2023 CODE OF GEORGIA › Title 20 - EDUCATION (§§ 20-1-1 — 20-18-7) › Chapter 2 - ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION (§§ 20-2-1 — 20-2-2140) › Article 31 - CHARTER SCHOOLS ACT OF 1998 (§§ 20-2-2060 — 20-2-2077) › Section 20-2-2067.1 - Amendment of terms of charter for charter school; initial term of charter; annual report

(a)
The terms of a charter for a local charter school may be amended during the term of the charter upon the approval of the local board, the state board, and the charter school. The terms of a charter for a state chartered special school may be amended during the term of the charter upon the approval of the state board and the charter school. The terms of a charter for a charter system may be amended during the term of the charter upon approval of the state board and the local board.
(b)
The initial term of a charter, except for a charter system or a local charter school that has transferred its authorization to the State Charter Schools Commission pursuant to subsection (b) of Code Section
20-2-2063.3
, shall be for a minimum of five years, unless the petitioner shall request a shorter period of time, and shall not exceed ten years. The local board and the state board, in accordance with Code Section
20-2-2064.1
and subject to the provisions of Code Section
20-2-2063.3
, may renew a local charter, upon the request of the charter school, for the period of time specified in the request, not to exceed ten years. The state board may renew a state chartered special school, upon the request of the school, for the period of time specified in the request, not to exceed ten years. The initial term of a charter for a charter system shall not exceed six years. The state board may renew the charter of a charter system, upon the request of the local board, for the period of time specified in the request, not to exceed ten years.
(c)
Each start-up and conversion charter school and each charter system shall submit an annual report outlining the previous year's progress to the authorizing local board or state board, as appropriate; to parents and guardians of students enrolled in the school, or, for a charter system, to parents and guardians of students enrolled in school within the local school system; and to the Department of Education no later than November 1 of each year. The report submitted by a charter system shall include, but not limited to, data on all of its system charter schools. The report shall contain, but is not limited to:
(1)
An indication of progress toward the goals as included in the charter;
(2)
Academic data for the previous year, including state academic accountability data, such as standardized test scores;
(3)
Unaudited financial statements for the fiscal year ending on June 30, provided that audited statements will be forwarded to the local board and state board upon completion;
(4)
Updated contact information for the school and the administrator, and for charter systems, each system charter school and its respective administrator;
(5)
Proof of current nonprofit status, if applicable;
(6)
Any other supplemental information that the charter school or charter system chooses to include or that the state board requests that demonstrates that school or system's success; and
(7)
For charter systems:
(A)
A description of:
(i)
The actual authority exercised by governing councils with regard to each of the components of school level governance listed in paragraph (12.1) of Code Section
20-2-2062
;
(ii)
Training received by governing councils and school administrators; and
(iii)
Steps, if any, the charter system plans to take to increase school level governance in the future;
(B)
An itemization of initiatives being supported with the additional funding received by the charter system pursuant to Code Section
20-2-165.1
and how those funds have promoted school level governance or improved student achievement;
(C)
A comparison of actual performance versus the performance based goals for the charter system set forth in the charter pursuant to Code Section
20-2-2065
;
(D)
The name and contact information of an employee of the charter system that can facilitate communications between the Office of Charter School Compliance and the chairpersons of the governing councils in the charter system; and
(E)
An on-site external evaluation of the charter system at least once every five years, as determined by the state board.
Amended by 2017 Ga. Laws 33,§ 2, eff. 7/1/2017.
Amended by 2017 Ga. Laws 27,§ 3-4, eff. 7/1/2017.
Amended by 2015 Ga. Laws 241,§ 41, eff. 7/1/2015.
Amended by 2013 Ga. Laws 335,§ 29, eff. 7/1/2013.
Amended by 2007 Ga. Laws 116,§ 10, eff. 7/1/2007.
Amended by 2005 Ga. Laws 155,§ 14, eff. 7/1/2005.
Added by 2002 Ga. Laws 457, § 1, eff. 7/1/2002.