JANUARY NEWSLETTER
January 8, 2026
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| The Anchor School Unveils Digital Maker Space at Winter Showcase | | The Anchor School held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the school’s state-of-the-art Digital Maker Space on December 17, 2025, during its third annual Winter Showcase. The new Digital Maker Space features professional-grade cameras and lighting, sound-treated podcast studios, a music production workstation, and collaborative editing suites. | | |
"We envision this space as a catalyst for innovation, collaboration, storytelling, and the arts through our project-based learning curriculum," said Dr. Josh Pinto Taylor, The Anchor School Executive Director. "It's a place where our scholars can experiment, find their voices, and learn how to use creative tools with purpose."
The suites were sponsored by individual donors who are accomplished video, podcast, and musical professionals. The equipment for the space was funded through the SCSC’s CSP SE Grant to The Anchor School. Michele Neely, Senior Director of School Support and Outreach and Project Director for the CSP SE Grant, participated in the ribbon-cutting and celebrated the milestone with the school.
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“The SCSC is proud to provide subgrant funds to schools to implement innovative programs and new opportunities for their students,” said Neely. “We are excited to see what students at The Anchor School create in this new space, especially as they expand into high school next year.”
The Winter Showcase is an annual event to display student learning and achievements. The showcase featured sixth-grade projects that addressed problems they identified in their communities. Seventh graders displayed visual art reflecting their interdisciplinary learning in social studies. Eighth graders performed a dance recital celebrating their growth throughout the semester.
| | The Anchor School is a state charter school in Decatur, GA, authorized to serve students in grades 6-12 from DeKalb County and Atlanta Public Schools. | | SCSC Awards $9.3M in Subgrants to Five Charter Schools | |
The State Charter Schools Commission of Georgia (SCSC) Board of Commissioners approved $9.3 million in federal Charter School Program State Entity (SE) subgrants to five Georgia charter schools during its meeting on December 10, 2025.
"It's always a great day when we can support Georgia's charter schools in meaningful ways and, in turn, uplift the students they serve," said Donovan Head, SCSC Executive Director. "These schools are already off to a phenomenal start, and I truly can't wait to visit each one. They will enrich their communities and open new doors of opportunity for hundreds of Georgia families across our state."
The subgrants were awarded to the following schools:
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The SE Grant is a part of the U.S. Department of Education’s (DOE) Charter Schools Program (CSP). The U.S. Department of Education transferred the $50.8 million grant to the State Charter Schools Commission of Georgia in December 2025, at the request of the State Charter Schools Foundation of Georgia and the SCSC, to reduce administrative burden and promote coordination and efficiency in the state's charter school sector. Details on new subgrant opportunities to support CTAE programming and high-dosage tutoring at charter schools will be released in March 2026. Twenty charter schools in Georgia have been awarded CSP SE subgrants since 2024.
Visit the SCSC website for the full announcement.
| | Academy for Classical Education Breaks Ground on New Athletic Facility | The Academy for Classical Education (ACE) held a groundbreaking ceremony on December 15, 2025, for a new 27,000-square-foot athletic facility, which is expected to be completed by late 2026. SCSC Executive Director Donovan Head joined students, families, and community leaders to mark this milestone and celebrate the school's expansion. | |
"This is a very exciting time for our community,” said Keith Hatcher, Director of Advancement and Head Football Coach at ACE. “This facility will give us much-needed space for our Physician Education (PE) Department and will help us to grow our athletic programs.” The facility will include dedicated PE classrooms and expanded training areas designed to encourage students to participate in sports at a younger age.
Watch the full ceremony.
The Academy for Classical Education is a state charter school in Macon, GA, authorized to serve students in grades K-12 with a statewide attendance zone.
| | Scintilla Charter Academy Celebrates Championship Athletic Achievements | |
Scintilla Charter Academy's (SCA) middle school boys’ basketball team won the 2025-26 South Georgia Athletic Conference Region Championship and finished their season with an undefeated record.
"This championship represents far more than a win on the court. It reflects the culture we are intentionally building at Scintilla Charter Academy—one rooted in high expectations, strong relationships, and a belief that when students are challenged and supported, they rise," said Mandy Brewington, SCA Superintendent. "This team exemplified perseverance, humility, and excellence, and they have set a powerful example for our entire K–12 community."
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SCA’s middle school girls' basketball team also advanced to the region playoffs, a significant milestone for the program. “I couldn’t be more proud of the hard work, dedication, and heart these young ladies showed all season,” said Head Coach Morgan Stone. “Their growth—both on and off the court—was evident every step of the way.”
The school is preparing to launch its first-ever Lady Spartans High School Basketball Team next year, further expanding athletic opportunities for students.
Scintilla Charter Academy is a state charter school in Valdosta, GA, authorized to serve students in grades K-12 from Brooks County, Lowndes County, and the Valdosta City School District.
| | Staff Spotlight: SCSC Staff Members Complete Advanced GIS Mapping Training | | |
Guin Jones, Petitions Specialist, and Henry Siebentritt, Academic Evaluation Manager, completed the GIS Mapping workshop series offered by the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies at Georgia State University. The three-course series, which concluded last spring, equipped both staff members with advanced spatial analysis skills.
The GIS skills enable SCSC staff to analyze spatial questions in charter schooling, including how far students travel to schools, how distance affects transportation needs, and where the largest gaps in charter school access exist across Georgia. This spatial analysis supports the SCSC’s data-driven approach to charter school oversight through the Comprehensive Performance Framework.
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FY26 SCSC Start-Up Charter School Petition Cycle
Application Deadline: March 13, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. EST
The SCSC is accepting applications for FY26 start-up charter schools. Prospective petitioners who submitted a Letter of Intent by the December 31, 2025, deadline can access the application portal to begin the petition process.
Application Portal
The SCSC reviews charter petitions to ensure proposed schools demonstrate strong academic programs, sound operational plans, and sustainable financial models that will serve Georgia students effectively. Learn more about the process, key dates, and application requirements on the Start a New State Charter School page.
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SCSC Board Approves New Grant Rule and Facility Rule Amendment | |
The SCSC Board of Commissioners approved new SCSC Rule 691-3-.01 Academic, Governance, and Operational Support Grants and amended SCSC Rule 691-2-.06 State Charter School Sites and Facilities during its December 10, 2025, meeting. Both rules became effective on December 30, 2025.
The new grants rule establishes a process for SCSC to offer grant opportunities to state charter schools for academic, governance, and operational support. The facilities rule amendment streamlines requirements for schools submitting financing agreements and facility expansion proposals.
Visit the SCSC Rules & Policies page for more information.
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SCSC Board Meeting
The 2026 SCSC Board Meeting calendar is now available. The next board meeting is scheduled for February 25, 2026, at 10 a.m. The meeting will be held in the SCSC Board Room and streamed virtually. Visit the SCSC public meeting portal for details.
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Registration is now open for the next SCSC Governance Training on February 10-11, 2026, at the Loudermilk Conference Center in Atlanta!
State charter school governing board members are required by law to complete annual training, and the SCSC provides this training at no cost to schools.
Training Highlights
This event equips governing boards and leaders with tools to address prevalent challenges at Georgia's charter schools. The SCSC has brought together national experts from WestEd, Catalyst for Educational Change, and FundEd Strategies, along with presentations from the Georgia Foundation for Public Education, state charter schools, and Commission staff.
- Learn about the Charter School Indicators of Distress and research-based responses.
- Gain strategies for board financial oversight, allocating funds for student impact, and fundraising.
- Discover ways to strengthen board-leader relationships, evaluate school data for decision-making, and ensure students with disabilities receive appropriate services.
| Registration is limited to state charter school governing board members and two staff members per school. The deadline to register is January 19, 2026, at 11:59 p.m., or when the capacity limit is reached. | |
Share Your School's Story
State charter schools across Georgia are making an impact –
we want to help share that story.
We invite state charter schools to submit accomplishments, milestones, and program highlights to be considered for future features. Email your updates to erica.achamorfaw@scsc.georgia.gov.
| | 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. | | Copyright © 2026 State Charter Schools Commission of Georgia, All rights reserved. | | | | |
