• Hiring Updates- on October 1, we onboarded two new staff members
  • Molly Gassman (School Support & Outreach Specialist, School Support & Outreach Division) 
  • Guin Jones (Petitions Coordinator, New Schools Division) 
• Next meeting will be on February 26, 2024.

Officer Nominations

Commissioner Brockway nominated Mike Dudgeon as Chair.  The nomination was unanimously approved.

Dr. Good was nominated by Commissioner Millan and Commissioner Scafidi as Vice Chair.  The nomination was unanimously approved. 

• The Research and Evaluation Division presented in the following areas:
  • 2023-2024 Georgia Milestones Results (Math)
  • Graduation Rate Results 

SCSC Commissioners asked clarifying questions regarding the scores and data.

• The Finance Division presented the following information: 
  • FY24 Audit Update- Audits were due from schools on November 1. Forty-one out of 49 schools submitted on or before the deadline, with two schools submitting one week late. The deadline was extended to December 2 for two schools due to issues stemming from the recent hurricanes and another because of lingering issues the school has with separating from their prior ESP. These schools will earn full points if they submit their audits by the new deadline. The SCSC is working with the three remaining schools to submit their audits by December 2 so they can receive partial points on the CPF. 

• Governance training dates—Governance training is scheduled for two dates. The first will be held at the Loudermilk Center in Atlanta on February 11th and 12th, and the second will be held at the Classic Center in Athens on April 22nd and 23rd. The first day will take place from 12:30 to 5:00, and training will be focused on new governing board members. The second day will take place from 9:00 to 5:00 for all governing board members. Schools are encouraged to send administrators to participate as well.
• Governance training guidance—Guidance on the newly approved SCSC Governance Training Policy will be released this week. The guidance provides definitions for “new” and “tenured” board members, details on required training topics, and instructions on when and how alternate providers may be used.

• The Senior Director of the Office of Charter School Compliance is working with the General Counsel, the Director of New Schools, and the team on a draft State Board of Education rule amendment to align state and local charter petition timelines. The Executive Director has also had positive conversations with SBOE Chairman Stan DeJarnett and Charter/Flexibility Committee Chair Scott Sweeney who have been supportive of aligning timelines. 
• The objective is to ensure local authorizers make official decisions on start-up charter petitions by June 30. They must have a window to approve/deny charter petitions that is 90 days or less. The petitioner can request an extension from the authorizer if the final board decision is made before June 30. The timeline must be posted on the local authorizer’s website by January 1st. 
• Staff aims to submit the board rule amendment draft to GaDOE’s General Counsel by the end of the year, allowing time for review and consideration by the SBOE at their February meeting for enactment. The revised rule approval vote would take place at the March SBOE meeting after 30 days of public comment has been exhausted.