Executive Summary and Comparison:
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School System Charter & IE Contract
System Charters
SB 39
IE2 Contract
HB 1209
Purpose:
Local school districts may choose to implement a
charter (performance-based contract) that, if
approved, allows them to waive certain state laws,
rules, and regulations. In return for this flexibility,
the charter shall contain provisions for increased
accountability. System Charters must contain
provisions for increased school level governance and
parent/community involvement.
IE2 contracts will offer increased flexibility from
certain state laws, rules, and regulations in
exchange for increased accountability. The
contract will include defined consequences for
failing to meet the accountability requirements of
the contract.
Mandated:
No. However, local school districts which have
become charter systems or in the process of applying
to become a charter system are not eligible to enter
into an IE2 contract.
Yes. A local school system must choose to either
enter into a contract with the SBOE for increased
flexibility or notify its local board and residents
that it will not participate and opt for the status
quo by June 30, 2013.
Key Components
Charter/Contracts: No more than a five-year initial term, renewals may
have terms up to ten years. SBOE approves charter.
5 Years; cannot be renewed beyond a maximum
of 10 years. SBOE approves contract in
consultation with GOSA.
Flexibility:
System must include a waiver on at least one of
the following:
Class size requirements, expenditure controls,
certification requirements, salary requirements,
and other provisions permitted by law and
approved by SBOE and local school board.
If system chooses status quo, system loses the
ability to request any waiver, except class size,
from SBOE.
Systems must state in their charter if and how they
will utilize the broad flexibility from law, rule, and
regulation permitted by O.C.G.A § 20-2-2065(a). If
system chooses not to use this broad flexibility, it
must itemize waivers desired and provide a rationale
for each.
Key Components
System Charter
IE2 Contract
Monitoring and
Support:
1) Technical Assistance from GaDOE
2) Monitoring and support from the CAC
3) Annual report required from charter system
4) GaDOE shall monitor each school district to
ensure compliance and evaluate charter school
systems’ progress towards meeting performance
goals.
Termination of Charter. Charter can be terminated
at time of renewal or earlier upon request of SBOE
or local school board.
1) GOSA shall annually monitor each school
district and its schools’ progress towards meeting
intermediate & 5-year performance goals.
2) GaDOE will be notified if school districts do
not comply with goals.
3) GaDOE will support schools that are not high
performing.
Consequences will not be invoked until the 5th
year of the contract. Said consequences (loss of
governance) for non-performing schools may
include, but shall not be limited to:
1) Conversion of a school to charter status with
independent school level governance and a
governance board with strong parental
involvement;
2) Operation of a school by a successful school
system; or
3) Operation of a school by a private entity,
nonprofit or for profit.
None, except for potential cost savings by
implementing allowable expenditure control
flexibilities.
Consequences:
Fiscal Impact
Governance
Charter systems shall earn approximately an
additional $100 for each FTE for every year of the
charter term.
Charter systems are eligible to apply for a federal
implementation grant. Grants range from $200,000
to $600,000.
If appropriated, approved charter systems may be
eligible for an additional state grant of $125,000.
A charter system’s petition shall describe how it will
maximize school level governance. "School level
governance" means decision-making authority in
personnel decisions, financial decisions, curriculum
and instruction, resource allocation, establishing and
monitoring the achievement of school improvement
goals, and school operations.
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Districts may maximize school level governance,
but it is not required.
Key Components
Process
IE2 Contract
System Charter
Letter of Intent due May 1.
Districts must conduct at least two public hearings.
Notification must be sent to each principal with
instructions on how they should inform teachers and
parents about these public meetings.
Local board must adopt resolution approving the
charter system petition before sent to the SBOE.
Petitions are due November 1.
District must conduct a public hearing.
Revised 12/08
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