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Timeline of Charter School Laws in Georgia

1993: Original charter school law is passed. Only existing public schools can convert to charter status. Approval by local and state boards required.
1998: Independent start-up charter schools are allowed. Approval by local and state boards required.
2008: HB881 creates the Georgia Charter Schools Commission, an alternative charter petition authorizing body.
2009: HB555 requires local school systems to allow charter schools located within their jurisdiction to utilize unused educational facilities at no cost to the charter school.
2010: Constitutionality of HB881 and the Georgia Charter Schools Commission reaffirmed by Fulton County Superior Court Judge.
2011: Georgia Supreme Court overrules lower court, declares Georgia Charter Schools Commission and HB881 unconstitutional, casting severe doubt over the futures of 16 charter schools approved by the Commission and the 15,000 students they serve. Vast majority of Georgia charter schools are largely un-impacted by the Supreme Court ruling.

177 Total charter schools
72,000 Students served
13 Charter Systems (Cartersville, Decatur, Floyd County, Gainesville, Marietta, Putnam County, Warren County, White County; Beginning in 2011-12: Barrow County, Calhoun, Dawson County, Dublin, Gordon County)

(Based on most recent and complete data: 2010 Georgia CRCT results)

A higher percentage of charter schools than traditional schools made AYP in four of the metro area’s largest school districts – Atlanta, Clayton, DeKalb and Fulton.
Statewide, a higher percentage of charter middle and high schools made AYP, while the percentage of charter elementary schools making AYP was statistically the same as the traditional public schools.
A higher percentage of charter schools serving low-income communities in Georgia made AYP than traditional public schools serving the same student population.