SCSC Newsletter
March 2022
State Charter Schools Commission Renews Terms for Six State Charter Schools
The State Charter Schools Commission of Georgia (SCSC) approved renewal applications for six state charter schools at its February board meeting. Commissioners affirmed staff recommendations to renew Brookhaven Innovation Academy, Cirrus Academy Charter School, Georgia Connections Academy, Ivy Preparatory Academy at Kirkwood, Southwest Georgia STEM Charter School, and Statesboro STEAM Academy.

The schools applied for renewal in late 2021. Renewals are subject to schools meeting academic, financial, and operational standards. Two schools, in addition to receiving five-year renewals, were authorized to expand their student populations. Georgia Connections Academy, a statewide virtual school, will expand from grades 6-12 to K-12. Statesboro STEAM Academy will also expand from grades 6-12 to K-12. "To receive a charter renewal in our twentieth year of operation is very special to us," said school superintendent Corliss Reese. "It exemplifies the confidence the SCSC has in our ability to provide a high-quality education to students in Georgia, particularly Statesboro. Our STEAM-based blended learning program is changing lives and creating the next generation of leaders in our community. We are excited to continue redefining teaching and learning while making it fun!"
 
Additionally, Brookhaven Innovation Academy received a five-year renewal; Ivy Preparatory Academy and Southwest Georgia STEM Charter School earned three-year renewals; Southwest Georgia STEM earned a three-year renewal and will expand its grade range from K-10 to K-12. Cirrus Academy Charter School earned a two-year renewal.  
SCSC Meetings

The SCSC held its February board meeting on February 23, 2022. At the meeting, Executive Director Lauren Holcomb announced upcoming commissioner school visits for this Spring and shared highlights from the House-approved FY23 and amended FY 22 budgets. Legal Programs Coordinator Kiara Thompson shared expectations that there will be 12-16 petitions for this cycle, with a deadline of April 15, 2022. Associate General Counsel Kristen Settlemire discussed ongoing office hours to aid schools in preparing Corrective Action Plan submissions. Director of Research and Evaluation Katie Manthey reminded all that the Comprehensive Performance Framework results for all state charter schools will be shared at the March board meeting. Additionally, Chief Operations Officer Morgan Felts shared the status of school audit submissions.

The SCSC Board of Commissioner then approved the staff's six charter renewal recommendations.

The next SCSC monthly board meeting is scheduled for March 30, 2022, at 10 AM. A list of upcoming meetings for 2022 can be found on the meetings page of the SCSC website.
SCSC Trainings
Upcoming Trainings
New School Orientation: Legal and Operational Requirements

The SCSC will host an in-person, half-day training to help new schools understand their legal and operational requirements. The training will be held on March 9, 2022.

Please visit the trainings page on the SCSC’s website for more details.
Governance Training Virtual Session (Opportunity 3 of 3)

This year, the SCSC will be offering Governance Training opportunities in two parts. The first will be through a live, in-person session and the second will be a live session held virtually. The third virtual session will be held on March 23, 2022. In order to fully participate in SCSC training, board members should plan to attend one of the in-person session dates as well as one of the live virtual sessions.

Please visit the trainings page on the SCSC’s website for more details.
Past Trainings
The SCSC held its second in-person Governance Training of FY22 in February. Please visit the Previous Training Presentations and Materials page to review the materials presented.
CCRPI Assessment Matching Application Now Available
The 2022 CCRPI Assessment Matching Application is now available in the portal for district users only. Please note the following:

  1. ACT, AP, IB, and SAT assessments are now available for districts to begin matching. The remaining assessments (ACCESS, EOC, EOG, and GAA) will be loaded when they become available. Superintendents will be notified via email as each assessment is loaded into the application.
  2. The Assessment Matching application will be available throughout the summer. The exact date of the close of the application will be communicated as soon as possible.
  3. Superintendent sign-off will be activated after all assessments have been loaded into the application and matched. Superintendents will be required to sign off at that time.
  4. The user guide, training webinar, and webinar PPT handout for this application are available for download by going to the MyGaDOE portal, clicking on CCRPI, and then choosing CCRPI Resources.
  5. To access the application, log on to the MyGaDOE portal, click on the CCRPI link, and then choose Assessment Matching. For help accessing the portal and with any application functionality issues, please contact the Technology Services-Service Desk team by logging into the MyGaDOE portal, clicking on the Help Desk Portal link, and entering a request there, or call 1-800-869-1011. 
COVID-19 Isolation & Quarantine Guidance Updates

On December 30, 2021, the Department of Public Health issued a new Administrative Order for Public Health Control Measures. This updated Administrative Order contains new isolation and quarantine protocols that align with the CDC guidance issued December 27, 2021.

A brief summary of the new protocols follows below:

Isolation: Anyone who tests positive for COVID-19, everyone (regardless of vaccination status) must:
  • Isolate at home for 5 days from the date symptoms first appeared or, if asymptomatic, the date of the positive test. Stay away from others in the household as much as possible during isolation.
  • After 5 days, if you have no symptoms or your symptoms are resolving and you have not had a fever for more than 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication, you may end isolation. If symptoms are not improving or fever has not resolved, you should continue isolating until these criteria are met. 
  • After ending isolation, you should continue to wear a mask around others for 5 days. 
Quarantine: If you have been exposed to someone with COVID-19 and you are
  • Boosted, or have become fully vaccinated within the last 6 months (Moderna or Pfizer vaccine) or within the last 2 months (J&J vaccine):
  • You do not need to quarantine at home. 
  • You should wear a mask around others for 10 days.
  • If possible, get tested on day 5.
  • If you develop symptoms, get tested and isolate at home until test results are received, then proceed in accordance with the test results. 
  • Unvaccinated, or became fully vaccinated more than 6 months ago (Moderna or Pfizer vaccine) or more than 2 months ago (J&J vaccine) and have not received a booster:
  • You must quarantine at home for 5 days. After that, continue to wear a mask around others for 5 additional days. 
  • If possible, get tested on day 5. 
  • If you develop symptoms, get tested and isolate at home until test results are received, then proceed in accordance with the test results.
Scintilla Charter Academy Visits Providence Canyon
Fifth-grade Scintilla scholars recently got hands-on during Fieldwork in Providence Canyon. Students were engaged in standards-based lessons around the concepts of weathering, erosion, and deposition. Throughout the visit, each student recorded field notes and new vocabulary. Scintilla believes "when students and teachers are engaged in work that is challenging, adventurous and meaningful, learning and achievement flourish." On the bus ride back to school, groups worked collaboratively to solve the canyon's erosion problems.
Liberty Tech students go inside out for science
Liberty Tech Charter School 7th graders have been studying body systems and how they interact with each other to carry out life processes. To illustrate what they learned, they designed t-shirts with illustrations of the body systems and their connections to one another.
International Charter Academy of Georgia
Hammers in the Japanese New Year
This month, students at the International Charter Academy of Georgia celebrated Mochitsuki, the Japanese New Year Rice Pounding Ceremony. This is a customary ceremony to create and eat rice cakes (mochi). Sticky rice (mochigome) is put into a wooden container and patted with water by one person while another person hits it with a large wooden mallet. Mashing the rice forms a sticky white dumpling. This treat is traditionally made before New Year's Day and eaten during the beginning of January. At the end of this traditional event, students received a slice of mochi to enjoy.
Art of Connection
It's time for the SCSF's 2nd annual juried art contest for state charter school students! The Art of Connection Exhibition of Student Art features entries from Georgia's state charter schools in a virtual gallery on the SCSF's website. Art will be judged by Georgia artists, and prizes will be awarded in each age category. Email art@scsfga.org for more information or visit scsfga.org/art. Sponsors needed! Please help us promote art in our schools by becoming a sponsor at any level today. 
 

SCSF School Wellness Survey

Please remember to complete the SCSF's School Wellness Survey to provide important feedback for the Schools of Wellness initiative. Your input will be used to guide the program and support provided by the SCSF for schools. 
Important Scoliosis Screening Information

At this time, the Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) does not expect there to be a waiver for scoliosis screening for the 2021-2022 school year. This means scoliosis screening should proceed as it has in past years. Please continue to encourage families to utilize the new Form 4400 and decrease the need for mass screening in schools. Parents and caregivers can use Form 4400 to have their student screened or use it to opt-out of in-school screening.

Please feel free to reach out to Elin Brumbaugh RN, BSN, DPH Deputy Chief Nurse – School Health Elin.Brumbaugh@dph.ga.govif you have any questions or concerns regarding scoliosis screening for this school year.
GaDOE Office of Whole Child Support Updates

SAVE THE DATE: 2022 Georgia School Safety & Homeland Security Conference
Make plans to join the Georgia Emergency Management & Homeland Security Agency and the Georgia Department of Education Office of Whole Child Supports on June 21-23, 2022 for the 2022 Georgia School Safety & Homeland Security Conference. The conference will be held at the Columbus Convention & Trade Center and will feature sessions on a wide range of topics including cyber security and HB 156 Reporting, threat assessment training, social media threats and updates to the school safety plan template. Visit www.GASchoolSafety.com for registration and special hotel rates. Please contact Christopher Allen at Christopher.allen@gema.ga.gov if you have any questions.
Data Collections Update
FY22 Reporting Calendar & Upcoming
The State Charter Schools Commission’s (SCSC) FY22 Reporting Deadlines calendar is available on the SCSC website here. 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 important data collections deadlines coming up.

Thursday, March 17, 2022
  • CPI Collections, Duplicate Record Deadline, Cycle 2
  • FTE Collections, Duplicate Record Deadline, Cycle 3

Wednesday, March 23, 2022
  • Student Collections, Duplicate Record Deadline
  • Enrollment Collections, Duplicate Record Deadline

Thursday, March 24, 2022
  • CPI Collections, End Date, Cycle 2
  • FTE Collections, End Date, Cycle 3
  • Student Class Collections, End Date, Cycle March
Funding & Professional Development Opportunities
Free Yearlong Science of Reading Course on the Cox Campus

COX Campus has launched their latest free course in their K-3 Science of Reading series! This is part one of their K-3 Yearlong Learning Journey, a series focused on the practical application of the Science of Reading. A great resource and training course for educators and parents!

GCSA 2022 Incubator

The GCSA Incubator is now accepting applications for their 2022 program beginning July 2022. This program is designed to support independent, self-motivated educators and business leaders with the knowledge and expertise to lead a charter school as an administrator. Successful charter school administrators are those who:

• Demonstrate the ability to inspire team members and motivate supporters;
• Evidence a visionary approach to finding new solutions;
• Build teamwork and culture that reinforces accountability;
• Commit to serving all students with a specific dedication to those most in need;
• Efficiently coordinate and manages multiple complex projects simultaneously; and
• Foster community and stakeholder support for responsive collaboration.

Applicants can either apply as individual candidates or a team with an identified lead (teams will be given strong preference) to create a charter school. Incubator candidates who begin the program with a team serving as a founding governing board have the strongest track record of success.

Learn more about GCSA Incubator programs here and apply for the 2022 program support here.
Federal Programs Update
FY23 Consolidated LEA Improvement Plan (CLIP) Webinar Series

The Georgia Department of Education is required to collect and approve plans that define how LEAs will support their students when accepting federal funds under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as amended by the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) of 2015. The Consolidated LEA Improvement Plan (CLIP) is the annual plan that outlines how LEAs will coordinate these and other supplemental federal fund sources to meet identified student needs in the district.
 
The Office of Federal Programs provides webinars to support the development of the FY23 CLIP. See below for session info and registration details.

  • ESOL Directors' Munch & Learn Webinar - Making Language Visible to Parents of ELs

The FY23 CLIP application in the SLDS will open on March 1, 2022, and will be due on June 30, 2022.

Future event information and access can be found on the Year-at-a-Glance calendar.
Job Opportunities
State Charter Schools Commission of Georgia
The SCSC is seeking candidates for a Charter Development Program Coordinator and Administrative Assistant to join our team.
State Charter Schools Commission | scsc.georgia.gov
For real-time updates and announcements:
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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