

36

5.56%

Rockdale County

1

18

Effingham County

1

14

7.14%

Stephens County

1

7

Elbert County

1

4

25.00%

Sumter County

1

7

Fannin County

1

5

20.00%

Thomas County

1

6

Floyd County

1

19

5.26%

Toombs County

1

6

Forsyth County

1

35

2.86%

Troup County

1

19

Fulton County

11

101

10.89%

Union County

1

6

Gilmer County

1

7

14.29%

Washington County

1

5

Glynn County

1

17

5.88%

Wheeler County

1

3

Grady County

1

7

14.29%

White County

1

8

Greene County

2

5

40.00%

Whitfield County

1

23

Gwinnett County

6

136

4.41%

Percent Charter School
7.14% 16.67% 6.12% 2.70% 7.69% 25.00% 11.11% 7.14% 8.33% 16.67% 12.50% 20.00% 3.70% 4.55% 12.50% 9.09% 20.00% 5.77% 5.56% 14.29% 14.29% 16.67% 16.67% 5.26% 16.67% 20.00% 33.33% 12.50% 4.35%

Georgia Department of Education December 31, 2015 Page 15 of 69

Figure 13: Percentage of School Campuses that are Charter Schools in Metro Atlanta, 2015-16

System Name

Non-System Charter School Counts

Total School Count

Atlanta Public Schools

17

106

DeKalb County

16

141

Fulton County

11

101

Coweta County

3

31

Clayton County

5

62

Henry County

3

49

Douglas County

2

36

Cobb County

5

111

Gwinnett County

6

136

Percent Charter School 16.04% 11.35% 10.89% 9.68% 8.06% 6.12% 5.56% 4.50% 4.41%

Figure 14: Statewide and multi-district charter schools, 2015-16

School Name

Districts Served

Pataula Charter Academy

Baker, Clay, Calhoun, Early, Randolph Counties

Foothills Charter High School

Clarke, Madison, & Jackson Counties & Statewide

Heart of Georgia College and Career Academy

Dublin City, Bleckley, Laurens, Wheeler Counties

International Charter School of Atlanta

Fulton County & Statewide

Southeastern Early College & Career Academy Mountain Education Charter High School Georgia School for Innovation & the Classics

Vidalia City, Toombs, Treutlen, & Montgomery Counties Elbert, Fannin, Forsyth, Gilmer, Habersham, Lumpkin, Pickens, Rabun, Stephens, Union & White & Statewide Richmond County & Statewide

Georgia Connections Academy

State-wide Virtual

Georgia Cyber Academy

State-wide Virtual

Graduation Achievement Center Charter High School State-wide Virtual

Georgia Department of Education December 31, 2015 Page 16 of 69

Charter School Campus Distribution
(excluding Charter Systems)
Percentage of School Campuses by County that are Charter Schools, 2015-16 Map Key
1% to 4.99% 5% to 9.99% 10% to 24.99% 25% or more
Georgia Department of Education December 31, 2015 Page 17 of 69

Charter School Student Enrollment Distribution (Including Virtual School Enrollment)

System Greene County Mitchell County Grady County Hall County Calhoun County Randolph County Clay County Atlanta Public Schools Montgomery County DeKalb County Rome City Toombs County Carroll County Floyd County Bibb County Sumter County Towns County Baker County Bartow County Liberty County Coweta County Cobb County Clayton County Chatham County Jackson County Lowndes County Fulton County Richmond County Douglas County Pickens County Brooks County Dougherty County Thomas County Henry County

Percent Enrolled in Charter School
45.7% 28.7% 25.2% 19.8% 18.9% 18.8% 18.3% 15.7% 13.2% 10.4% 10.4% 9.6% 9.3% 8.7% 8.6% 8.5% 8.2% 7.4% 6.6% 6.5% 6.2% 6.2% 6.1% 6.0% 5.6% 4.6% 4.6% 4.5% 4.5% 4.4% 4.4% 4.2% 4.2% 4.2%

System Muscogee County Chattooga County Cherokee County Habersham County Worth County Franklin County Baldwin County Berrien County Crawford County Twiggs County Rabun County Monroe County Gwinnett County Talbot County Elbert County Polk County Bulloch County Early County Treutlen County McIntosh County Meriwether County Jasper County Walton County Clarke County Spalding County Newton County Atkinson County Wilkinson County Paulding County Long County Tattnall County Quitman County Rockdale County Screven County

Percent Enrolled in Charter School
4.1% 3.9% 3.9% 3.8% 3.6% 3.2% 3.2% 3.1% 3.0% 2.8% 2.7% 2.6% 2.5% 2.4% 2.4% 2.4% 2.3% 2.3% 2.3% 2.2% 2.2% 2.2% 2.2% 2.1% 2.0% 2.0% 2.0% 1.9% 1.9% 1.9% 1.9% 1.8% 1.8% 1.8%

Georgia Department of Education December 31, 2015 Page 18 of 69

Charter School Student Enrollment Distribution (Including Virtual School Enrollment)- continued

System Emanuel County Forsyth County Macon County Lamar County Hancock County Wheeler County Peach County Heard County Terrell County Oglethorpe County Butts County Dade County Taylor County Columbia County Stewart County Jefferson County Webster County Pike County Fayette County Bremen City Burke County Walker County Seminole County Charlton County Murray County Wayne County Johnson County Ben Hill County Thomaston-Upson County Irwin County Wilcox County Lee County Brantley County Camden County

Percent Enrolled in Charter School
1.7% 1.7% 1.6% 1.6% 1.6% 1.6% 1.5% 1.5% 1.5% 1.4% 1.4% 1.4% 1.4% 1.4% 1.4% 1.4% 1.4% 1.3% 1.3% 1.3% 1.3% 1.3% 1.3% 1.3% 1.3% 1.2% 1.2% 1.2% 1.2% 1.2% 1.2% 1.2% 1.2% 1.1%

System Decatur County Bryan County Evans County Wilkes County Lanier County Washington County Bacon County Pierce County Jeff Davis County Ware County Pulaski County Laurens County Chattahoochee County Houston County Effingham County Miller County Tift County Jones County Buford City Troup County Thomasville City McDuffie County Dooly County Glynn County Jefferson City Cook County Whitfield County Oconee County Jenkins County Catoosa County Taliaferro County Bleckley County Dodge County Marion County

Percent Enrolled in Charter School
1.1% 1.1% 1.1% 1.1% 1.1% 1.1% 1.1% 1.1% 1.0% 1.0% 1.0% 1.0% 1.0% 1.0% 1.0% 1.0% 0.9% 0.9% 0.9% 0.9% 0.9% 0.9% 0.9% 0.9% 0.9% 0.8% 0.8% 0.8% 0.8% 0.7% 0.7% 0.7% 0.7% 0.6%

Georgia Department of Education December 31, 2015 Page 19 of 69

Charter School Student Enrollment Distribution (Including Virtual School Enrollment)- continued

System
Clinch County Lincoln County Pelham City Harris County Turner County Echols County Valdosta City Telfair County Crisp County Appling County Social Circle City Trion City Dalton City Schley County Chickamauga City

Percent Enrolled in Charter School
0.6% 0.6% 0.5% 0.5% 0.5% 0.5% 0.5% 0.4% 0.4% 0.4% 0.3% 0.2% 0.2% 0.2% 0.2%

Georgia Department of Education December 31, 2015 Page 20 of 69

Charter School Student Enrollment Distribution
(Including Virtual School Enrollment) Percentage of Students by County that are enrolled in a Charter School, 2015-16
Map Key
- Between 10% 50%
- Between 5.0% - 9.9%
- Between 1% 4.9%
- Less than 0.99%
Georgia Department of Education December 31, 2015 Page 21 of 69

Virtual Charter School Student Distribution
Percentage of Students by County that are enrolled in an Online Charter School, 2015-16
Map Key
- 3% - 5% - Between 2% - 3% - Between 1% - 2% - Between 0.99% - 0.51% - Less than 0.5%
Georgia Department of Education December 31, 2015 Page 22 of 69

College and Career Academies in Georgia

There are 24 College and Career Academies created by a separate three-party charter contract and 9 College and Career Programs created by a Charter System contract in Georgia. They are three-party contracts between the charter school, a school system(s) and local businesses. These College and Career Contracts offer unique opportunities to students. Local businesses and business leaders assist the academies with internship programs, curriculum, teachers, donations, and numerous additional resources. Below is a list of just a few of the various industry partners:

Kia Power Partners Gulfstream Sugar foods Frito Lay

College and Career Academy Partners, 2015-16 (selected)

Caterpillar

Georgia United Credit Union

Bartow County Sheriff Department Newton County IT Department

Georgia Power

Anheuser-Busch

Fairview Park Hospital

Chicken of the Sea

City of Lyons

City of Vidalia

Newton County College and Career Academy
An example of the unique innovative opportunities provided by a College and Career Academy is the Desktops 4 Ed Program at Newton County College and Career Academy (NCCA). The NCCA IT Essentials and Networking classes have partnered with the Newton County IT department to refurbish retired county computers. The refurbished computers are then sold to Newton County students that participate in the free and reduced lunch program for just $25. Before the students can take the computers home, they, along with their parents must participate in a one hour safety training and computer set-up class taught by the NCAA IT Essentials and Networking associates. Through this program a total of 11 NCCA students have refurbished 90 desktop computers and have provided a CPU, monitor, keyboard, mouse, cords, mouse pad and training to 82 families, with the proceeds ($25 per computer) going back into the program.
Central Education Center
Another innovation success is Central Education Center (CEC) implementation of the purest approach to high school age German Apprenticeship that is currently found in the United States.
CEC accomplished this replication of a German Apprenticeship during the past three years using charter flexibility to provide longer-term internships with this German company and partners to help CEC get to the "purer" form of German Apprenticeship.
For example, CEC has worked with Grenzebach Corporation, a German family-owned turnkey provider of systems that move glass, handle glass, place glass, and install glass. While the company provides many other manufactured solutions, the work in glass handling is their signature solution. CEC works with Grenzebach since their North American manufacturing is headquartered in Newnan, where CEC is located. Grenzebach manufacturers in Europe, North America and China. CEC also works with Grenzebach because their COO was nominated to the CEC Board by the Newnan-Coweta Chamber of Commerce in collaboration with the Coweta County Development Authority. That nomination was approved by the Central Educational Center (CEC) Board. This nomination-approval process for charter
Georgia Department of Education December 31, 2015 Page 23 of 69

school board members is a feature of the CEC charter application-petition. CEC believes this approach to nomination-approval best mimics a "community election" for a special-purpose charter school. Once the COO became a part of the CEC Board, Grenzebach began the effort to first approximate, then begin to plan implementation of the German Apprenticeship program.
In addition, CEC works with Grenzebach because the German-based company has a long history of success in providing apprenticeship programs in Germany, as well as a significant history of providing university-level internships in Newnan. Finally, CEC works with Grenzebach because they have attained one of the highest levels of safety accreditation among all companies in Georgia.
Some of the innovative practices CEC has developed with Grenzebach so far include:
1. CEC identifies promising CEC pre-engineering (high school program) and promising CEC welding (dual enrollment technical college program) students who express a desire to focus on manufacturing careers. Grenzebach has indicated that the first indicator of potential success is that the student has made a very conscious choice to attend CEC to focus on career studies.
2. CEC developed a pool of such students from which Grenzebach interviews to select long-term interns.
3. CEC worked with Grenzebach to develop appropriate criteria that can be used to define finalists for the intern roles.
4. CEC worked with Grenzebach to bring in parents to visit with Grenzebach management to understand the opportunities and requirements of the internship.
5. CEC worked with Grenzebach to develop a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with students identifying clearly the responsibilities of students and the responsibilities of Grenzebach during the internship.
6. Grenzebach has paid these interns throughout a beginning (summer) rotation that allows students to identify the department in which they are most interested, or identified the departments in which they also wish to learn beyond the department (for example, welding) to which they are most logically assigned.
7. Grenzebach has then paid these interns throughout at least a one-year long (generally 15-20 hours per week) experience.
8. Grenzebach has made job offers to the students at the end of the year when students have indicated they wish to move directly into the workforce.
9. During the internship, Grenzebach has assigned a manager/supervisor as a mentor and teacher so that the major purpose of the internship is to provide a true "learning" experience for the student. CEC has assigned an intern instructor to work with the student and with Grenzebach on a formal training and evaluation plan, and to maintain progress toward high school completion.
Georgia Department of Education December 31, 2015 Page 24 of 69

In a most recent example of this program in action, a CEC welding student had completed one technical college welding certificate during his junior year of high school. Because of that, and because of his documented work ethic and performance, this student was chosen among a pool of qualifying students. The welding student's senior year schedule included a half-day of paid work with Grenzebach. At the end of the year, upon his high school on-time graduation, Grenzebach offered a full-time welding position to this 17-year old. He then passed Grenzebach's bi-year international welding testing quality control program. Gordon County College and Career Academy The Gordon Co. CCA has developed an extremely strong partnership with Mohawk Industries. As the CCA was looking to develop a new Mechatronics program this year, Mohawk agreed to provide an employee to teach the course at no cost to the CCA. This will ensure that the students get real-world experience/examples from a major local employer and help them make direct contact as they prepare themselves for the future workforce.
Academy for Advanced Studies (Henry County)
As part of their effort to bring real-world opportunities to their students, the Academy for Advanced Studies (the CCA in Henry Co.) has worked with a local Credit Union to develop and imbed a fully functioning Credit Union branch inside the school itself. The branch is run by the students themselves with minimal supervision/oversight from Credit Union employees. It provides real-world experience as part of their Work-Based Learning efforts, and it give several of their programs (marketing, Broadcast & Video, etc.) an additional opportunity to work with a real-world client on various class projects.
Cairo High School Charter College and Career Academy As part of their wall-to-wall transformation of Cairo High School into the Cairo High School College and Career Academy, the CCA has worked to completely and comprehensively integrate its CTAE and Academic courses. As an example, the school is now teaching its Healthcare/CAN program in Spanish. Once a student completes the program, he/she is then awarded both a CTAE credit for Healthcare as well as an Academic/Foreign Language credit for Spanish. They are planning a Math/Drafting combination for the coming year, and are looking at other programs for similar integration in the future.
Georgia Department of Education December 31, 2015 Page 25 of 69

Figure 15: 2015-16 College and Career Academies
2015 - 16 College and Career Academies

Created by Separate Multi-Party Charter Contracts

College and Career Academies Academy for Advanced Studies

District Served Henry County

Athens Community Career Academy

Clarke County

Baldwin County Career Academy

Baldwin County

Bartow County College and Career Academy

Bartow County

Cairo High Charter School

Grady County

Carroll County College and Career Academy

Carroll County

Central Educational Center

Coweta County

Douglas County College & Career Institute

Douglas County

Floyd County College and Career Academy

Floyd County

Effingham College and Career Academy

Effingham County

Golden Isles Career Academy

Glynn County

Hapeville College and Career Academy Heart of Georgia College and Career Academy Houston County Career Academy

Fulton County Dublin City, Bleckley County, Laurens County and Wheeler County Houston County

Lamar County College and Career Academy

Lamar County

Lanier Charter Career Academy

Hall County

Liberty College and Career Academy

Liberty County

Newton College and Career Academy

Newton County

Northwest Georgia College and Career Academy

Whitefield County and Murray County

Polk County College and Career Academy Rockdale Career Academy

Polk County Rockdale County

Southeastern Early College & Career Academy THINC

Vidalia City, Toombs County, Montgomery County and Treutlen County
Troup County

William S. Hutchings College and Career Academy

Bibb County

*Griffin Region College and Career Academy will open in Fall 2016

Created by Charter System Contract

Broad River College and Career Academy

Madison County

Coffee County College and Career Academy

Coffee County

Decatur Career Academy

Decatur City

Gordon County College and Career Academy

Gordon County

Hart County College and Career Academy

Hart County

Putnam County College and Career Academy

Putnam County

Sims Academy of Innovation

Barrow County

Warren County Career Academy

Warren County

Location McDonough Athens Milledgeville Cartersville Cairo Carrollton Newnan Douglasville Rome Rincon Brunswick Atlanta Dublin Warner Robbins Barnesville Gainesville Hinesville Covington Dalton Cedartown Conyers
Vidalia
LaGrange Macon
Danielsville Douglas Decatur Calhoun Hartwell Eatonton Winder Warrenton

Georgia Department of Education December 31, 2015 Page 26 of 69

College & Career Academy School Distribution, 2015-16
Map Key
- CCA Created by a multi-party Contract
- CCA Created by a Charter System Contract
Georgia Department of Education December 31, 2015 Page 27 of 69

Charter Systems in Georgia

Georgia now has 33 approved charter systems, 32 of which are operating a charter system in the 201516 school year. This is up five from 28 charter systems in 2014-15.

Figure 16: List of Charter Systems (2015-16)

#

Charter System

First Year as Charter System

1

Atlanta Public Schools

2

Banks County Schools

3

Barrow County Schools

4

Calhoun City Schools

5

Candler County Schools

6

Carrollton City Schools

7

Cartersville City Schools

8

City Schools of Decatur

9

Coffee County Schools

10

Colquitt County Schools

11

Commerce City Schools

12

Dawson County Schools

13

Dublin City Schools

14

Fannin County Schools

15

Floyd County Schools

16

Fulton County Schools

17

Gainesville City Schools

18

Gilmer County Schools

19

Glascock County Schools

20

Gordon County Schools

21

Haralson County Schools

22

Hart County Schools

23

Lumpkin County School

24

Liberty County Schools

25

Madison County Schools

26

Marietta City Schools

27

Morgan County Schools

28

Putnam County Schools

29

Stephens County Schools

30

Union County Schools

31

Vidalia City Schools

32

Warren County Schools

33

White County Schools

2016 2013 2011 2011 2015 2014 2010 2008 2013 2015 2014 2011 2011 2015 2010 2012 2008 2014 2014 2011 2013 2014 2014 2015 2012 2008 2011 2010 2014 2014 2014 2008 2010

Georgia Department of Education December 31, 2015 Page 28 of 69

District Flexibility
Per Official Code of Georgia Annotated 20-2-84 no later than June 30, 2015, each local school system was required to notify the Georgia Department of Education it would operate as a Strategic Waiver School System (SWSS, formerly known as IE2), a Charter System, or a Title 20/No Waivers School System (formerly known as Status Quo). Those that chose SWSS or Charter System sign a performance contract that offers flexibility for higher accountability. The performance contracts consist of two main parts, academic and other targets and waivers granted by the State Board of Education (SBOE). A Strategic Waiver School System (SWSS) is a local district that has a SWSS performance contract with the State Board of Education giving the district freedom from specific Title 20 provisions and related SBOE rules and GaDOE guidelines. This contract allows for the flexibility to innovate and may provide financial savings from waivers. A Charter School System is a local district that has a Charter System performance contract with the SBOE granting it freedom from almost all of Title 20, SBOE rules, and GaDOE guidelines. This contract allows for the flexibility to innovate, may provide financial savings from waivers, has additional per pupil funding, and requires school level governance. The Title 20/No Waivers School System does not receive flexibility in exchange for increased accountability and defined consequences and has opted to remain under all current laws, rules, regulations, policies, and procedures. All Systems, regardless of flexibility status must comply with all federal laws and regulations and all state laws, rules and regulations not waived in flexibility contract.
Georgia Department of Education December 31, 2015 Page 29 of 69

District Flexibility Approved and Intended

Approved Charter Systems 33 44
LOI for Charter System 11

Approved SWSS 72 134
LOI for SWSS 62

Title 20/No Waivers School Systems*

2

Total 180

Georgia Department of Education December 31, 2015 Page 30 of 69

Charter School Enrollment Trends

The range of student enrollment within Georgia charter schools varies widely, from Berrien Academy Performance Learning Center with 70 full-time students to Georgia Cyber Academy with 13,916 students. The average charter school enrolled 784 students (or 745 including charter system schools)

Start-up charter schools averaged 763 students (or 567 when removing the Georgia Cyber Academy), conversion charter schools averaged 864 students (Walton High School in Cobb County was the largest with 2,710 students), and charter system schools averaged 734 students.

Figure 17: 2015-16 Number of Charter Schools by Student Enrollment

Number of Charter Schools

By Student Enrollment Size (Excluding Charter System Schools)

39

40

2 Fewer than 100

9 100-250

18

251-500

501-1000

More than 1000

Figure 18: 2015-16 Number of Charter System Schools by Student Enrollment
Number of Charter System Schools
By Student Enrollment Size
182

3 Fewer than 100

7 100-250

64

251-500

501-1,000

Georgia Department of Education December 31, 2015 Page 31 of 69

69 More than 1,000

Charter School Enrollment Trends (continued)
Figure 19: 2015-16 Student Enrollment by Charter System
Number of Charter Systems by Student Enrollment Size
18

2 Fewer than 1,000

3 1,001-2,500

2,501-5,000

7

2

5,001-10,000

More than 10,000

Georgia Department of Education December 31, 2015 Page 32 of 69

Charter Schools and Accountability
In previous years, Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) served as federal accountability for all schools within the Georgia. In February 2012, Georgia was approved by the U.S. Secretary of Education for a flexibility waiver from the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) commonly known as No Child Left Behind as well as the Waiver of Requirements to Determine AYP. Due to this flexibility, GaDOE implemented the College and Career Ready Performance Index (CCRPI) as a state-driven replacement accountability system.
In place of the AYP determinations, and to satisfy federal accountability for the 2013-2014 school year, GaDOE calculated three lists of schools: 1) Priority Schools; 2) Focus Schools; and 3) Reward Schools.
Priority Schools are the lowest 5% of the Title I schools (81 schools), SIG (School Improvement Grant) schools, or high schools with a graduation rate of less than 60% for two consecutive years.
Twelve Georgia charter schools are designated as a Priority School. This is up by 12 from zero last year.
Focus Schools are the 10% of Title I schools (165 schools) who have the largest within-school gap between subgroup performance on statewide assessments and graduation rate.
Twenty-four charter schools are designated as Focus Schools for having the "gap within school gap". This is up by twenty-two from two last year.
Reward Schools (243 schools) can be classified as:
Highest-Performing (among the 5% of Title I schools in the state that have the highest absolute performance over three years for the "all students" group on the statewide assessments that also made AYP for the "all students" group and all of its subgroups in 2013-2014).
Eighteen Georgia charter schools were identified as Reward Schools for their high performance. This is up by seven from 11 last year.
High-Progress (among the 10% of Title I schools in the state that are making the most progress in improving the performance of the "all students" group over three years on the statewide assessments).
Thirty-four charter schools received a Reward School distinction for making substantial progress in their student achievement. This is up by nine from 25 last year.
Georgia Department of Education December 31, 2015 Page 33 of 69

Figure 19: Charter Schools Accountability Distinctions as of fall 2015
Reward Schools

81 Highest-Performing Schools

15

Charter System Schools

0

State Start-up Schools

0

Conversion Schools

162 High-Progress Schools

26

Charter System Schools

2

State Start-up Schools

3

Conversion Schools

3

Start-up Schools

3

Start-up Schools

18

Total Charter Schools

34

Total Charter Schools

81 Priority Schools

5

Charter System Schools

3

State Start-up Schools

1

Conversion Schools

3

Start-up Schools

13

Total Charter Schools

165 Focus Schools

20

Charter System Schools

1

State Start-up Schools

3

Conversion Schools

0

Start-up Schools

24

Total Charter Schools

Accountability Distinction Schools
Figure 20: Charter Schools Highest-Performing as of fall 2015

System Name

School Name

Charter Type

Atlanta Public Schools

Charles R. Drew Charter School

Start-up

Atlanta Public Schools

KIPP Strive Academy

Start-up

Cartersville City

Cartersville Primary School

System

Coffee County

Ambrose Elementary

System

Commerce City

Commerce Elementary

System

Commerce City

Commerce Primary

System

Fulton County

Hembree Springs Elementary

System

Fulton County

KIPP South Fulton Academy

Start-up

Lumpkin County

Long Branch Elementary

System

Madison County

Hull-Sanford Elementary

System

Madison County

Ila elementary

System

Morgan County

Morgan County Primary

System

Morgan County

Morgan County Elementary

System

Putnam County

Putnam County Primary

System

Union County

Union County Elementary

System

Union County

Union County Middle

System

Union County

Union County Primary

System

White County

Mount Yonah Elementary

System

Georgia Department of Education December 31, 2015 Page 34 of 69

Accountability Distinction Schools (continued)

System Name

Figure 21: Charter Schools High-Progress as of fall 2015

School Name

Charter Type

Atlanta Public Schools

The Kindezi School

Start-up

Atlanta Public Schools

KIPP West Atlanta Young Scholars Academy Start-up

Banks County

Banks County Elementary

System

Barrow County

Holsenbeck Elementary

System

Barrow County

Yargo Elementary

System

Barrow County

Statham Elementary

System

Barrow County

Russell Middle

System

Clayton County

Elite Scholars Academy School

Start-up

Coffee County

Broxton-Mary Hayes Elementary

System

Commission Charter

Fulton Leadership Academy

SCSC

Dougherty County

International Studies Elementary

Conversion

Fannin County

Blue Ridge Elementary

System

Floyd County

Cave Spring Elementary

System

Forsyth County

Chestatee Elementary

Conversion

Gilmer County

Gilmer Middle

System

Gordon County

Sonoraville Elementary

System

Gordon County

Tolbert Elementary

System

Gordon County

Belwood Elementary

System

Gordon County

Red Bud Elementary

System

Gordon County

Fairmount Elementary

System

Haralson County

Buchanan Elementary

System

Hart County

Hart County Middle

System

Hart County

Hartwell Elementary

System

Henry County

Hickory Flat Elementary

Conversion

Liberty County

Joseph Martin Elementary

System

Liberty County

Button Gwinnett Elementary

System

Lumpkin County

Lumpkin County Elementary

System

Lumpkin County

Blackburn Elementary

System

Madison County

Danielsville Elementary

System

Commission Charter

Pataula Charter Academy

SCSC

Putnam County

Putnam County Elementary

System

Putnam County

Putnam County Middle

System

White County

White County Intermediate

System

White County

Mossy Creek Elementary

System

Georgia Department of Education December 31, 2015 Page 35 of 69

Accountability Distinction Schools (continued)

SYSTEM NAME
Atlanta Public Schools Colquitt County Colquitt County Colquitt County DeKalb County Dublin City Dublin City Fulton County Fulton County
Fulton County Fulton County Fulton County Fulton County Fulton County Fulton County
Fulton County Fulton County Fulton County Fulton County Gainesville City Gordon County Marietta City
State Charter Schools Vidalia City

Figure 22: Charter Schools Focus Status as of fall 2015

SCHOOL NAME

2015 Focus School Status

Centennial Place Elementary School Odom Elementary School Okapilco Elementary School Sunset Elementary School Smoke Rise Elementary School Dublin Middle School Susie Dasher Elementary Bethune Elementary School Gullatt Elementary School

Achievement Gap Achievement Gap Achievement Gap Achievement Gap Achievement Gap Achievement Gap Achievement Gap Achievement Gap Achievement Gap

Hamilton E. Holmes Elementary Hapeville Charter Middle School High Point Elementary School Jackson Elementary School Lake Forest Elementary Lee Elementary School
Mount Olive Elementary School Nolan Elementary School Sandtown Middle School Woodland Middle School Centennial Arts Academy Swain Elementary School Marietta High School Ivy Preparatory Young Men's Leadership Academy School J. R. Trippe Middle School

Achievement Gap Achievement Gap DNE - Achievement Gap DNE - Achievement Gap Achievement Gap Achievement Gap
Achievement Gap Achievement Gap Achievement Gap Achievement Gap Achievement Gap Achievement Gap DNE - Achievement Gap
Achievement Gap DNE - Achievement Gap

Georgia Department of Education December 31, 2015 Page 36 of 69

Accountability Distinction Schools (continued)

SYSTEM NAME
Berrien County DeKalb County Dublin City Fulton County Fulton County Fulton County Gainesville City Richmond County
State Charter Schools State Charter Schools State Charter Schools Union County

Figure 23: Charter Schools Priority Status as of fall 2015

SCHOOL NAME

2015 Priority School Status

Berrien Academy Performance Learning Center Destiny Achievers Academy of Excellence Moore Street School Banneker High School Hapeville Charter Career Academy Tri-Cities High School Wood's Mill Non-Traditional School Jenkins-White Elementary Charter School

Achievement Achievement Graduation Rate Achievement Achievement Achievement Achievement Achievement

Georgia Connections Academy Mountain Education Center School Provost Academy Georgia Woody Gap High/Elementary School

Graduation Rate Graduation Rate Graduation Rate
Achievement

Georgia Department of Education December 31, 2015 Page 37 of 69

Charter School Climate Star Rating

The National School Climate Center defines school climate as "the quality and character of school life" that is based on the "patterns of students', parents', and school personnel's experiences of school life."5 School climate can be influenced by the norms, goals, values, interpersonal relationships, instructional practices, and organizational structures within a school. Research has found that schools with positive school climates tend to have better test scores and graduation rates; in contrast, schools with negative school climates as a result of unsafe or hostile environments tend to have lower academic performance.6

A sustainable, positive school climate supports people feeling socially, emotionally and physically safe. In a positive school climate people are engaged and respected. By contrast, disruptive and aggressive behavior such as threats, bullying, teasing and harassment creates a hostile school environment that interferes with academic performance. A hostile school environment fosters increased absenteeism and truancy because students feel unsafe at school. If a child is not physically and mentally in attendance, learning cannot take place.

Georgia is the first state in the nation to include school climate as an early indicator in its academic accountability system, the College and Career Ready Performance Index (CCRPI). The School Climate Star Rating is a diagnostic tool to determine if a school is on the right path to school improvement.7

Start-up charter schools have the highest school climate rating with 4.28 out of 5, followed by State Start-ups at 3.93 out of 5, charter systems at 3.56 out of 5, and conversion charter schools at 3.47 out of 5 compared to all other non-charter systems with a 3.45 out of 5 rating.

Figure 24: Star Rating Charter and Non-Charter

School Climate Star Rating

4.28

3.81

3.56

3.93

3.45

3.47

Non-Charters

All Charters

System Charters State Start-ups

Start-ups

Conversions

5 National School Climate Center. (2014). School Climate. Retrieved from http://www.schoolclimate.org/climate/. 6 Thapa, Amrit, Jonathan Cohen, Shawn Guffey, and Ann Higgins-D'Alessandro. 2013. "A Review of School Climate Research." Review of Educational Research 83(3): 357-385. 7 Retrieved from Georgia Department of Education website: http://www.gadoe.org/External-Affairs-andPolicy/Policy/Pages/School-Climate.aspx
Georgia Department of Education December 31, 2015 Page 38 of 69

Charter Schools and Academic Performance
Please note that once the 2014-15 CCRPI data is released, we will update the report.
CCRPI Comparison Overall, including charter systems, charter schools have done better than non-charters on CCRPI over the past three years. Please note that some CCRPI data for some school districts is incomplete and will be revised later when their data is completed.
Figure 25: Charter Schools Charters vs. Non-Charters, 3-Year CCRPI History
3-Year History of Average CCRPI Scores

77.0 75.8

74.4

74.1

73.8

72.8

2011-12

2012-13

2013-14

Charter Schools

Non-Charter Schools

However, charter systems and conversion charter schools are ahead of non-charter schools on CCRPI, with start-up charters below non-charter schools on average.

Georgia Department of Education December 31, 2015 Page 39 of 69

CCRPI Comparison (continued)

Figure 26: Charter Schools 3-Year CCRPI History by Charter School Type
3-Year History of Average CCRPI Scores
(By Charter Type)

78.6 76.8
75.8

72.9

74.4

72.8 71.8

70.2

76.7
74.9 73.8 72.6

2011-12 Non-Charter Schools

2012-13 System

2013-14

Conversion

Start-up

Georgia Department of Education December 31, 2015 Page 40 of 69

Charter Schools and Academic Performance (continued)
2014-15 Georgia Milestones
The Georgia Milestones Assessment System (Georgia Milestones) is a comprehensive summative assessment program spanning grades 3 through high school. Georgia Milestones measures how well students have learned the knowledge and skills outlined in the state-adopted content standards in language arts, mathematics, science, and social studies. Students in grades 3 through 8 will take an endof-grade assessment in each content area, while high school students will take an end-of-course assessment for each of the eight courses designated by the State Board of Education.
Features the Georgia Milestone Assessment System include:
open-ended (constructed-response) items in language arts and mathematics (all grades and courses);
a writing component (in response to passages read by students) at every grade level and course within the language arts assessment;
norm-referenced items in all content areas and courses, to complement the criterion-referenced information and to provide a national comparison; and
transition to online administration over time, with online administration considered the primary mode of administration and paper-pencil as back-up until the transition is complete.
The Georgia Milestones Assessment System is designed to provide information about how well students are mastering the state-adopted content standards in the core content areas of language arts, mathematics, science, and social studies. Importantly, Georgia Milestones is designed to provide students with critical information about their own achievement and their readiness for their next level of learning be it the next grade, the next course, or endeavor (college or career). Informing parents, educators, and the public about how well students are learning important content is an essential aspect of any educational assessment and accountability system. Parents, the public, and policy makers, including local school districts and boards of education, can use the results as a barometer of the quality of educational opportunity provided throughout the state of Georgia. As such, Georgia Milestones serves as a key component of the state's accountability system the College and Career Ready Performance Index (CCRPI).
Students in grades 3 through 8 will take an end-of-grade assessment in the content areas of language arts, mathematics, science, social studies. These tests are administered towards the end of the school year, typically in April or early May. Each school district selects a local testing window from within the state designated timeframe to administer the end-of-grade measures.
Students at the high school level will take an end-of-course assessment in the following ten courses:
Language Arts Ninth Grade Literature and Composition American Literature and Composition
Mathematics Algebra I (Beginning Winter 2015) Geometry (Beginning Winter 2015) Coordinate Algebra
Georgia Department of Education December 31, 2015 Page 41 of 69

Analytic Geometry Science
Biology Physical Science Social Studies United States History Economics/Business/Free Enterprise The end-of-course measures are administered at the completion of the course, regardless of the grade level. These measures serve as the final exam for the course, and contribute 20% to the student's final course grade. Each school district selects a local testing window, based on their local school calendar, from within the state-designated testing window. Middle school students who are enrolled in one or more of these courses are required to take the associated end-of-course (EOC) measure. If enrolled in a mathematics and/or science EOC course, these middle school students will not take the corresponding content area end-of-grade (EOG) measure.
Georgia Department of Education December 31, 2015 Page 42 of 69

2014-15 Georgia Milestones Results
End of Grade:
English Language Arts: Charter schools out performed non-charter schools in all grade levels in Language Arts end of grade assessments.
Mathematics: Charter schools out performed non-charter schools in all grade levels except 8th grade in Mathematics end of grade assessments. The 8th grade charter school score almost equal to non-charter schools.
Science: Charter schools out performed non-charter schools in all grade levels in science end of grade assessments.
Social Studies: Charter schools out performed non-charter schools in all grade levels except 8th grade in social studies end of grade assessments. The 8th grade charter school score almost equal to non-charter schools.
End of the Course:
Language Arts: Charter schools out performed non-charter schools in both American Literature (40.6 to 35.3) and 9th Grade Literature & Composition (42.5 to 38.4).
Mathematics: Charter schools outperformed non-charter schools in geometry (34.6 to 27.5) and was almost equal to non-charter schools in coordinated algebra (33.6 to 33.7).
Science: Charter schools outperformed non-charter schools in biology (40.5 to 37.8) and was outperformed by non-charter schools in physical science (29.5 to 31.2).
Social Studies: Charter schools out performed non charter schools in economics (38.5 to 36.4) and was almost equal to non-charter schools (38.4 to 39.8).
Georgia Department of Education December 31, 2015 Page 43 of 69

Georgia Milestones (continued)

End of Grade Assessments:

Figure 27: EOG Language Arts

2014 - 15 End of Grade Assessment
Language Arts

3rd Grade 4th Grade 5th Grade 6th Grade 7th Grade 8th Grade

36.3% 39.4% 39.0%
32.5%
39.7%

46.9%

36.5% 39.9% 39.7%
34.6%
39.9%

46.7%

38.8% 41.4% 41.6%
34.6% 45.1%
39.8%

38.4% 41.2% 41.0%
40.0% 42.9% 47.8%

36.0% 39.3%
38.5% 35.1%
43.8%

59.5%

38.7% 40.7% 40.6%
37.9% 42.2%

51.9%

Non-charter All Charters Charter Systems State Start Up Start Up Conversion

Georgia Department of Education December 31, 2015 Page 44 of 69

Georgia Milestones (continued)

End of Grade Assessments:

Figure 28: EOC Mathematics

2014 - 15 End of Grade Assessment
Mathematics

3rd Grade 4th Grade 5th Grade 6th Grade 7th Grade 8th Grade

30.0%

37.6% 40.4% 41.1%
42.8% 37.6%

39.9% 42.4% 43.7%
33.5% 39.4%
37.2%

27.5%

37.4% 39.0% 40.7%
33.3% 38.9%

35.4% 36.6% 38.1%
30.2% 32.2%
31.1%

31.4%

36.7% 39.7% 40.0%
41.2%

24.7%

37.0% 36.8%
38.7%

33.5%

41.6%

54.9%

Non-charter All Charters Charter Systems State Start Up Start Up Conversion

Georgia Department of Education December 31, 2015 Page 45 of 69

Georgia Milestones (continued)

End of Grade Assessments:

Figure 29: EOC Science
2014 - 15 End of Grade Assessment
Science

3rd Grade 4th Grade 5th Grade 6th Grade 7th Grade 8th Grade

33.8% 36.9% 36.6%
32.7%
34.7%

42.4%

33.0% 35.9% 36.9%
29.1% 34.5%
30.4%

29.4% 28.6%

35.9% 37.3% 38.7%
35.9%

37.5% 39.9% 41.6%
33.5% 33.9% 33.0%

35.2% 36.9% 37.5%
31.1% 37.0%

48.0%

31.5% 33.2% 35.0%
23.7% 27.3%

42.9%

Non-charter All Charters Charter Systems State Start Up Start Up Conversion

Georgia Department of Education December 31, 2015 Page 46 of 69

Georgia Milestones (continued)

End of Grade Assessments:

Figure 30: EOC Social Studies
2014 - 15 End of Grade Assessment
Social Studies

3rd Grade 4th Grade 5th Grade 6th Grade 7th Grade

18.2%

29.3% 31.5% 31.6%
37.2% 34.5%

25.7%

34.4% 36.3% 37.1%

32.6%

39.1%

21.6% 20.5%

28.9% 30.6% 31.6%
33.5%

21.0%

31.7% 32.4% 34.8%

31.2%

37.5%

23.6%

35.7% 37.5% 38.3%
38.8%

8th Grade

20.1%

32.6% 32.4%
34.0%
30.0%

43.0%

Non-charter All Charters Charter Systems State Start Up Start Up Conversion

57.1%

Georgia Department of Education December 31, 2015 Page 47 of 69

Georgia Milestones (continued)
End of Course Assessments:
Figure 31: EOC Language Arts
2014-15 End of Course Assessment
Language Arts

62.0%

40.6%39.4%

40.0%

35.3%

34.4%

58.3% 50.7% 42.5%41.1% 38.4% 35.6%

American Literature Non-Charter State Start-up

9th Grade Literature & Composition

All Schools Start-up

Charter Systems Conversion

Georgia Department of Education December 31, 2015 Page 48 of 69

Georgia Milestones (continued) End of Course Assessments:
Figure 32: EOC Mathematics
2014-15 End of Course Assessment
Mathematics
58.7%

33.7%33.6%35.4%

41.0% 34.0%

17.7%

34.6%35.3% 27.5%

31.2%

18.8%

Coordinate Algebra Non-Charter State Start-up

All Schools Start-up

Analytic Geometry Charter Systems Conversion

Georgia Department of Education December 31, 2015 Page 49 of 69

Georgia Milestones (continued) End of Course Assessments:
Figure 33: EOC Science
2014-15 End of Course Assessment
Science
59.2%

37.8%40.5%41.7%

39.1%

22.8%

31.2%29.5%31.8%

27.1%

16.6%

4.4%

Biology Non-Charter State Start-up

All Schools Start-up

Physical Science Charter Systems Conversion

Georgia Department of Education December 31, 2015 Page 50 of 69

Georgia Milestones (continued)
End of Course Assessments:
Figure 34: EOC Social Studies
2014-15 End of Course Assessment
Social Studies

62.2%

39.8%38.4%40.2%

45.5% 40.5%

17.8%

38.5% 36.4% 38.0%

32.1%

22.9%

US History Non-Charter State Start-up

All Schools Start-up

Economics Charter Systems Conversion

Georgia Department of Education December 31, 2015 Page 51 of 69

Charter Partners
The success of Georgia Charter Schools and Systems rely on the support of the following:
Charter Advisory Committee
The Charter Advisory Committee (CAC) is a nine-member appointed committee that reviews charter system petitions, provides recommendations to the State Board on approvals, and provides technical assistance to charter systems.
The CAC was created by the Charter Systems Act of 2007. Three members each are appointed by the Lieutenant Governor, the Speaker of the House, and the Chair of the State Board of Education.
Charter Advisory Committee Members (As of September 14, 2015) SBOE Chairperson Appointees
1. Allen Mueller (replaced Marissa Key, who replaced Linda Zechmann, who served since the inception of the CAC)
2. Brian Cooksey (served since the inception of the CAC) 3. David Jernigan (replaced Marina Volanakis)
Speaker of the House Appointees 4. Melanie Stockwell (replaced Dr. Ben Scafidi) 5. Keith Everson (replaced Lynn Plunkett, who replaced Dr. Holly Robinson, who served since the inception of the CAC) 6. Dr. Fred Williams (replaced Dr. Chuck Ledbetter, who replaced Kwame Griffith, who replaced Dr. Michael Bull)
Lieutenant Governor Appointees 7. Preston Howard (replaced Dr. Charles Knapp) 8. Kenneth Zeff (replaced Sen. Dan Weber, who replaced Otis Brumby, Jr.) 9. Mark Whitlock, Chair (served since the inception of the CAC)
Notes: a. Initial appointment was in June 2007 and first meeting was July 31, 2007 b. Terms are not time limited
Georgia Department of Education December 31, 2015 Page 52 of 69

The CAC meets every two months and cover items as shown in the following meeting agenda:

CHARTER ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING Stanhope Room, Renaissance Atlanta Waverly, 2450 Galleria Parkway, Atlanta, GA 30339
December 4, 2015 9:00-10:30 A.M.

AGENDA

I.

Welcome and Introductions

II. Purpose of the Meeting: The Charter Advisory Committee, Department of Education, and State Board of Education are committed to increasing student achievement through academic and organizational innovations by encouraging local school systems to utilize the flexibility offered by chartering. Today's meeting will focus on an update regarding DOE flexibility planning, a report on the Pilot Effort to link AdvancED District Accreditation, the Charter System Pipeline, consulting activities, updates to all Georgia School District Flexibility decisions to date, an update on relevant Legislative and rule-making activity, and an update from the Charter System Foundation Initiative.

III. Approve CAC Agenda 12/10/15

IV. Approve Minutes for 10/10/15 Regular Meeting

V. Updates from District Flexibility and Charter Schools Division

A. Flexibility working group Title I

B. AdvancED District Accreditation Pilot-Calhoun City

C. Charter System Rule/Guidance-Update?

D. Charter System Application/Deadlines-Update?

E. Beating the Odds and Accountability-Update?

F. Pipeline Report including upcoming renewals and new systems and summary of flexibility decisions statewide

G. Legislative/Rule-Making Update

H. SBOE District Flexibility and Charter Schools Comm.

I. Charter Commission Update

J. Consulting Activities

VI. CAC Recommendations to SBOE: As Needed

VII. Update from Charter System Foundation initiative

VIII. Adjournment: Next meeting February 12, 2016 at GaDOE

Georgia Department of Education December 31, 2015 Page 53 of 69

====================================================== Approved Calendar for 2016 (Approved October 9, 2015) Fridays: 2nd Friday every other month except for December, most meetings at GaDOE Twin Towers, most meetings include teleconference capability. Most meetings from 10:00 11:30 AM (February 12, April 8, June 10, August 12, October 14) December 2 (at Waverly Renaissance, in conjunction with GSBA/GSSA Annual Conference 2016)
Georgia Department of Education December 31, 2015 Page 54 of 69

Georgia Charter Schools Association
Georgia Charter Schools Association (GCSA) is a statewide, non-profit, 501c3 membership organization. It is operates with a staff of 13 FTE employees and is led by a 15-member board of directors comprised of respected community and corporate leaders as well as leaders in education both from the public charter school and larger fields of education. Mission Statement The mission of the Georgia Charter Schools Association is to improve student achievement and promote educational choice by serving and advocating for public charter schools in Georgia. Values The Georgia Charter Schools Association values innovation, school choice, parental involvement, student achievement, accountability, communication, and collaboration. Major Activities
Advancing public awareness of public charter schools and their mission. Communicating charter school issues and concerns to governmental, political, and legislative
leaders. Advocating for policy and legislation to strengthen charter school effectiveness in Georgia. Facilitating networking and collaboration among public charter schools as well as between
charter and traditional public schools. Recruiting, training and supporting both volunteer and paid leadership for charter schools. Training and providing state-level certification for teachers and school leaders through GaTAPP. Supporting school level volunteer and staff support through the Georgia Parent Teachers
Organization (PTO). Supporting the growth and replication of high quality charter schools through New Schools for
Georgia.
Georgia Charter Schools Association has offices located at 211 Perimeter Center Parkway, Suite 1000, Atlanta, GA 30346. Website: www.gacharters.org. Main phone: 404.835.8901. Fax: 888.799.0837
Georgia Department of Education December 31, 2015 Page 55 of 69

New Schools for Georgia As Georgia's Charter School Incubator, New Schools for Georgia works with emerging innovative schools, developing board capacity, training future school leaders and providing essential ongoing support to ensure that students have access to high-quality educational options. New Schools for Georgia also works with existing high-performing charter schools and emerging CMOs as they scale up to serve new students. New Schools for Georgia's current cohort will open six new charter schools across the Atlanta Metro area in 2017. New Incubator cohorts start each June. For more information, please contact Allen Mueller at amueller@gacharters.org or call 404-835-8917.
Georgia Department of Education December 31, 2015 Page 56 of 69

Charter System Foundation
www.charter-system.org
The Charter System Foundation, Inc. was founded on the belief that meaningful change in education can occur only if principals, teachers, parents, and community partners are empowered with the authority and flexibility to make decisions at the school house level to best meet the individual needs of each student.
Executive Director: Dan Weber (404-808-6670); Dan@Charter-System.org Executive Assistant: Pam Tallmadge (770-354-7653); Pam@Charter-System.org
Reasons for a Foundation
a. Conduit for Innovation. Georgia's 180 school systems operate as independent silos. The Foundation serves as a platform for superintendents to share ideas and provide mutual support.
b. Protect Flexibility and Funding. The Foundation works to show state policymakers that charter systems are making meaningful change.
c. Collaborate with Education Funders and Support Groups. The Foundation provides funders and support groups with access a cross section of systems.
d. Streamline the Process. Work with DOE to streamline the application or renewal process and address flexibility roadblocks.
Overview of the Foundation
e. Idea proposed to Lieutenant Governor early 2012 and to the 16 Charter Systems later in 2012.
f. Incorporated February 2013 g. 501(c)(3) Nonprofit h. 17 Systems are "Affiliates" (contributions = $2/FTE or other amount) i. Board of Directors
i. Emily Lembeck, Marietta, Chair ii. Allen McCannon, Madison County, Vice Chair iii. Michelle Taylor, Calhoun City iv. Fred Williams, Dublin City v. Ken Zeff, Fulton County vi. Carole Carey, Warren County vii. Howard Hinesley, Cartersville City
Georgia Department of Education December 31, 2015 Page 57 of 69

j. Other "Affiliates": i. Bubba Longgrear, Candler County Schools ii. Kent Edwards, Carrollton City Schools iii. Morris Leis, Coffee County Schools iv. Damon Gibbs, Dawson County Schools v. David Dude, Decatur City Schools vi. Wanda Creel, Gainesville City Schools
vii. Shanna Wilkes, Gilmer County Schools viii. Jim Holton, Glascock County Schools ix. Susan Remillard, Gordon County Schools
x. Jerry Bell, Haralson County Schools xi. James Woodard, Morgan County Schools xii. Eric Arena, Putnam County Schools xiii. Jeffrey Wilson, White County Schools k. Budget: Approx. $140k per year.
Accomplishments/Initiatives
l. Worked to protect flexibility and funding during 2013 and 2014-2015 legislative sessions m. Workshops
i. June 19, 2013 1. Marietta City Schools 2. Conversation with key DOE managers.
ii. September 18, 2013 1. Gainesville City Schools 2. Discussion concerning Partnerships, Flexibility, Governance and Autonomy
iii. December 6, 2013 1. GSBA Convention Breakout Sessions 2. The Value of Charter Status to Your System
iv. February 6, 2014 1. Georgia State Capitol Room 125 2. Legislative Workshop
v. June 4, 2014 1. Dublin City Schools 2. New Charter Systems/Applicants (South Ga.)
vi. June 25, 2014 1. Calhoun City Schools 2. Superintendent "Coffee Pot" Workshop
vii. July 25, 2014 1. Calhoun City Schools 2. New Charter Systems/Applicants (North Ga.)
Georgia Department of Education December 31, 2015 Page 58 of 69

viii. September 17, 2014 1. Fulton County 2. Superintendent "Coffee Pot" Workshop #2
ix. November 7, 2014 1. Georgia State Capitol Room 125 2. FTE Funding & Graduation Requirements
x. December 5, 2014 1. GSBA Convention Breakout Sessions 2. The Value of Charter Status to Your System
xi. January 28, 2015 1. Putnam County 2. Application Writing & Procedures Workshop
xii. February 4, 2015 1. Georgia State Capitol Room 125 2. Legislative Workshop
xiii. March 18, 2015 1. Dublin City Schools 2. Application Writing & Procedures Workshop
xiv. June 24, 2015 1. Hyatt Atlanta Perimeter at Villa Christina 2. Maximizing Your Flexibility Workshop
xv. September 30, 2015 1. Morgan County Schools 2. Exercising Your Flexibility Workshop
xvi. January 28, 2016 1. Georgia State Capitol Room 125 2. Legislative Workshop
n. Legislative Issues as it pertains to Charter Systems and Education o. Website
i. Newsletter to share ideas ii. Ask the Expert iii. Events Calendar iv. Knowledge Data Base p. Constant Contact Monthly Newsletters q. Training i. Three experts ii. Training modules iii. Individual, Joint, or Workshop iv. Five LSGT Training sessions throughout Georgia see attached information r. Other Initiatives
Georgia Department of Education December 31, 2015 Page 59 of 69

i. Partnership with REACH scholarship (patterned after Cartersville's Gate Key scholarship program)
ii. 2nd Awards Luncheon and Fundraiser, to be hosted by the Lieutenant Governor 1. June 22, 2016 2. Hyatt Atlanta Perimeter at Villa Christina
iii. GAEL Conference in July
Upcoming Charter System Foundation Training Workshops:
Local School Governance Training Workshop - Hosted by Calhoun City Schools Tuesday, February 9, 2016 7:30 am Coffee 8:00 am to 2:00 pm Workshop Calhoun High School - 255 South River Street Calhoun, Georgia 30701 PLC- Professional Learning Center Local School Governance Training Workshop - Hosted by Dougherty County Schools Monday February 22, 2016 7:30 am Coffee 8:00 am to 2:00 pm Workshop The Isabella Complex - 300 Cason Street - Albany, GA 31701 Local School Governance Training Workshop - Hosted by Fulton County Schools & Marietta City Schools Friday February 26, 2016 7:30 am Coffee 8:00 am to 2:00 pm Workshop Fulton County Schools Administration Center - 6201 Powers Ferry Road Atlanta, Georgia 30339 Room 176 A Local School Governance Training Workshop - Hosted by Madison County Schools Friday March 3, 2016 7:30 am Coffee 8:00 am to 2:00 pm Workshop Madison County Board of Education - 800 Madison Street - Danielsville, GA 30633
Georgia Department of Education December 31, 2015 Page 60 of 69

Room location - PLC 2 Local School Governance Training Workshop - Hosted by Liberty County Schools Friday March 11, 2016 7:30 am Coffee 8:00 am to 2:00 pm Workshop Liberty County Board of Education - 200 Bradwell St. - Hinesville, GA. 31320
Georgia Department of Education December 31, 2015 Page 61 of 69

New and Revised Charter School and Charter System Rules
The State Board of Education in September 2015 adopted revised Charter Rules to combine the charter rules and guidelines and implement legislative changes from the 2015 session. The new rules provide stakeholders with greater clarity regarding the charter schools petition process and authorizer roles and responsibilities. 160-4-9-.04 CHARTER SCHOOLS AND CHARTER SYSTEMS DEFINITIONS
The revised rule provides an additional definition for "educationally disadvantaged" to provide greater clarification and alignment with HB 372. 160-4-9-.05 CHARTER SCHOOLS PETITION PROCESS
The revised rule includes the following changes and/or additions: Added requirement that local boards must provide charter schools with an in-person meeting or interview during the petition process to answer questions and provide clarification. Added language requiring local districts to put petitioners into four groups after initial petition review. Those four groups are: o Rejection: Application is flawed in a way that is irreparable; o Revision: Application demonstrates minimum quality and potential issues with legal compliance. These applications require material revisions before the local board can recommend them for approval to the State Board of Education; o Clarification: Application has moderate quality and legal compliance, but additional information is needed before the application can be recommended for approval to the State Board of Education; o Approval: Application is near perfect and will be recommended for approval without and further applicant action. Based on changes to law since last rules were adopted, petitioners to the local board or the State Charter Schools Commission must also submit their petition to the Georgia Department of Education within 30 days of submission to the local board. Based on changes to state law pursuant to HB 372, petitioners must include a statement detailing whether they intend to use a weighted lottery. Added language from law clarifying that charter schools are not exempt from any law, rule, regulation, or court order related to civil rights, insurance, protecting the physical health and safety of school students, employees, and visitors, conflicts of interest, unlawful conduct, or any reporting requirements of O.C.G.A. 20-2-320, 20-2-211.1, 20-2-210, 20-2-327(c), 20-2-133.
Georgia Department of Education December 31, 2015 Page 62 of 69

160-4-9-.06 CHARTER AUTHORIZERS, FINANCING, MANAGEMENT, AND GOVERNANCE TRAINING The revised rule includes the following changes and/or additions:
Based on changes to state law, adds a clarification that charter schools that have passed the Department of Education's facility inspection and hold a certificate of occupancy do not need any additional licensure to operate the school.
Based in changes to state law, changes the due date for annual reports from charter schools to the charter schools division from October 1 to November 1.
Added as a cause for probation, the charter school's failure to disclose material contract violations or legal violations.
Clarifies that College and Career Academies have different governance board training and specifies those requirements.
160-4-9-.07 CHARTER SYSTEMS The charter systems rule was revised to combine the guidelines and rule and provide consistent language throughout the rule.
Georgia Department of Education December 31, 2015 Page 63 of 69

Appendix
Charter Types
Conversions, start-ups, and charter system schools are under the management and control of their local board and their charters are three-party contracts between the State Board of Education, the local board and the charter school's governing board.
State Charter Schools manage themselves and are treated as LEAs (local education agencies) and their charters are two-party contracts between the State Charter Schools Commission and the charter school's governing board.

1. Conversion Charter School: A charter school that existed as a local public school prior to becoming a charter school. To apply as a conversion, a majority of the faculty and instructional staff members and a majority of parents or guardians of students enrolled in the petitioning school must vote by secret ballot to apply for a charter.

18 Conversion Charter Schools

Centennial Park Elementary School

International Studies Elementary Charter School

Chamblee Charter High School

Jenkins-White Elementary School

Chesnut Elementary Chestnut Mountain Creative Schools of Inquiry Clubview Elementary School Flowery Branch High School, a Global Studies and Leadership Academy George Walton Comprehensive High School Hampton Elementary Hickory Flat

Mount Vernon Exploratory School Peachtree Charter Middle School Sedalia Park Elementary School
Spout Springs Elementary School of Enrichment
World Language Academy at Chestnut Mountain Wynnton Arts Academy Lanier Charter Career Academy

Georgia Department of Education December 31, 2015 Page 64 of 69

2. Start-Up Charter School: A charter school created by a petition brought forth by private individuals, private organizations, or a state or local public entity.

a. State Charter School: A charter school created as an independent school that operates under terms of a charter between the charter petitioner and the State Charter Schools Commission. Petitioners apply to become a State Charter School if their petition was denied by a local board of education or if they will draw students from five or more counties.

20 State Charter Schools

Atlanta Heights Charter School Charter Conservatory for Liberal Arts & Technology (CCAT)

Graduation Achievement Center Charter High School International Charter School of Atlanta

Cherokee Charter Academy Coweta Charter Academy

Ivy Preparatory Academy Ivy Preparatory Academy At Gwinnett

Dubois Integrity Academy
Foothills Charter High School Fulton Leadership Academy Georgia Connections Academy Georgia Cyber Academy Georgia School for Innovation and the Classics

Ivy Preparatory Young Men's Leadership Academy
Mountain Education Charter High School Odyssey School Pataula Charter Academy Scintilla Charter Academy Utopian Academy for the Arts Charter School

Georgia Department of Education December 31, 2015 Page 65 of 69

b. Locally Approved Start-Up: A charter school operating under the terms of a charter between the charter petitioner, the local district, and the State Board of Education.

Academy for Classical Education
Amana Academy
Atlanta Classical Academy Atlanta Neighborhood Charter School Baconton Community Charter School Berrien Academy Performance Learning Center
Bishop Hall Charter School
Brighten Academy
Charles R. Drew Charter School Chattahochee Hills Charter School Coastal Empire Montessori DeKalb Academy of Technology & the Environment (D.A.T.E.)
DeKalb PATH Academy
DeKalb Preparatory Academy Destiny Achievers Academy of Excellence
Elite Scholars Academy
Furlow Charter School
Gwinnett Charter School of Advanced Mathematics, Science, & Technology Gwinnett County Online Campus
Hapeville Middle School

78 Locally Approved Start-up Charter Schools

International Academy of North Metro Academy for

Smyrna

Performing Arts

International Community School

Oglethorpe Charter School

Kennesaw Charter Science and Math Academy

Savannah Classical Academy

Kingsley Charter Elementary School

Smoke Rise Elementary

KIPP South Fulton Academy

Tapestry Public Charter School

Douglas County College & Career Institute Effingham College and Career Academy Floyd County College and Career Academy
Golden Isles Career Academy
Griffin Region College and Career Academy

KIPP Atlanta Collegiate

The GLOBE Academy

Hapeville College and Career Academy

KIPP STRIVE - Primary KIPP STRIVE Academy KIPP Vision KIPP Vision - Primary KIPP WAYS
KIPP WAYS - Primary

The Kindezi School
The Museum School of Avondale Estates Tybee Island Maritime Academy Unidos Dual Language Charter School
Union Point STEAM Academy

Heart of Georgia College and Career Academy
Houston County Career Academy Lamar County College and Career Academy
Liberty College and Career
Newton College and Career Academy

Wesley International Academy

Northwest Georgia College and Career Academy

Lake Oconee Academy
Latin Academy Charter School Latin Grammar Charter School Latin College Prep Charter School Leadership Preparatory Academy

Westside Atlanta

Rockdale Career Academy

Academy for Advanced Studies
Athens Community Career Academy Baldwin County Career Academy Bartow County College and Career Academy

Southeastern Early College & Career Academy
Troup County College and Career Academy (THINC)
William S. Hutchings College and Career Academy
Polk County College and Career Academy

Macon Charter Academy Cairo High Charter School

Main Street Academy
New Life Academy of Excellence Inc.

Carroll County College and Career Academy
Central Educational Center

Georgia Department of Education December 31, 2015 Page 66 of 69

Charter Types (continued) 3. Approved and Pending Charter Schools
Approved Charters for 2016-17 Opening 1 Charter System
Atlanta Public Schools 6 State Charter Schools
Byron Peach Charter High School Brookhaven Innovation Academy Cirrus Academy Liberty Tech Charter School Southwest Georgia STEM Charter 2 Locally Approved Start-up Charter Schools Georgia High School for Accelerated Learning Marietta Dual Language

Pending Charter Approvals
10 Charter Systems Clarke County Schools
Dougherty County Schools Randolph County Schools Baldwin County Schools Catoosa County Schools Grady County Schools Jasper County Schools Peach County Schools Terrell County Schools Tift County Schools 3 Locally Approved Start-up Charter Schools Commander Conyers College and Career Academy Alliance Academy for Innovation of CummingForsyth Fulton Academy of Science and Technology (FAST)

*As of December 31, 2015

Testing History
In 2000, Georgia instituted the first year of the state assessment, the Criterion Referenced Competency Tests (CRCT), for grades four, six, and eight. Spring 2002 and 2004 marked the first operational administrations in all grades, which included English/Language Arts, Mathematics, and Reading in grades 1 through 8. Science and Social Studies are covered in grades 3 through 8.
Milestones Data In 2014, Georgia instituted the first year of a new state assessment, the Georgia Milestones Assessment System. The Georgia Milestones measures how well a student has learned about the state-adopted content standards in language arts, mathematics, science and social studies. Students in grades 3 through 9 will take an end-of- grade assessment in each content area, while high school students will take an end-of-course assessment for each of the eight courses designated by the State Board of Education.
Academic Data
Data on academic performance was extracted from the GaDOE data warehouse. Please note that the 2013-14 school year assessment (CRCT and EOCT) and CCRPI data utilized in the derivation of the various results presented is incomplete for some schools and school districts. Once a more finalized version of the aforementioned data is release, an addendum will be released in the form of an attachment for this report.
Georgia Department of Education December 31, 2015 Page 67 of 69

Acronyms Throughout the report, a number of acronyms appear. Among these are: AYP or Adequate Yearly Progress; CCRPI or the College and Career Ready Performance Index; CRCT or Criterion Reference Competency Test; ELL or English Language Learner; EOC or End of Course; EOCT or End of Course Test; EOG or End of Grade; GHSGT or Georgia High School Graduation Test; GaDOE or Georgia Department of Education; LEA or Local Educational Agency; SBOE or State Board of Education; SWD or Student with Disability.
Georgia Department of Education December 31, 2015 Page 68 of 69

Acknowledgements A special thank you from the Charter Schools Division to the following individuals and teams for their contributions to this report:
State Board of Education Charter Schools Committee Mr. Brian Burdette, Chair Mr. Kenneth Mason, Vice Chair Mr. Scott Johnson Ms. Lisa Kinnemore Mr. Kevin Boyd
Georgia Department of Education Dr. Garry McGiboney, Deputy Superintendent, External Affairs Ms. Xiaoying Wu, Education Statistics Analyst Policy Division
District Flexibility and Charter Schools Division
Contact Information Georgia Department of Education 2053 Twin Towers East 205 Jesse Hill Jr. Dr. SE Atlanta, Georgia 30334-5040 (404) 657-0515 (404) 657-6978 (Fax)
Staff Mr. Louis Erste, Associate Superintendent for Policy and Charters, District Flexibility, and Governmental Affairs Ms. Aarti Sharma, Director Ms. Janelle Cornwall, Staff Attorney Ms. Kerry Pritchard, Research Analyst Ms. Jacqueline Clarke Dodd, Operations Coordinator
Georgia Department of Education December 31, 2015 Page 69 of 69