EAST POINT, Ga. — At least four metro Atlanta charter schools are on the brink of closing their doors. Their demise seems to raise questions about the viability of charter schools versus more traditional public schools.
The state set up charter school programs to add innovation to traditional public schools.
When a community spends years getting accustomed to a neighborhood charter school, it is especially jarring when the school abruptly closes.
So it was at RISE Charter, an East Point charter school, that revealed it may have to close next month.
The same thing happened at the Seven Pillars Academy, a Clayton County charter school that disclosed plans to close.
The state also disclosed plans to close Cherokee Charter Academy in Canton and Fulton Leadership Academy in East Point.
Charter schools use tax dollars, but they also have the flexibility to innovate their academics or their calendars. If they outperform surrounding public schools academically and stay afloat financially, backers say they mostly succeed.
"In Georgia, generally, and in Atlanta in particular, the only conclusion you can draw is that they’re performing overall very well," said Bonnie Holliday of the Georgia Charter School Association, adding that 85 percent of Georgia’s charter schools are succeeding.
However, the state says the Fulton Leadership Academy saw its enrollment and financial viability drop. Similar hiccups appeared to drain Seven Pillars, RISE Charter and Cherokee Charter Academy.
Holliday says sustaining a charter school isn’t easy.
"They’re trying to try different techniques, different curriculum programming, different academic models to see what works. And most of the time, it does," she said. "And occasionally, when it doesn't, the charter school closes and makes way for more innovative options."
Read the full statement from State Charter Schools Commission of Georgia Chairman Mike Dudgeon below:
The State Charter Schools Commission of Georgia (SCSC) serves as the statewide authorizer for charter schools. Unlike traditional district schools, charter schools can be closed if they do not meet the high standards set in their charter contracts. We monitor each state charter school for academic mastery and growth, financial and operational compliance, and overall governance. This reflects the "charter bargain" of "increased accountability in exchange for increased flexibility and autonomy." We currently serve 48 charter schools all over Georgia.
Our state charter schools must match or outperform the traditional district schools that their students would otherwise attend, offering innovative and value-added models. Accountability is fundamental to charter school authorization. We are pleased to report that 95% of our state charter school students attend a school that meets these high standards.
Regrettably, our commission made the difficult decision earlier this year to close two charter schools, effective June 30, due to a decade of failure to meet the required standards for renewal.
Each state charter school is governed by a board of volunteers. These schools receive millions of dollars annually, and we expect each board to be financially responsible stewards of taxpayer dollars. Due to financial mismanagement and poor governance, one school, the RISE Schools, has been placed on probation. We are actively monitoring and reviewing this situation with great concern for the school's financial viability for the 2024-2025 school year. Our team is assessing the situation and may recommend the commission place an emergency suspension on the school and begin termination proceedings if they fail to demonstrate verifiable financial and academic viability.
Our priority is the students and their families. If such a decision is necessary, we will ensure the process is handled swiftly to allow families ample time to make plans for the upcoming school year.