State Charter Schools are Progressing to
Pre-Pandemic Performance Levels
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On July 22, 2022, the Georgia Department of Education released the 2021-2022 school year Georgia Milestone results. Georgia Milestones are the statewide summative assessments that provide information about how well students are mastering the state-adopted content standards in the core content areas of English language arts, mathematics, science, and social studies. Although student scores dropped in 2021 due to the effects of COVID, 2022 milestones scores suggest state charter schools are doing an excellent job mitigating the learning loss caused by the pandemic.
- In the elementary grades, SCSC students, on average, have recovered to near or above pre-pandemic performance levels in both ELA and math.
- SCSC schools saw smaller decreases in the percent of students scoring at Developing Leaner or Above between 2019 and 2022 than the state average, and
- A majority of state charter schools have a higher percentage of students scoring at Developing Learning and Above than the district in which they are located.
- At the high school level, on average, SCSC students are above pre-pandemic performance levels in the tested subject areas.
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FY23 School Monitoring Announcements & Updates
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Annually, the SCSC monitors, reviews, and evaluates the academic, financial, and operational performance of state charter schools to determine whether schools meet the performance standards of their charter contracts. Operational monitoring seeks to determine the operational health of state charter schools by assessing compliance with the charter contract and applicable laws, rules, and regulations.
SCSC monitoring is designed to promote high-quality charter schools by identifying compliance concerns and incentivizing remediation. The SCSC’s operational monitoring activities include:
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- Policy, procedure, and practice review
- Health and safety site/facility visits
- Unannounced site/facility visits
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- Website monitoring
- Governing board monitoring
- High-risk financial monitoring
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NOTE: Operations scores on the Comprehensive Performance Framework (CPF) are derived from a number of data sources, including but not limited to SCSC monitoring activities.
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The SCSC monitoring team reviewed feedback provided through the FY22 monitoring survey and considered additional recommendations from schools in developing the FY23 monitoring process. The FY23 operations monitoring process will include, but not be limited to, the following updated features:
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- Primary evaluation of operational compliance will occur through a review of school policies, procedures, and practices. SCSC staff will not conduct onsite monitoring interviews.
- Onsite monitoring visits will occur for all state charter schools that: (a) are in their first year of operations: (b) are in the final year of a charter term; (c) that have changed facilities within the last 12 months.
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- Onsite monitoring visits may also occur if health and safety concerns were observed during prior onsite visits or if the SCSC determines that circumstances warrant a health and safety visit.
- All schools will be required to upload documents and provide information through the SCSC Administrative portal.
- All monitoring-related communications will occur through the SCSC Administrative portal.
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SCSC Monitoring Webinar & Important Dates
SCSC staff will host a virtual monitoring webinar at 1:00 p.m. on August 8, 2022, to discuss the monitoring process in detail and to respond to questions. Please click here to register for the webinar. Please calendar the following important monitoring dates:
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August 15, 2022: The FY23 monitoring portal (SCSC Administrative portal) will open for document submission no later than August 15, 2022.
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September 5, 2022: All documents and information must be uploaded or added to the SCSC Administrative portal by September 5, 2022.
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Onsite health and safety visits will occur during the weeks of September 5 and 12.
The results of the SCSC’s policy, procedure, practice review, and onsite health and safety visits will be available before the end of the 2022 calendar year. Schools should be prepared to submit Corrective Action Plans (CAP) before the end of the year.
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The SCSC held its July board meeting on July 27, 2022. At the July meeting, Executive Director Lauren Holcomb introduced the SCSC's new Office Coordinator, Crystal Saldana, and announced Erica Acha-Morfaw's promotional role as the SCSC's Communications Specialist. Kristen Easterbrook, Director of Charter Development, announced that the GaDOE Data Collections Conference is currently full, but there is a waitlist available, reminded all schools that FY22 Governance Training Certification is due on July 31, 2022, and announced the four schools opening this fall: Amana West Academy, Destinations Career Academy, Dekalb Brilliance, and Resurgence Hall Middle. Erin Wright, Associate General Counsel, announced the SCSC staff recommended the petitions for The Anchor School and Sankofa Montessori be approved for a five-year charter term and announced the SCSC staff recommended the petition for Virtual Preparatory Academy of Georgia be denied.
Additionally, Scott Riley, Research Analyst, presented the 2021-22 Georgia Milestones results, and Michele Neely, President of the State Charter Schools Foundation, provided updates on the Georgia Strategic Charter School Growth Initiative, funded by a GEER II grant, and the Foundation's plans to apply for the FY2022 CSP state entity grant opportunity.
The next SCSC monthly board meeting is scheduled for August 31, 2022, at 10 AM. A list of upcoming meetings for 2022 can be found on the meetings page of the SCSC website.
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Charter School Student Awarded College Fund Sweepstake
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A Kindergartener from Southwest Georgia STEM Charter School, Daniel Craft, won a sweepstake over $1,500 for his college fund. The Sweepstake was sponsored by the Path2College 259 plan and the Department of Early Care and Learning. Southwest Georgia STEM Charter School was also awarded over $1,500 for classroom supplies. Craft was one of three Georgia students to be chosen for the award.
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Gov. Kemp and First Lady Marty Kemp Announce Statewide Back-to-School Supplement
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On July 29, 2022, Governor Brian P. Kemp and First Lady Marty Kemp visited Ola High School in Henry County and a new award: the "Back-to-School Supply Supplement". Administered through the Governors Emergency Education Relief Program, this award is to support a safe, complete return to in-person learning and educators who are still grappling with pandemic-driven learning loss in the classroom.
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Affordable Connectivity Program
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The Federal Communications Commission announced that 20 of the nation's internet providers have committed to lowering costs for low-income households, a step that will essentially provide free high-speed internet for those participating in the Affordable Connectivity Program. The Affordable Connectivity Program lowers internet costs for eligible families by up to $30 a month through grant funding. For Georgia residents to get their share of the funding, families need to sign up for themselves.
Communicating about this program to eligible families is the largest barrier to implementing this program. The ExcelinEd team has developed resources to share to help students whose families may qualify for this free- and reduced-priced internet service.
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Feminine Hygiene Grant for Georgia Schools
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During the 2022 Legislative Session, the Georgia General Assembly appropriated funding to provide feminine hygiene products for 5th-12th grade low-income students when they are attending school. Each school district will receive Feminine Hygiene Grant funds based on the October 2021 FTE report, which counts the total number of female students from 5th through 12th grade by school. The legislature intends that these funds are used for students who qualify as economically disadvantaged. Please see the attached allocations by district and school.
The Director of Whole Child Supports and Strategic Partnerships announced recommendations for how schools should purchase affordable products and ensure proper distribution, including:
- Schools should purchase bulk products and explore other purchasing partners such as food banks, hospitals, and healthcare systems.
- Distribution examples include placing products in restrooms with a small sign explaining why the products are available and information on whom to notify if the product is running low; keeping and distributing products in the school nurse or counselor's office; or keeping and distributing products in the classrooms of participating teachers.
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GaDOE Office of Whole Child Supports Announces $4.5 Million Grant Opportunity
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On July 15, 2022, the Department of Education Office of Whole Child Supports announced the release of a $4.5 million grant opportunity sponsored by the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council (CJCC). The grant will provide funding for School Resource Officer training on school safety, use of force, de-escalation, and mental health.
Additionally, the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council has partnered with the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency, Georgia Public Safety Training Center, and Georgia Department of Education for two federal grant applications of $3 million. The grant will provide training for school staff and School Resource Officers and additional funding to improve school climates through intervention and prevention programs.
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GaDOE Announces Continued TEM and LEM Flexibility
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The Georgia Department of Education announced its continued flexibility for the Teacher Keys Effectiveness System (TEM) and Leader Keys Effectiveness System (LEM) due to possible interruptions in instruction and prolonged absences due to COVID-19. While the requirement for TKES and LKES is set forth in state law and cannot be waived, the Georgia Department of Education is providing flexibility to school leaders and teachers by enforcing the following:
- Teacher Assessment on Performance Standards (TAPS) and Leader Assessment on Performance Standards (LAPS) Summative Assessment Ratings will not be determined and are not required by the Georgia Department of Education or the Georgia Professional Standards Commission for the 2022-2023 school year.
- At least two observations for all teachers per state law can occur at any time during the 2022-2023 school year.
- School system leaders will determine what is appropriate for professional learning requirements in state law by considering the local context and system expectations. The Georgia Professionals Standards Commission will accept verification from school system leaders for renewal purposes.
- The Teacher Effectiveness Measures (TEM) and Leader Effectiveness Measures (LEM) ratings will not be determined due to the suspension of the student growth scores.
- Evidence does not have to be uploaded to the Platform (Platform will remain open all year) for "pre-evaluation conference[s], mid-year evaluation conference[s], and summative evaluation conference[s] as required by state law.
- Self-assessments are required and results from self-assessments should inform the development of the Professional Growth Goals(s) and the conferences between the educator and evaluator.
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Georgia Center for School Safety Website Launch
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On July 18, 2022, the Georgia Department of Education and the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency announced the launch of a new website, the Georgia Center for School Safety. The website will allow Georgia schools, district staff, community partners, and the public to access school safety training, resources, and guidelines. In-person and online trainings include active shooter response, bus safety, de-escalation, emergency operations planning, school safety assessments, and severe weather.
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FY23 Reporting Calendar & Upcoming Deadlines
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The Georgia Department of Education has released the FY23 Reporting Deadlines calendar. Please note that most deadlines are established by the Georgia Department of Education (GaDOE) and are subject to change. The SCSC makes every attempt to maintain all dates as accurately as possible. However, all schools are encouraged to stay up to date on any changes to the timeline made by GaDOE. Any failure by a state charter school to meet deadlines established and enforced by the SCSC and GaDOE will be reflected in the school’s assessment through the SCSC Comprehensive Performance Framework. Please see below for upcoming data collection cycles.
- Jul 7 - Aug 16: GUIDE Collection
- Jul 12 - Aug 16: Data Collection Survey
- Sept 7: Student Record - Data Cleanse
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Funding & Professional Development Opportunities
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GaDOE Accountability
Lunch & Learn
GaDOE Accountability Lunch and Learn webinars are held the third Wednesday of each month through November from 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. Register for the upcoming session by clicking the links below. SCSC accountability points of contact should be sure to tune in for important information related to accountability data reporting and CCRPI.
Please note, the GaDOE Accountability Specialist assigned to your school may have changed. Please review the Accountability Specialist List for the most current information.
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GaDOE Professional
Learning Events
Starting August 12, the Georgia Department of Education will host its first Academy of New Federal Program Leaders informational sessions. This event will be a year-long series of monthly informational sessions designed to support new leaders in navigating program requirements, guidance, and deadlines. For more information on registration and topics to be discussed in Session 1, please visit Academy of New Federal Program Leaders, Session 1.
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The SCSC is seeking candidates for the following positions to join our growing team!
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For real-time updates and announcements:
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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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Copyright © 2022 State Charter Schools Commission of Georgia, All rights reserved.
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