Remembering Commissioner Scott Sweeney

On July 27, family, friends, and colleagues celebrated the life of SCSC Commissioner Scott Sweeney at Mount Bethel Church in Marietta. The service, led by Rev. Glenn Ray, included reflections of Sweeney as a dedicated husband, father, friend, brother, and public servant.

L-R: Head, Acha-Morfaw, Lowden

His sons, Gabe and Jake, his childhood friend Kevin Crawford, and fellow State Board of Education Member Jason Downey shared remembrances of Sweeney. Downey was appointed to the State Board of Education with Sweeney in 2019 and served as vice chair during Sweeney’s tenure as chair. His brother, Cordell, offered the closing remarks. The SCSC was represented by Commissioner Tony Lowden, Executive Director Donovan Head, and Communications Specialist Erica Acha-Morfaw. In lieu of flowers, the family requested that donations be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

The SCSC Board of Commissioners honored Sweeney at its July 29 meeting. Board Chair Cayanna Good, Ph.D., opened with a moment of silence, followed by reflections from commissioners on his contributions to the SCSC and public education in Georgia. Commissioners committed to carrying his legacy forward through the SCSC’s work to promote and support quality public schools for Georgia students.

Read more about Commissioner Sweeney's life and impact.

Four New Charter Schools Approved for Fall 2027 Opening

The SCSC Board of Commissioners approved petitions for four new start-up charter schools at its July 29 meeting. Three of the approved schools will integrate career and technical education into their academic models, aligning with Georgia's focus on connecting students to high-demand fields and industries.

Atlantic Connections Academy (ATCA), Middle Georgia Preparatory Academy (MGPA), Prestige Preparatory School (Prestige), and Spalding Academy for Innovation and Learning (SAIL) are expected to open in fall 2027.

"Every child in Georgia deserves a strong academic foundation and a clear view of where their education can take them," said SCSC Board Chair Cayanna Good, Ph.D. "Each of these schools, in its own way, connects what students learn in the classroom to real college and career opportunities, from hands-on career exploration in the elementary grades to individualized learning aligned to high-demand career pathways. The Commission is proud to offer Georgia families these new public-school options, and prouder still of what these schools have committed to deliver."

Read the full announcement.

School Spotlight: How DeKalb Brilliance Academy

Accelerates Student Learning

DeKalb Brilliance Academy (DBA) presented to the SCSC Board of Commissioners at its July 29 meeting, sharing the academic gains and instructional strategies that earned it the 2026 Georgia Charter Schools Association (GCSA) Moving Mountains Award.

Co-Founder and Head of School Jocelyn Alter led the presentation, focusing on how the school accelerates learning for students who arrive behind grade level without lowering expectations. When DBA opened in 2022, 78 percent of its incoming second graders were reading below grade level. The school built a two-teacher reading model that pairs systematic phonics with small-group instruction and real-time progress monitoring to support students. By the end of the school’s first year, 65 percent of students advanced by three or more reading levels, and math and ELA proficiency have continued to rise each year. 

DBA pairs rigorous instruction with career-connected, project-based learning shaped by its community. Before opening, more than 1,000 community members provided feedback about the school’s purpose and told leaders they wanted students to discover their talents and learn to put them to use. Beginning in kindergarten, students complete semester-long projects connected to high-demand career fields with engagement from working professionals.

DeKalb Brilliance Academy is located in DeKalb County and serves students in grades K–6 from Atlanta Public Schools and the DeKalb County School District.

Gwinnett County's First 6–12 Charter School Opens Campus

The Meliora School held two ribbon-cutting ceremonies on Saturday, July 18, to celebrate its Snellville campus ahead of opening this fall. The first was a formal ribbon-cutting that included Snellville Mayor Barbara Bender, State Representative Segun Adeyina, and Snellville City Councilmember Shaunt'e Pitt. SCSC Communications Specialist Erica Acha-Morfaw represented the SCSC. 

Founder and Head of School Dr. Christine Keck connected the celebration to the meaning of the school's name, Meliora, Latin for "better." "Better isn't a destination: it's a commitment," Keck said. "It's waking up every morning and asking how we can be better than we were yesterday, better for our learners, better for one another, and better for our community."

A second classroom ribbon-cutting gave incoming students and families a first look at where they will learn and a preview of the first day. Students will follow a mastery-based model, advancing their learning as they demonstrate mastery, paired with project-based learning centered on entrepreneurship and computer science.

"When you think about entrepreneurship and business, the landscape these children are entering is completely different," said Meliora Board Chair Natalie Williams. "To be part of preparing them for that is an exceptional opportunity."

The Meliora School is located in Snellville, GA, and will serve students in grades 6–7 from Gwinnett County during the 2026–27 school year. It is authorized to serve grades 6–12.

L-R: Pitt, Bender, Keck, Acha-Morfaw, Adeyina

Atlanta SMART Academy Unveils Renovated Courtyard and Outdoor Play Space 

Atlanta SMART Academy unveiled its renovated courtyard and upgraded outdoor play space on Friday, July 24. A $20,000 KaBOOM! grant and a partnership with the arts organization Learning in Color made the transformation possible, adding shade and privacy screens, a learning garden, an expanded chicken coop, and new seating.

L-R: Williams, Meadows

Founder and Executive Director Patrice Meadows connected the new space to the school's mission. "This space reflects the creativity we embody, from the walls to the murals in our courtyard," Meadows said. "When our students come in every day, they feel and live the mission."

Rising eighth-grader Mackenzie Williams, who has attended Atlanta SMART since sixth grade, spoke at the celebration. "This will be used as a place to learn, play, and grow," Williams said, noting the courtyard will serve students well beyond recess.

The space extends the school's hands-on approach to learning. Students in the agriculture club care for the chicken coop and tend the garden as part of their science work. The courtyard will support outdoor lessons, athletics, and the school’s daily recess period. SCSC Communications Specialist Erica Acha-Morfaw attended the celebration and toured the transformed space.

Atlanta SMART Academy is located in Atlanta, GA, and serves students in grades 5–8 with a statewide attendance zone.

Northwest Georgia’s First Charter School Celebrates Opening in Cave Spring

Northwest Georgia Charter Academy (NWGA Academy) held a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Friday, July 31, in Cave Spring. Corey Townsend, treasurer of the Rome-Floyd County Chamber of Commerce and senior vice president at Ameris Bank, welcomed members of the school community and local and state officials to the academy’s new home in the Dillard Building on the Georgia School for the Deaf campus. 

SCSC Executive Director Donovan Head delivered remarks during the program, and School Support and Outreach Manager Molly Gassman, who helps manage the SCSC’s CSP SE grant, attended the event. Superintendent and Principal Dr. Dawn Williams recognized the school’s staff before inviting guests to tour the campus.

During the tour, guests viewed school buses purchased with CSP SE subgrant funds awarded through the SCSC. The funding has supported transportation, staffing, furniture, and other start-up needs the school.

NWGA Academy follows an Expeditionary Learning (EL) model that incorporates fieldwork, service learning, and problem-solving to prepare students for college and careers. The model aligns with the school’s emphasis on civic responsibility and community connection.

Northwest Georgia Charter Academy is located in Cave Spring, GA, and will serve students in grades K–5 from the Floyd and Polk County school districts and Rome City Schools for the 2026–27 school year. It is authorized to serve grades K–12.

SCSC Awards Academic Support Pilot Grants

The SCSC Board of Commissioners awarded the agency’s first Academic Support Pilot Grants to Cirrus Academy Charter School and Sankofa Montessori at its July 2026 meeting. Each school will receive $10,000 for a one-year initiative focused on improving math or English Language Arts instruction.

The pilot grant supports schools that did not meet academic standards on the 2024–25 Comprehensive Performance Framework. Applicants identified challenges affecting student achievement and proposed a new initiative or substantial expansion of an existing program.

Cirrus Academy will create a Georgia Milestones-aligned after-school academic support program designed to improve math and ELA proficiency. Sankofa Montessori will expand its Orton-Gillingham-based structured literacy intervention program through teacher training, instructional materials, coaching, and program oversight.

CSP SE Subgrant and Cohort Opportunities

The SCSC is accepting applications for Charter Schools Program (CSP) State Entity (SE) subgrant opportunities.

Subgrants

Career, Technical, and Agricultural Education (CTAE) Programs

Application deadline: August 19, 2026

The SCSC will award $500,000 subgrants to up to five operational charter high schools to implement or expand CTAE programs. Eligible schools must serve at least one high school grade during the 2026–27 school year.

High-Impact Tutoring

Application deadline: August 21, 2026

The SCSC will award $100,000 subgrants to up to 10 operational charter schools to implement high-impact tutoring programs focused on reading and math proficiency.



New, Replication, and Expansion Schools – Coming Soon

Application period: August 27–September 24, 2026

The SCSC will award CSP SE subgrants to entities with an approved charter from an authorizer in Georgia to support the creation, replication, and expansion of high-quality charter schools.

Review eligibility requirements, application materials, and additional details at FindAGaCharter.org/grants.

Cohort Programs

New School Leader Fellowship

Application deadline: August 20, 2026

The 2026–27 New School Leader Fellowship will provide intensive cohort-based support to leaders preparing authorized charter schools to open in fall 2027. Led by charter school founder and school leader Tori Jackson Hines, the free program will help participants plan for a successful first year in academics and operations.



Review eligibility requirements, application materials, and additional details at FindAGaCharter.org/grants.

Replication and Expansion Cohort Program

The SCSC has selected participants for the 2026-27 cohort of the Replication and Expansion Cohort program. These schools/networks will receive individualized support and participate in group convenings led by Bellwether, the Georgia Charter Schools Association, and the Facility Resource Center. Participants are preparing to expand their existing school or consider replicating their school model.

2026-27 Participants: Atlanta SMART Academy, Genesis Innovation Academy, Liberty Tech, Tybee Island Maritime Academy, and Utopian Academy for the Arts.

September Board Meeting

The next SCSC board meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, September 30, 2026, at 10 a.m. The meeting will be held in the SCSC Board Room and streamed virtually on Zoom. 

Visit the SCSC public meeting portal for more details. 

Share Your School's Story

State charter schools across Georgia are making an impact –

We want to promote your story!

We invite state charter schools to submit accomplishments, milestones, and program highlights for consideration in future features. Email your updates to erica.achamorfaw@scsc.georgia.gov. 

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The State Charter Schools Commission of Georgia (SCSC) is a state-level, independent charter school authorizing entity. The SCSC has the power to approve or deny petitions for state charter schools and renew, nonrenew, or terminate state charter school contracts in accordance with Georgia law.

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