What is the role of the SCSC?

The State Charter Schools Commission of Georgia (SCSC) is the state's independent charter school authorizer. The SCSC reviews and approves petitions from applicants seeking to establish charter schools. Charter school applicants can seek approval through the SCSC after being denied by a local board of education or if the school wishes to serve a broad geographic attendance zone that crosses school district boundaries. Once approved, the SCSC provides oversight to state charter school governing boards and ensures that boards are fulfilling their academic, operational and financial obligations as outlined in the school's charter contracts and the law. 

How many state-approved charter schools are there in Georgia?

The SCSC has authorized 53 charter schools throughout the state. Of those schools, 48 are operations in the 2024-25 school year, and five are scheduled to open in the 2025-26 school year. more information on state charter schools can be found on the Find a School page. 

How do I understand my state charter school's performance?

The SCSC annually evaluates state charter schools using its official accountability tool, the Comprehensive Performance Framework (CPF), which assesses school performance in three critical areas:

  1. Academic Performance in terms of achievement and growth across a variety of measures (including statistical measures that seek to control for each school's unique student population so as to ensure "apples to apples" comparisons between and amongst schools), and
  2. Financial Performance in terms of near-term viability and long-term sustainability, and
  3. Operational Performance as it relates to governance and legal compliance.