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On April 28, 2025, Governor Brian Kemp signed Senate Bill (SB) 82, the Local Charter School Authorization and Support Act of 2025, into law. The bill, which was sponsored by Sen. Clint Dixon and Rep. Scott Hilton, is designed to expand access to charter schools by encouraging more local authorizations.
Over the last seven years, no new charter schools have been approved by a local school district in any of Georgia's 181 school districts. During that same period, the SCSC approved more than 30 schools, most of which were previously denied at the local level. More than 21,000 students currently remain on waitlists for charter schools across the state.
SB 82 aims to address this access gap by offering new incentives and support to local school districts. Key provisions include:
Financial Incentives
Local school boards that approve new charter schools will receive $250,000 per year for three years for each school they authorize.
Support and Technical Assistance
Districts will have access to support from the Office of Charter School Compliance, housed within the SCSC, to assist with evaluating charter petitions.
Increased Transparency
Local boards that deny charter school petitions must publicly disclose the reasons for their decisions.
District Accountability
Districts that consistently deny high-quality charter applications that are later approved by the SCSC (to serve a single school district) may lose or become ineligible to renew their flexibility contracts with the State Board of Education.
SB 82 reflects ongoing efforts to address unmet demand and expand high-quality public school options for Georgia families.
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