Gainesville schools move closer to charter system status

ATLANTA - Gainesville City Schools have moved closer to gaining charter system status.

During a meeting on Friday, the state's Charter Advisory Committee vote overwhelmingly to reaffirm its recommendation that the remaining petitions from the cities of Decatur, Marietta, and Gainesville, and Chattahoochee County be approved for charter system status by the state board of education.

Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle, a strong proponent of charter schools and charter school systems, is urging the school board to act quickly on the recommendation.

"The Charter Advisory Committee is composed of well-respected and experienced members of the education community," Cagle said. "Their support and reinforced recommendation sends a strong message to the validity and strength of each of these charters. The enormous amount of time each member of the Charter Advisory Committee took to not only visit each system, but personally meet with the school system leadership, demonstrates their clear understanding of each system and belief that they are prepared to undertake the charter system status."

Cagle added that the state's Charter Systems Act "provides school systems the opportunity to increase student achievement by giving them more freedoms and flexibility to be innovative and gives parents and teachers the opportunity to have meaningful participation in the governance of their schools. It is important for the State Board of Education to be confident in their decisions."

The State board is expected to meet June 11 and 12 to consider the remaining charters. In May, Warren County was approved as the first charter system in the State of Georgia.