OCTOBER NEWSLETTER
October 14, 2026
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| $3.5 Million in Subgrants Awarded for CTAE and High-Impact Tutoring Programs | | Photo: Representatives from new subgrantees Cirrus Academy, Georgia Cyber Academy, and Liberation Academy; SCSC Vice Chair Buzz Brockway; Commissioners Tony Lowden, Mike Dudgeon, and Ben Scafidi; SCSC Executive Director Donovan Head, and SCSC staff leading the CSP SE grant Michele Neely and Molly Gassman | | |
The State Charter Schools Commission of Georgia (SCSC) Board of Commissioners approved $3.5 million in federal Charter School Program (CSP) State Entity (SE) subgrants to fourteen Georgia charter schools during its meeting on September 30, 2025.
Ten charter schools were awarded $100,000 each through a competitive application process to support high-impact tutoring programs to bolster the academic outcomes of students who need additional instruction. Schools must focus tutoring efforts on the students who are furthest behind academically, providing at least three tutoring sessions per week. They are also required to adhere to tutoring best practices, including using qualified tutors, limiting tutoring group size, and coordinating with classroom teachers.
Five charter high schools were awarded $500,000 each through a competitive application process to implement or expand programs that are a part of the Georgia Department of Education’s Career, Technical, and Agriculture Education (CTAE) program. Schools must focus on programs that prepare students for high-wage, high-demand jobs in their local communities that meet Georgia’s workforce needs.
The U.S. Department of Education awarded the SCSC a CSP SE Grant of $50,833,333 to support the creation, replication, and expansion of high-quality charter schools in Georgia, particularly in communities where charter schools do not already exist. A supplemental grant award and waivers approved in Fall 2025 allowed the SCSC to award subgrants to support tutoring and CTAE programs at existing Georgia charter schools. Georgia is one of the only states in the U.S. utilizing CSP SE grant funds in this way to support charter schools’ evolving needs.
For more information about the CSP SE Grant, contact Michele Neely.
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State Charter Schools Post Math Gains on 2026 Georgia Milestones
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The 2026 Georgia Milestones results show that, on average, state charter schools increased math achievement across all grade bands (elementary, middle, and high school) compared to 2025. On average, they also increased achievement on every end-of-course test released so far: Algebra, Biology, and U.S. History.
Georgia Milestones results feed into the College and Career Ready Performance Index (CCRPI) scores that the SCSC uses to evaluate each school's academic performance. SCSC staff presented the results to the SCSC Board on Sept. 30.
Across each grade band, a majority of state charter schools had a higher share of students performing at the Developing Learner level and above in math than the district in which they are located. Statewide English Language Arts and Literature and Composition II results are expected to be released later in winter 2026.
Explore the full results on GaDOE Insights.
| | SCSC Earns Top Authorizer Rating for Fourth Consecutive Year | |
The State Charter Schools Commission (SCSC) of Georgia was rated an Exemplary charter school authorizer for the fourth consecutive year in its 2026 evaluation conducted by the National Association of Charter School Authorizers (NACSA).
"The Commission is a quality authorizer, with a strong culture of commitment, leadership, and judgment," said NACSA evaluators.
NACSA, a nationally recognized nonprofit that designed the model principals and standards for effective charter school authorizing, conducted the evaluation in accordance with the Georgia Principles and Standards for Charter School Authorizing and Georgia law. The review included a survey of SCSC-authorized schools, a review of agency documents, and interviews with staff and agency leadership.
Because the SCSC earned Exemplary ratings in past evaluations, NACSA conducted a streamlined review focused on Petition Review, Compliance Monitoring, and Renewal. All three earned Exemplary. "Survey results reflect that schools authorized by the Commission appreciate the authorizer's balance of autonomy and accountability," evaluators wrote. Every survey respondent said the petition process was easy to navigate, well supported, and free of conflicts of interest. Twenty-two of 23 respondents agreed that the SCSC clearly documents how it evaluates school performance.
Georgia law requires that all charter school authorizers be evaluated on an annual basis. Review the 2026 results.
| | School Spotlight: Ethos Classical Charter School | | Photo: SCSC Commissioner Mike Dudgeon, SCSC Commissioner Tony Lowden, Ethos Classical Chief Academic Officer Shamar Knight Justice, Ethos 4th grade scholars Chance Champion and Tyler Newton, Ethos 7th grade scholars Maison Skyers and Kailey Darns, Ethos Chief Executive Officer Danielle Mack, SCSC Commissioner Ben Scafidi, Vice Chair Buzz Brockway, SCSC Executive Director Donovan Head | | |
Ethos Classical Charter School presented to the SCSC Board of Commissioners at its Sept. 30 meeting, sharing the reading and math gains and the instructional practices behind its recognition as the 2026 Georgia Charter School of the Year from the Georgia Charter Schools Association (GCSA).
Ethos reported that last year, 97 percent of its kindergartners read at or above grade level, and that the share of students reading at or above grade level increased in kindergarten, first grade, and second grade. In math, students in grades 3, 4, and 5 each increased proficiency on the Georgia Milestones, with fourth grade nearly doubling its share of students scoring Proficient or Distinguished in one year. The school credits a culture of reading, academic systems, and dedicated instructional coaching, in which every teacher meets weekly with a coach.
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Scholars spoke to commissioners about what they like most about their school and their hopes for the future. Ethos met the SCSC's financial and operational standards on the 2024-25 Comprehensive Performance Framework (CPF), the tool the SCSC uses to evaluate the schools it authorizes.
Ethos Classical Charter School is located in Fulton County and serves students in grades K–7.
| | SCSC Supported Charter School Conference | | Photo: Henry Siebentritt and Katie Manthey | | |
The SCSC provided scholarships for staff members from state charter schools to attend the Georgia Charter Schools Association (GCSA) 2026 Maximizing Student Success Conference, held Sept. 15–16 in Atlanta. SCSC staff also led a session for governing board members on using academic data in oversight.
Katie Manthey, SCSC Director of Research and Evaluation, and Henry Siebentritt, SCSC Academic Evaluation Manager, led a session entitled "Board Governance That Supports Academic Excellence: What Boards Need to Know About Your Data." The interactive session helped board members identify the academic data that matters most, distinguish governance from management, and use data for meaningful oversight without micromanaging. Participants practiced analyzing school performance, asking strategic questions, and making governance decisions in a boardroom simulation.
| | SCSC Chair Featured at Education Forum | | |
SCSC Board Chair Dr. Cayanna Good was a featured speaker at RedefinED Atlanta's A City Changing 2026: Funding Student Opportunity, an annual convening of education leaders, policymakers, funders, and community advocates held on September 11 at the National Center for Civil and Human Rights in Atlanta.
The program examined Georgia's Quality Basic Education funding formula and how resource alignment affects access to high-quality learning environments. Dr. Good spoke alongside Dr. Keith Colbert of Clayton County Public Schools and Mark E. Dixon, president of the A+ Education Partnership in Alabama.
RedefinED Atlanta works to advance systemic change so every student in metro Atlanta can access excellent schools.
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SCSC Participated in Convening for Charter School Leaders
The LeveragED Foundation hosted its annual national convening for the LaunchPad program for charter school leaders in Atlanta at the end of September. The extensive year-long leadership development program is funded by LeveragED and supported by the Georgia Charter Schools Association (GCSA). The SCSC provides scholarships for remaining expenses of participation. This year, Nandi Edouard, leader and founder for the Simple Vue Academy, Kolt Bloxson, leader and founder for Miles Ahead Charter School, and Matt Stone, leader for Cherokee Classical Academy were selected to participate in LaunchPad.
Donovan Head, SCSC Executive Director, Michele Neely, Senior Director of School Support and Outreach, Molly Gassman, School Support and Outreach Manager, and Guin Jones, Petitions Specialist, attended events at the convening. Danielle Mack, CEO for Ethos Classical, who participated in LaunchPad last year, provided content, and LaunchPad participants toured Ethos Classical as a part of the convening. Charter school leaders and representatives from authorizers and charter support organizations from around the country were in attendance.
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Top Photo: Dr. Matthew Stone participated in workshops at the convening.
Bottom Photo: Vashaunta Harris, Vice President of Professional Networks for the National Charter Schools Institute, Donovan Head, James Deenihan, LeveragED, Sr. Director of Strategic Engagement & Program Integration, Michele Neely, and Dr. Richard Seigler-Carter, LeveragED Chief Program Officer, attended a dinner for progam participants.
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The next SCSC board meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, November 4, 2026, at 10 a.m. The meeting will be held in the SCSC Board Room and streamed virtually on Zoom.
Visit the SCSC public meeting portal for more details.
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Share Your School's Story
State charter schools across Georgia are making an impact –
We want to promote your story!
We invite state charter schools to submit accomplishments, milestones, and program highlights for consideration in future features. Email your updates to michele.neely@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 © 2026 State Charter Schools Commission of Georgia, All rights reserved. | | | | |
