About Us

The Georgia Charter Schools Association (GCSA) is a Georgia non-profit, 501(c)(3) corporation. GCSA is the membership organization for Georgia's charter school operators and petitioners.The mission of the Georgia Charter Schools Association is to be an effective advocate and service provider for all charter public schools in Georgia. This involves:

• Advancing public awareness of charter schools and their missions.
• Increasing public awareness that charter schools are public schools.
• Communicating charter school needs to state and local officials.
• Supporting legislation to strengthen charter schools in Georgia.
• Facilitating opportunities for networking and collaboration among charter schools in Georgia and with other charter schools throughout the country.
• Developing and implementing programs and services to effectively meet the needs of all of Georgia's charter schools in order to help those schools attain high levels of student achievement, accountability and success.

As a membership organization committed to serving the needs of its members it is important that representatives of Georgia's charter schools serve a prominent role in governing the Association. It is also important for the health of all charter schools that we welcome and embrace input from other leaders in education reform. As a result of this desire for self-governance combined with external input GCSA created a two-tiered governance structure.The GCSA Executive Committee is made up of the GCSA's Officers and Committee Chairs. This eight person body has direct oversight of and provides an immediate level of support for the Chief Executive Officer ("CEO"). All members of the Executive Committee must be representatives of GCSA member schools.The GCSA Board of Directors is made up of both representatives from charter schools and other leaders in the area of education reform in Georgia. The Board of Directors has broader oversight responsibility including conducting an annual review of the CEO, ensuring the Association is operating in compliance with its Mission, Goals and Objectives, and By-laws, and, approving the annual budget and membership dues.All Officers and Directors of the Association are elected by the members of the Association. Committee Chairs are selected by each committee subject to the requirement that they be affiliated with a GCSA member school. The CEO of the Association, who is hired by the Executive Committee, is responsible for the day to day operation of the Association. The E.D. works closely with the various GCSA standing committees and reports to the Executive Committee and, ultimately, the Board of Directors.

Information about the current GCSA Officers, Directors, and CEO can be found on the Board and Staff page.