Georgia
U.S.
Rank
- Opportunity
- Innovation
- Policy Environment
Score:
75%
Grade:
C
Rank:
#17
The environment for these innovative public schools is strong in Georgia as the law grants blanket waivers from most state and local regulations that apply to district schools. However, even with a slight increase in funding in May, 2021, the state is far from guaranteeing the equity children deserve.
Law passed: 1993
Most recently amended: 2019
Number of charter schools: 110
Number of charter students: 77,313
Cap on the number of schools allowed:? No
Virtual charters allowed? Yes
AUTHORIZERS: Local districts, State Board, and the Charter Schools Commission of Georgia (CSCG), can authorize, but increasingly this “independent” state commission has become less independent, and operates in tandem with the state education department, and thus, more bureaucratically than intended by the law.
GROWTH: While there is no cap, the number of charter schools has seen a slow but steady decline in recent years; enrollment is down almost 7,000 students from two years ago. The state is not motivated to expand despite increased demand.
OPERATIONS: The law grants blanket waivers from most state and local regulations that apply to district schools. While state-authorized charters are their own local education agencies and have a fair amount of autonomy, districts heavily regulate the schools they sponsor. As in most states, teachers must be traditionally certified.
EQUITY: In May 2021, Governor Kemp signed SB 59 into law, which increases student funding by about $100 per-pupil. Additionally, under the new legislation school districts are required to provide local charter schools their proportionate share of federal funds. In the state FY2022 budget, lawmakers also approved an increase of $1 million in funding for charter schools facilities. In general, however, districts still negotiate funding with locally approved charter schools, and while the law states that charters should be treated ”no less favorably” than conventional district schools, they often are not.
Score:
Grade:
C
Rank:
#8
Growing demand and need combined to deliver parents a win in May 2021 when the state expanded the Georgia’s Special Needs Scholarship program, which combined with their tax credit program have to date served just under 20,000 students annually.
Law enacted: 2007-2008
Number of programs: 2
Statewide Participation: 18,768
Types of programs: Voucher, Tax Credit Scholarship
Voucher
Georgia Special Needs Scholarship Program
The Georgia Special Needs Scholarship Program is a voucher program that began in 2007, available for families with special needs students who attend Georgia public schools and have an Individualized Education Plan (IEP). Students that receive vouchers can use funds to access specialized schools. In May 2021 a bill passed expanding eligibility in this program–It does so in several ways: by allowing more children with physical or learning disabilities to participate (including autism spectrum disorder, cerebral palsy, and dyslexia) who have a 504 plan; allowing students who attended a public special needs preschool in Georgia to participate; and allowing students with special needs who are adopted from foster care to access the program immediately. Currently 5,000 students participate, which will grow with this expansion.
Tax-Credit Scholarship
Qualified Education Expense Tax Credit
The Qualified Education Expense Tax Credit program was enacted in 2008 to help prior public school students attend private schools that fit their individual needs. This program has no income limit or enrollment cap, and in 2019 the scholarship cap was $10,387 a student. The program budget cap is $100 million.
Score:
Grade:
C
Rank:
#5
The state’s salary schedule is dated and not tied to effectiveness, though student growth is a small part of evaluations. Requirements for teacher content knowledge varies by grade and subject.
TRAINING AND RECRUITMENT: 72%
General Teacher Preparation 82%
Elementary Teacher Preparation 62%
Secondary Teacher Preparation 85%
Special Education Teacher Preparation 58%
Alternate Routes 75%
STAFFING AND SUPPORT: 75%
Hiring 75%
Retaining Effective Teachers 74%
TEACHER EVALUATION: 86%
TEACHER COMPENSATION: 75%
Score:
75%
Grade:
C
Rank:
#17
The environment for these innovative public schools is strong in Georgia as the law grants blanket waivers from most state and local regulations that apply to district schools. However, even with a slight increase in funding in May, 2021, the state is far from guaranteeing the equity children deserve.
Law passed: 1993
Most recently amended: 2019
Number of charter schools: 110
Number of charter students: 77,313
Cap on the number of schools allowed:? No
Virtual charters allowed? Yes
AUTHORIZERS: Local districts, State Board, and the Charter Schools Commission of Georgia (CSCG), can authorize, but increasingly this “independent” state commission has become less independent, and operates in tandem with the state education department, and thus, more bureaucratically than intended by the law.
GROWTH: While there is no cap, the number of charter schools has seen a slow but steady decline in recent years; enrollment is down almost 7,000 students from two years ago. The state is not motivated to expand despite increased demand.
OPERATIONS: The law grants blanket waivers from most state and local regulations that apply to district schools. While state-authorized charters are their own local education agencies and have a fair amount of autonomy, districts heavily regulate the schools they sponsor. As in most states, teachers must be traditionally certified.
EQUITY: In May 2021, Governor Kemp signed SB 59 into law, which increases student funding by about $100 per-pupil. Additionally, under the new legislation school districts are required to provide local charter schools their proportionate share of federal funds. In the state FY2022 budget, lawmakers also approved an increase of $1 million in funding for charter schools facilities. In general, however, districts still negotiate funding with locally approved charter schools, and while the law states that charters should be treated ”no less favorably” than conventional district schools, they often are not.
Score:
Grade:
C
Rank:
#8
Growing demand and need combined to deliver parents a win in May 2021 when the state expanded the Georgia’s Special Needs Scholarship program, which combined with their tax credit program have to date served just under 20,000 students annually.
Law enacted: 2007-2008
Number of programs: 2
Statewide Participation: 18,768
Types of programs: Voucher, Tax Credit Scholarship
Voucher
Georgia Special Needs Scholarship Program
The Georgia Special Needs Scholarship Program is a voucher program that began in 2007, available for families with special needs students who attend Georgia public schools and have an Individualized Education Plan (IEP). Students that receive vouchers can use funds to access specialized schools. In May 2021 a bill passed expanding eligibility in this program–It does so in several ways: by allowing more children with physical or learning disabilities to participate (including autism spectrum disorder, cerebral palsy, and dyslexia) who have a 504 plan; allowing students who attended a public special needs preschool in Georgia to participate; and allowing students with special needs who are adopted from foster care to access the program immediately. Currently 5,000 students participate, which will grow with this expansion.
Tax-Credit Scholarship
Qualified Education Expense Tax Credit
The Qualified Education Expense Tax Credit program was enacted in 2008 to help prior public school students attend private schools that fit their individual needs. This program has no income limit or enrollment cap, and in 2019 the scholarship cap was $10,387 a student. The program budget cap is $100 million.
Score:
Grade:
C
Rank:
#5
The state’s salary schedule is dated and not tied to effectiveness, though student growth is a small part of evaluations. Requirements for teacher content knowledge varies by grade and subject.
TRAINING AND RECRUITMENT: 72%
General Teacher Preparation 82%
Elementary Teacher Preparation 62%
Secondary Teacher Preparation 85%
Special Education Teacher Preparation 58%
Alternate Routes 75%
STAFFING AND SUPPORT: 75%
Hiring 75%
Retaining Effective Teachers 74%
TEACHER EVALUATION: 86%
TEACHER COMPENSATION: 75%
Score:
Grade:
C
Rank:
#20
Georgia DOE offers school districts digital learning resources on strategy, equity, and professional development. These resources include toolkits, webinars and online teaching courses.
Georgia Virtual School is a state virtual school opened by the GDOE in 2005, offering supplemental courses for middle and high school students that attend private, district, charters, and home schools in the state. Advanced Placement test results from 2013-2018 show that a higher percentage of students enrolled in Georgia Virtual School passed the AP exam when compared to both state and national passing rates six years in a row. There are over 60,000 students enrolled in the school.
Bandwidth: “100% of students in Georgia can access the Internet at speeds of 100 kbps per student, and many students are connected at higher speeds.”
Georgia’s Personalized Learning Grant, formerly labeled Technology Tools for Teachers, promotes student achievement through personalized instruction and the use of technology. The PL Grant is currently implemented in 14 schools across 4 districts.
Additionally, the state has an Innovation Fund that creates partnerships between nonprofits, higher education institutions, and public schools to promote personalized learning and student achievement.
Georgia first closed all schools March 16, although many were closed already. March 23, the state released guidelines for remote learning and while leaving decisions up to districts, they provided encouragement and motivation for schools to continue instruction for all students. The state focused on access and created a website with various resources, including guidance for special education.
For a return to school in August, Georgia’s state government left reopening decisions in the hands of districts. Some Georgia schools opened as of 8/6. High population districts are relying on hybrid learning options.
Fast Facts
4th Grade Math Proficiency:
8th Grade Math Proficiency:
12th Grade Math Proficiency:
4th Grade Reading Proficiency:
8th Grade Reading Proficiency:
12th Grade Reading Proficiency:
Graduation Rate:
Average SAT Score:
Average ACT Score:
Public School Enrollment:
Percent Enrolled in Charter Schools:
Average Student Funding:
Score:
Grade:
C
Rank:
#20
Georgia DOE offers school districts digital learning resources on strategy, equity, and professional development. These resources include toolkits, webinars and online teaching courses.
Georgia Virtual School is a state virtual school opened by the GDOE in 2005, offering supplemental courses for middle and high school students that attend private, district, charters, and home schools in the state. Advanced Placement test results from 2013-2018 show that a higher percentage of students enrolled in Georgia Virtual School passed the AP exam when compared to both state and national passing rates six years in a row. There are over 60,000 students enrolled in the school.
Bandwidth: “100% of students in Georgia can access the Internet at speeds of 100 kbps per student, and many students are connected at higher speeds.”
Georgia’s Personalized Learning Grant, formerly labeled Technology Tools for Teachers, promotes student achievement through personalized instruction and the use of technology. The PL Grant is currently implemented in 14 schools across 4 districts.
Additionally, the state has an Innovation Fund that creates partnerships between nonprofits, higher education institutions, and public schools to promote personalized learning and student achievement.
Georgia first closed all schools March 16, although many were closed already. March 23, the state released guidelines for remote learning and while leaving decisions up to districts, they provided encouragement and motivation for schools to continue instruction for all students. The state focused on access and created a website with various resources, including guidance for special education.
For a return to school in August, Georgia’s state government left reopening decisions in the hands of districts. Some Georgia schools opened as of 8/6. High population districts are relying on hybrid learning options.
4th Grade Math Proficiency:
8th Grade Math Proficiency:
12th Grade Math Proficiency:
4th Grade Reading Proficiency:
8th Grade Reading Proficiency:
12th Grade Reading Proficiency:
Graduation Rate:
Average SAT Score:
Average ACT Score:
Public School Enrollment:
Percent Enrolled in Charter Schools:
Average Student Funding:
Brian Kemp (R)
First term began in 2019 (two-term limit)
In his successful campaign for Governor in 2019, Kemp endorsed some key tenets of parent power, saying that “through school choice, we can give Georgia students – and parents – the learning opportunities and educational environment they want and deserve.” Recent legislation in 2021 has moved him in the right direction, including a law that prohibits state or local entities from regulating learning pods. “I am a firm believer that the government should not try to tell you how to educate your child,” Kemp said.
The legislature continues to work to increase quality education for all, by successfully pushing for new laws this year. There’s still much more to be done to ensure parent power for all, which we hope to see in the near future!
“The Georgia Constitution contains a Blaine Amendment, but it also contains an education provision …that explicitly authorizes the General Assembly to provide grants and scholarships to students and parents for educational purposes, such as those of voucher programs.” (Institute for Justice)
On June 26, 2017, the Georgia Supreme Court rejected a challenge to Georgia’s tax-credit scholarship program and ruled that plaintiffs had no standing to sue.
School report cards are difficult to find on Georgia’s DOE homepage. Report cards are located under the Data and Reporting subheading, and clicking Governor’s Office of Student Achievement, which is not automatically intuitive. School report cards are cumbersome and hard to use, requiring you to flip through multiple links and tabs to find data you are looking for.
Educational options are easy to find from the homepage under Innovation, where you can access information on charters, homeschooling, virtual learning, and career pathways.
School board elections are held during the general election cycle, which gives parents more power in their decision making because of higher voter turnout.
Brian Kemp (R)
First term began in 2019 (two-term limit)
In his successful campaign for Governor in 2019, Kemp endorsed some key tenets of parent power, saying that “through school choice, we can give Georgia students – and parents – the learning opportunities and educational environment they want and deserve.” Recent legislation in 2021 has moved him in the right direction, including a law that prohibits state or local entities from regulating learning pods. “I am a firm believer that the government should not try to tell you how to educate your child,” Kemp said.
The legislature continues to work to increase quality education for all, by successfully pushing for new laws this year. There’s still much more to be done to ensure parent power for all, which we hope to see in the near future!
“The Georgia Constitution contains a Blaine Amendment, but it also contains an education provision …that explicitly authorizes the General Assembly to provide grants and scholarships to students and parents for educational purposes, such as those of voucher programs.” (Institute for Justice)
On June 26, 2017, the Georgia Supreme Court rejected a challenge to Georgia’s tax-credit scholarship program and ruled that plaintiffs had no standing to sue.
School report cards are difficult to find on Georgia’s DOE homepage. Report cards are located under the Data and Reporting subheading, and clicking Governor’s Office of Student Achievement, which is not automatically intuitive. School report cards are cumbersome and hard to use, requiring you to flip through multiple links and tabs to find data you are looking for.
Educational options are easy to find from the homepage under Innovation, where you can access information on charters, homeschooling, virtual learning, and career pathways.
School board elections are held during the general election cycle, which gives parents more power in their decision making because of higher voter turnout.