Georgia Featured in U.S. Department of Education's National Charter Schools Week Video Series

Georgia charter schools joined schools across the country in celebrating National Charter Schools Week (NCSW), held May 10–16, 2026. This year’s theme, “Building the Workforce of Tomorrow,” highlighted how charter schools prepare students for college, careers, and life through specialized academic programs, career pathways, and real-world learning experiences.

Throughout the week, charter schools nationwide highlighted programs that help students graduate with high school diplomas, college credit, industry credentials, and hands-on workforce experience. The Georgia Charter Schools Association recognized schools across the state by featuring career-focused learning opportunities connected to healthcare, agriculture, STEM, and other high-demand industries.

The week also included a series of videos released by the U.S. Department of Education (USED) featuring Michele Neely, Senior Director of School Support and Outreach, alongside other Charter Schools Program (CSP) grant recipients from across the country.

The USED NCSW videos cover CSP grantee introductions, innovation in charter schools, the charter school movement, and celebrating excellence across the sector.

Charter School Legislative Recap for 2026

The 2026 legislative session produced notable developments for Georgia’s charter school community, including extended support for local charter school authorization, expanded extracurricular eligibility for virtual school students, increased public education tax credit opportunities, and a formal review of charter school facilities funding.

Senate Bill (SB) 369, supported by the SCSC, revises provisions of the Charter Schools Act of 1998 and clarifies key aspects of the Local Charter School Authorization and Support Act of 2025, also known as SB 82. Since SB 82 took effect, five new charter schools have been authorized by local school districts—a significant shift after seven years with no new schools authorized among Georgia’s 181 school districts. The FY27 state budget also allocates increased funding tied to SB 82 to further support local charter school authorization.

In addition, SB 369 amends the Dexter Mosely Act to allow virtual school students in grades 6-12 to participate in extracurricular and interscholastic activities, including athletics, at their resident public schools beginning in the 2027-2028 school year, expanding access for more than 10,000 students enrolled in virtual charter schools. 

Furthermore, funding opportunities for public schools increased with HB 328, which raises the annual cap on the PEACH Education Tax Credit from $15 million to $25 million. This tax credit, administered by the Georgia Foundation for Public Education, allows Georgia taxpayers to receive a dollar-for-dollar state income tax credit for donations supporting innovative projects at public schools, including those at charter schools.

The Senate also adopted Senate Resolution 553, creating the Senate Study Committee on Funding for Charter School Capital Improvements. This committee will review current funding processes for public schools, examine differences in capital funding between charter and traditional public schools, and analyze the challenges charter schools face in securing facilities funding—a longstanding concern as charter schools do not have access to the same local property tax and ESPLOST revenues available to traditional public schools.

Several other education bills were also signed into law following the 2026 legislative session. The SCSC is reviewing these new requirements and expects to release implementation guidance for state charter schools in July 2026.

State Charter Schools Earn 2025 SSAS Highest Performing Recognition

Academy For Classical Education (ACE), International Charter School of Atlanta (ICSAtlanta), and Yi Hwang Academy of Language Excellence (YHALE) have earned recognition in the 2025 Single Statewide Accountability System (SSAS) Highest Performing Awards for consistent, high-level academic achievement measured across three consecutive school years.

The Governor's Office of Student Achievement (GOSA) administers the awards annually to recognize schools that demonstrate sustained academic excellence across three indicators: Content Mastery, which measures students' proficiency in core subjects; Closing Gaps, which assesses how well schools serve student subgroups relative to state benchmarks; and the College and Career Readiness Performance Index (CCRPI) Single Score, Georgia's overall school performance rating. To qualify, schools must rank at or above the 93rd percentile in Content Mastery scores averaged over three years, maintain a CCRPI Single Score meeting minimum thresholds in each of those years, and earn a three-year average Closing Gaps score at or above the 75th percentile statewide.

Awards are tiered as Platinum, Gold, Silver, and Bronze. YHALE earned a Gold-tier award, placing the school at or above the 97th percentile in Content Mastery performance among all eligible Georgia schools. ACE and ICSAtlanta each earned Bronze-tier recognition, placing at or above the 93rd percentile. The 2025 awards are based on data from the 2022-23, 2023-24, and 2024-25 school years.



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.

International Charter School of Atlanta is a state charter school in Roswell and Alpharetta, GA, serving students in grades K–8 with a statewide attendance zone.



Yi Hwang Academy of Language Excellence is a state charter school in Duluth serving students in grades K-8 with a statewide attendance zone.

Mensa Member Finds Academic Home at Georgia Cyber

Jadon Prieto with parents (back row) and sibling (front row, right)

Jadon Prieto, a first-grader at Georgia Cyber Academy (GCA), has been accepted into American Mensa, the U.S. chapter of the world's oldest and most well-known high-IQ society. Membership requires scoring at or above the 98th percentile on an approved standardized intelligence test. Jadon scored in the 99th percentile in both quantitative and nonverbal areas of the Cognitive Abilities Test.

Prieto enrolled at GCA in January 2025 as a kindergartener after his parents sought a learning environment better suited to his academic strengths and unique learning needs. His mother, Simone Phipps-Prieto, said he began reading at age 2 and demonstrated strong math abilities from an early age. Since enrolling, he has earned recognition for academics and character, including first-grade honor roll, two Primary Character Champion awards, multiple Student of the Month nominations, a first-grade Science Fair finalist designation, and, most recently, acceptance into Georgia Cyber Academy’s gifted program.

Outside of school, Prieto enjoys Legos, Taekwondo, swimming, and watching Sonic the Hedgehog and Paw Patrol with his younger brother, Levi. He hopes to become a pediatrician one day to help children.

Georgia Cyber Academy is a virtual state charter serving school students in grades K-12 with a statewide attendance zone.

SAIL Opens New 26,000-Square-Foot Campus Building

The School for Arts Infused Learning (SAIL) held a grand opening on May 15 for its new 26,000-square-foot building, increasing the school’s overall capacity by 70 percent. Planning for the expansion began in summer 2024, with construction beginning the following summer and concluding 10 months later.

The $5.7 million project utilizes nearly half of the school’s 17-acre campus by adding 20 classrooms, six offices, and a 1,900-square-foot common area. School leaders funded the project through municipal bonds and cash assets, and the permanent building was constructed from 28 modular units.

The additional space supports SAIL’s continued growth, including two new classes planned for the 2026-27 school year and ongoing implementation of the school’s five-year strategic plan. A covered walkway connecting the new building to the main campus is planned for this summer.

School for Arts Infused Learning is a state charter school in Evans, GA, serving students in grades K-8 with a statewide attendance zone.

SAIL's new building and classroom space

CCA Recognized in 2026 Best of Cherokee Awards 

Cherokee Classical Academy (CCA) was recognized in all three of its nominated categories in the 2026 Best of Cherokee awards, earning honors for Best Public Elementary School, Best Public Middle School, and Best Teacher of Cherokee County, Jennifer Lucier.

Jennifer Lucier

Lucier, a fourth-grade teacher and team lead at CCA, is described as a strong instructional leader with a passion for math, literature, and history, noting that her enthusiasm is visible in the way she engages students throughout the school day.

The Best of Cherokee awards are presented by the Cherokee Tribune and Cherokee Ledger-News and recognize local businesses, professionals, organizations, and community favorites across Cherokee County. This year’s contest drew 166,655 votes from readers.

Cherokee Classical Academy is a state charter school located in Cherokee County and is authorized to serve students in grades K-8 from Atlanta Public Schools, the City of Cartersville and Marietta, and the Cherokee, Cobb, Bartow, Fulton, Paulding, and Pickens County school districts.

CSP Replication & Expansion Cohort Program Application Now Open

Is your charter school or network considering growth within the next five years? Consider the 2026-27 Replication & Expansion Cohort program! This unique opportunity includes intensive strategic planning services, facility and finance consultative services, and implementation support. The program is funded through Georgia’s CSP SE grant, and it is free of charge to participants. Charter schools are encouraged to apply if they are considering replicating their model, expanding into a new grade band, or serving at least 100 new students.

Apply by Monday, June 22, and reach out to molly.gassman@scsc.georgia.gov with any questions! 

Visit the SCSC School Grant Opportunities page for application details.

FY2027 Local Start-Up and Renewal Charter Petitions Now Available

The Office of Charter School Compliance (OCSC) has released the Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 Start-Up Local Charter Petition for individuals or groups interested in establishing a locally-approved charter school in Georgia, and the Locally-Approved Charter Renewal Petition for existing locally-approved charter schools whose charter terms will expire on June 30, 2027.

Visit the OCSC page for more information. 

Fall 2026 Internship Applications Now Open

The SCSC is now accepting applications for the Fall 2026 Internship Program. This opportunity is available to students currently enrolled in senior-year undergraduate or graduate programs in education policy, law, public administration, economics, or related fields.

Interns will be paid $18 per hour and are expected to work a minimum of 18 hours per week, with a maximum of 28 hours per week. Apply by Monday, June 22, to be considered. Interviews will be conducted on a rolling basis.

Visit the SCSC Internship Program page for application details. 

June Virtual Board Meeting

The next SCSC board meeting is scheduled for June 24, 2026, at 10 a.m. The meeting will be 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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