SCSC Newsletter

September 29, 2023

2023-24 Start-Up and Replication Petition Cycle

The SCSC Board approved the staff's recommendations to initiate the FY24 Start-Up and Replication petition cycles at the September board meeting.


FY24 Start-Up Petition: The FY24 Start-Up Application Portal opens on October 30, 2023, and will close on March 15, 2024. Changes to the petition include clarifications related to concurrent submission for petitions that select a defined attendance zone and a mandatory petition orientation that will provide substantive guidance for petitioners. 


FY24 Charter Replication: The SCSC has slightly adjusted the replication timeline to better align with local district denial requirements for petitions with a defined attendance zone. Schools that are eligible to replicate must submit a Letter of Intent by December 11, 2023 and a Replication Petition by May 3, 2024. 


The SCSC is committed to enhancing its petition processes and fostering positive changes in Georgia's charter school landscape.


For more information, Visit the SCSC Start a School Page.

State Charter Schools Commission Updates & Announcements

2023-24 Renewal Cycle

State charter schools with charter terms expiring on June 30, 2024, must submit a renewal application to the SCSC during the 2023-2024 school year. The following timeline was approved by the SCSC Board at the August board meeting.

Task

Date

Renewal Application Release

November 1, 2023

Interview Scheduling

December 2023

Applications Due

January 3, 2024

Renewal Interviews

Jan. 29- Feb. 2, 2023

Recommendation Letters Mailed

February 14, 2023

Recommendations Posted

February 21, 2024

Commission Votes on Recommendations

February 28, 2024

Visit the SCSC Charter Renewal page for more information.

FY24 Monitoring

The monitoring portal closed for document submission on Monday, September 18, 2023. Health and safety visits will continue through October 12, 2023. Monitoring results will be available in January 2024. 


Monitoring resources remain available to schools throughout the year:

Monitoring Resources.

Training Opportunities & Events

The SCSC offers various training opportunities throughout the year. See below for upcoming training events and the most up-to-date information about SCSC-offered training and resources.

SCSC Petitioner

Bootcamp

Oct 4, 9 AM-2:30 PM

Register

Petition Platform & Budget Webinar

Nov 2, 2-3:30 PM

Register

Nov. Governance Training

Nov 8, 9 AM-4 PM

Register
Visit the SCSC Training page for additional info

SCSC Bulletin Board

Federal Government Shutdown


Federal Fiscal Year 2024 begins on October 1st and it appears that a federal government shutdown will occur. Funds from QBE allotments and the State Charter Supplement will not be affected since these are state funds. The SCSC is in communication with GADOE regarding the potential impact of a shutdown on school operations and will share more information as it becomes available. 

Website Monitoring Reminder



State Charter Schools must ensure website transparency compliance. Please utilize this checklist as a resource to ensure that school websites promote transparency and monitoring per SCSC Rule 691-2-.03 (State Charter School Monitoring) and SBOE Rule 160-4-9-.06 (Charter Authorizers, Financing, Management, and Governance Training)


State Charter School Website Checklist



School Communications Policy


The SCSC School Communications Policy, FAQ and submission form can be found on the School Resources page of the SCSC website.

Book Vending Machine Ribbon Cutting


The SCSF celebrated the new book vending machine at Baconton Community Charter School last week. This machine will aide in literacy efforts and encourage a love for reading among BCCS students. The SCSF was able to provide this Book Vending Machine with the support of the Next Generation Foundation (a division of the Bradley Turner Foundation), the Georgia Power Foundation, and Reading is Fundamental.

2022-2023 Literacy Leaders

The Georgia Department of Education (GaDOE) has recognized several state charter schools as 2022-2023 Literacy Leaders. Literacy Leaders are schools that have demonstrated exceptional achievement or growth in third-grade reading, a pivotal milestone in a student's education.


The qualifications for Literacy Leader recognition are based on the Georgia Milestones Reading Status indicator, which considers Lexile scores associated with student performance on the ELA assessment. Schools with 90% or more of their third-grade students reading at grade level or above are being recognized for outstanding achievement, and schools with a 15% or higher increase from 2021-22 to 2022-23 are being recognized for outstanding growth. 


State Charter Schools Recognized

Academy for Classical Education (Achievement)

Brookhaven Innovation Academy (Growth)

Genesis Innovation Academy for Girls (Achievement)

International Charter School of Atlanta (Achievement)

Resurgence Hall Charter School (Achievement)


Superintendent Woods will personally visit selected Literacy Leader schools in September and October to recognize and congratulate their exceptional efforts.

Georgia Department of Education Updates & Announcements

K-12 Gifted Program Compliance


In August 2023, the Georgia Department of Audits and Accounts (DOAA) released a report on the state’s gifted program. In response, the Georgia Department of Education (GaDOE) released a memo to school districts titled Georgia’s K-12 Gifted Program – Coming into Compliance with DOAA’s Findings. In response to frequently asked questions about the memo's contents, GaDOE is releasing an FAQ document that includes key information for districts.

Gifted Program Memo

Gifted Program Memo FAQs

Notice to all LEAs


The Annual McKinney-Vento Education for Homeless Children and Youth Program (MVP) survey is in the GaDOE consolidated application website. The MVP survey is due by Friday, September 29, 2023. All LEAs, regardless of receiving McKinney-Vento funds or not, are required to submit this report.


If assistance is needed, please contact Erica Glenn, ARP-HCY Specialist, Federal Programs/Grants Unit/ McKinney-Vento, at 770-3019968 or via email at erica.glenn@doe.k12.ga.us

GaDOE Assessment Updates


September 2023 Assessment Updates

Fall 2023 Assessment Updates for Teachers



For more info. and past GaDOE Assessment updates, click here.

Professional Learning & Development Opportunity

Financial Review Open Office Hours Sessions


GADOE is offering several monthly open office hours sessions throughout FY 2024. The sessions will include various topics related to state and federal financial compliance that will be beneficial for all school district finance staff. Please register for the sessions at the link below.

Registration Link

GCSA Financial Management Courses

 

Enrollment is open for GCSA's Financial Management Courses. The Financial Management Certification Program is offered virtually and is comprised of six courses. Each course is split into two, four-hour sessions in the same week. GCSA is offering three courses this fall and six additional courses this spring. Attendees can register for individual courses or the entire program.


Additional Information

TKES/LKES Educator

Support & Development 


Oct 26, 10-11 AM

Super User's Platform Updates

Title I, Part A: Office Hours


Oct 11, 9:30-10:30 AM


Full calendar for 2023-24

Office of Rural Education & Innovation (REI) Partnerships: Office Hours


Oct 11, 8:30-9:30 am

Full Calendar for Fall 2023

Georgia’s Family Engagement Month Kick-off Activity: The Promising Practices Tour for LEAs and Schools


Info & Registration Link

Rural Teacher Training Initiative: Biotechnology Hands-On Science Teacher Training with incentives


Info & Registration Link

GSU & GaDOE hosts Functional Behavior Assessment/Behavior Intervention

4-day, in-person training


Oct. 2-5, 8:30 AM-3 PM

Info & Registratoin Link

NEW! Updated WIDA Self-Paced Workshops for 2023-2024 For Teachers of English Learners


Info & Registration

Georgia’s Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) Webinar Series


Georgia’s MTSS is a data-driven prevention system designed to meet the needs of the whole child by implementing a continuum of tiered supports that contributes to increased student success and overall district and school improvement.

Sep 7 - Nov 9

Info. & Registration Link

Title II, Part A and Title IV, Part A: Cross Functional Monitoring Training


Multi-day & Location Training Event, begins Oct. 11


Info. & Registration Link

Knowledge Building for Leaders:

Setting the Foundation for Structured Literacy Transformation


Free Training Workshops for PLCs sponsored by the Rollins Center for Language & Literacy in partnership with GaDOE.


Sep 25 - Jun 3, 2024

Info. & Registration Link

The Academy of New Federal Program Leader


Designed to assist Federal Program leaders (with three or fewer years of experience) navigate through ESSA guidance, regulations, deadlines, policies, and forms.



Info. & Registration Link

ESSER: Office Hour


Oct 12, 10-11 AM

Full Calendar for Fall 2023

Additional Resources

GaDoe Community

A private professional networking space to engage with other educators across the state.

Georgia Learns

GaDOE’s Professional Learning platform for Georgia school and district staff and education partners.


GaConnects

The one-stop-shop site for Georgia educators to provide quick access to GaDOE educational resources, GA Standards of Excellence, data dashboards, professional learning, and GaDOE applications.

Funding & Engagement Programs

GaDOE Competitive Grants


Periodically, funding is available for GaDOE to award to districts and schools in the form of competitive grants, solidifying this commitment to Georgia's students. In an effort to streamline communication and create a consistent application process, all competitive grant opportunities can now be accessed below.


GaDOE Grant Opportunities

Computer Science Teacher Equipment and Community Grant


Up to $10,000 per district is available to fund teacher membership in computer science professional organizations, to purchase physical computing devices for the classroom, and to receive training on those devices.


Applications Due: October 6, 2023, 5 p.m.

Program Information

Application

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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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