The Georgia Charter Schools Association (GCSA) is a Georgia non-profit, 501(c)(3) corporation and the membership organization for Georgia’s charter school operators and petitioners, established in 2001. The mission of the GCSA is to be an effective advocate and service provider for all charter public schools in Georgia by:

• Advancing awareness of charter schools and their mission.
• Increasing 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/collaboration among charter schools in Georgia and nationwide.
• Developing and implementing programs and services that advance student achievement, accountability and success in all of Georgia’s charter schools.

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.

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.  The CEO of the Association, who is hired by the board of directors, is responsible for the day to day operation of the Association.

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

2012 Legislative Priorities

The following statements represent the 2012 legislative priorities of the Georgia School Charter Schools Association (GCSA). These positions are ones that GCSA feels are critical to the operational and educational success of Georgia’s charter public schools.

Local Control

GCSA urges the General Assembly to pass legislation which promotes local control through self-governance at the school level for charter public schools.  While a charter school’s authorizer must provide quality oversight, oversight cannot be allowed to strip autonomy and/or true decision making away from the governing board of a charter school.

Equitable Funding

GCSA believes that charter school students, being public school students, should be funded equally and equitably to traditional public school students.  To fund charter school students differently undermines the school’s sustainability and initiates separate funding levels for like public school students.  Recommendations, based upon sound data and research, should include a study of charter school funding to ensure funding, is transparent and fair.

Facility Opportunities

GCSA urges the General Assembly to explore various avenues for charter schools to utilize facility options which are financially viable, whether those options are unused public facilities, bond financing options, or the utilization of public funds which are set aside for public school facility options.