Replication of highly-successful Pataula Charter Academy to open in the 2019-20 school year

ATLANTA - The State Charter Schools Commission of Georgia (SCSC) announced that it approved Spring Creek Charter Academy, a replication of highly-successful state charter school Pataula Charter Academy, to open in the 2019-20 school year. The new school will serve students in Decatur, Miller and Seminole Counties.

“For years Pataula Charter Academy has served as a lighthouse school in its community, providing a high-quality public school option for students in southwest Georgia,” said State Charter Schools Commission of Georgia Executive Director Bonnie Holliday. “We are delighted that more Georgia students will have access to Pataula’s high-level, rigorous academic experience through Spring Creek Charter Academy.”

Spring Creek Charter Academy will use the Expeditionary Learning model currently utilized at Pataula Charter Academy, located in Edison, Georgia. This “learning by doing” approach features project-based, cross-curricular instruction and incorporates the use of fieldwork and experts. The school will initially serve up to 276 students in grades K-5 and will add one grade level each year, eventually serving students in grades K-12.

“Pataula Charter Academy is grateful the State Charter Schools Commission approved the petition for Spring Creek Charter Academy,” said Kylie Holley, Superintendent of Pataula Charter Academy. “We are excited about expanding our educational program to more students in southwest Georgia and plan to build on our proven record of success.”

The SCSC petition review process for replication schools includes an in-depth staff review of the new school’s petition and budget, as well as an analysis of the original school’s performance history in the areas of academics, finance and operations. A panel interview of staff and commissioners interviews petitioners and makes a recommendation to approve or deny the petition to SCSC commissioners. At all points of the review process, staff and commissioners accept feedback from local community officials. Commissioners voted to approve the petition at the September 26th State Charter Schools Commission meeting.

Including this approval, the SCSC has authorized 36 state charter schools located throughout the state. 29 schools are currently operational and seven are scheduled to open in the 2019-2020 school year. More information about the SCSC, current state charter schools and the petition process is available on the SCSC website.

The SCSC is a state-level, independent charter school authorizing entity. The mission of the SCSC is to improve public education by authorizing high quality charter schools that provide students with better educational opportunities than they would otherwise receive in traditional district schools. The SCSC has the power to approve or deny petitions for state charter schools and renew, non-renew, or terminate state charter school petitions in accordance with Georgia law.