For Kimberly Parker, the mother of two Jefferson City school system students, a charter school in Jackson County would be more than just a new school. A charter school is a public school that operates according to the terms of a charter, or contract, that has been approved by the local board of education and state Board of Education. The charter school is free of state regulations, policy and procedure, but is bound by contract to be held accountable for meeting the academic or vocational performance-based objectives specified in the charter. A traditional public school is organized according to federal laws, state school laws, state Board of Education rules, and local board of education policies. A charter school is organized according to federal laws and the terms of the charter contract developed at a local level.
Charter schools are public schools.
The Georgia Charter Schools Act of 1998 provides that charter schools are funded according to enrollment from the school district in which the charter school is located. The amount of money the charter school will receive from the local board will be determined through negotiations of the charter contract. If additional revenues are needed for transportation or facilities, the charter school must depend on independent means. Any student who resides in the school district in which the charter school is located. If the number of applications exceeds the capacity of the school, all applicants will have an equal chance of being admitted through a random selection process.