SEPTEMBER NEWSLETTER
September 11, 2025
| | SCSC Chair Mike Dudgeon, Vice-Chair Cayanna Good, Commissioner Ben Scafidi, and Executive Director Donovan Head with representatives from the Academy for Innovation and Medicine. | |
Georgia’s First Healthcare-Focused Charter School
Approved for Fall 2026 Open
The SCSC Board of Commissioners approved the charter petition for the Academy for Innovation and Medicine (AIM), Georgia's first healthcare-focused STEMM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics & Medicine) charter school, at the August 27th board meeting. AIM is designed to address critical workforce needs by partnering with Grady Health System to deliver a curriculum that blends rigorous academics, dual-enrollment college credits, and hands-on work-based learning opportunities to create a comprehensive pathway into healthcare careers.
"I have no doubt AIM and its leadership will transform the lives of many young people and stand as a beacon of innovation, collaboration, and opportunity for Atlanta, the State of Georgia, and beyond," said SCSC Executive Director Donovan Head.
AIM plans to open in fall 2026 and serve grades 6-12 students from Atlanta Public Schools, Clayton County, DeKalb County, Fulton County, and Cobb County school districts. This approval concluded the FY26 petition cycle, which included the approval of The Meliora School and Northwest Georgia Charter School. There are currently 50 operational state charter schools in Georgia, and seven schools preparing to open for the 2026-27 school year.
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Second Lady Promotes Reading Initiative at
Cherokee Classical Academy
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Liberty Classical Schools hosted Second Lady of the United States Usha Vance at Cherokee Classical Academy (CCA) in Canton on Thursday, August 21st, to promote her Summer Reading Challenge and encourage student literacy. Ms. Vance read Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's “Paul Revere's Ride” to 4th-6th-grade classes and answered questions from students. The 6th-grade students recited a Shakespeare poem for Ms. Vance, highlighting the school’s focus on classical literature. During her visit, she also toured K-3 classrooms to observe instruction and interact with students.
CCA opened in fall 2025 in Canton as the third school in the Liberty Classical Schools Network. The network previously opened Atlanta Classical Academy in fall 2014, and Northwest Classical Academy in Kennesaw in fall 2021. CCA serves grades K-6 and plans to add one grade level each year until reaching full K-12 enrollment. The school's attendance zone includes Cherokee, Cobb, Bartow, Fulton, Pickens, and Paulding counties, and the cities of Marietta, Cartersville, and Atlanta.
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Educational leaders from across Georgia attended the event and heard from a panel of Liberty Classical Schools high school students. Attendees included State School Superintendent Richard Woods, several state legislators, State Board of Education members, SCSC commissioners, and local elected and community officials.
"It was an honor to welcome Second Lady of the United States Usha Vance to Cherokee Classical Academy, one of Georgia's newest charter schools," said SCSC Executive Director Donovan Head. "Her passion for students, reading, and service to families was evident throughout her visit. The students and staff were inspired by her words and grateful for the opportunity to share their learning with her."
| | Ethos Classical Launches Middle School | | |
Ethos Classical Charter School (Ethos Classical) opened its new middle school program in Southeast Atlanta this fall, serving 107 sixth-grade students. Many current sixth graders are founding kindergarteners who started with the school when it opened as a K-5 charter school in 2019. The school already has a waitlist of over 300 families for its middle school program.
“Our families asked, and we listened,” said Ethos Classical CEO Danielle Mack. “Not long after we launched Ethos Classical, parents shared their desire for their children to stay with Ethos beyond elementary school. Their voices shaped the vision for Ethos Middle School.”
Ethos Classical’s attendance zone includes the City of Atlanta, Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb, Douglas, and Fulton counties. The school will continue adding a grade level annually until it reaches the full middle school grade band. At full capacity, the expanded program will serve over 1,000 students.
| | Georgia’s CSP SE Grant Supports Charter Schools | |
Georgia’s CSP SE Grant provides support to charter schools across the state through subgrants and technical assistance programs.
Subgrants
Applications for subgrants for new, replicating, and expanding charter schools are now being accepted through September 25th. Applicants are eligible for up to $1.5 million in subgrant awards. Visit FindAGaCharter.org/grants for application instructions and other information.
TA Programs
The Replication and Expansion Cohort Program offers strategic planning and technical assistance for existing, high-quality charter schools preparing to expand their impact in Georgia. The fourth cohort includes Amana Academy (Fulton, SCSC), Baconton Community Charter School (SCSC), The GLOBE Academy (DeKalb), and Tapestry Charter School (DeKalb, Clayton). Through the program, schools and networks will consider ways to support more students in meaningful ways. Past participants have replicated, provided consulting services to new schools, expanded the number of students served, and implemented new programs. Technical assistance partners include Bellwether, the Facility Resource Center, and the Georgia Charter Schools Association.
The New School Leader Fellowship Program provides intensive support for leaders preparing to open a new school. Lead with Excellence, a firm created by a Georgia charter school founder, provides founding leaders with practical guidance and resources to support a successful opening with academic and operational excellence. Participants will be announced soon and are expected to open in fall 2026.
| | Announcements & Reminders | |
FY26 State Charter School Petitioner Bootcamp
Registration Now Open
Registration Link
Date: Wednesday, October 8, 2025
Time: 9:30 AM – 2:30 PM (EDT)
The SCSC invites prospective petitioners to attend the FY26 Petitioner Bootcamp, a virtual training designed to provide a comprehensive overview of the state charter school petition process.
This live event will feature sessions on application requirements, fiscal planning, board governance, academic programming, and more. Whether you're new to the process or a returning applicant, this bootcamp will provide practical insights to support your success in the FY26 state charter school petition cycle.
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All state charter school governing board members are required to complete annual board governance training. The FY26 training calendar is now available on the SCSC Training Page, and registration details are coming soon. The SCSC Governance Training Policy, Guidance, and a list of approved alternate providers are also posted on the SCSC Training Page.
Governance Training Dates
November 5-6 - Middle Georgia State University, Macon
February 10-11 - Loudermilk Conference Center, Atlanta
| The SCSC Board of Commissioners will hold its September Board Meeting on Wednesday, Sep 24, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. The meeting will be live-streamed for virtual attendees. Visit the SCSC Board Governance page for meeting details. | |
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 © 2025 State Charter Schools Commission of Georgia, All rights reserved. | | | | |
