Note the agenda item should be listed as Approve Minutes from April 20, 2026 Academic Committee Meeting.

Student Council Introduction presented by Barry Williams & Melinda Coley

• Student Council representatives from grades 3–8 were introduced to the committee.
• Student leaders shared goals to increase student engagement, expand extracurricular and social opportunities, and improve student voice within the school community.
• Students discussed interest in additional hands-on learning experiences, outdoor activities, and a greater variety in school lunch offerings.
• Student representatives also shared plans to gather feedback from peers through student interviews and surveys to better inform future activities and initiatives.
• Committee members commended the students for their leadership, professionalism, and commitment to improving school culture.

Data and Assessment presented by Diane Freeman

• Diane Freeman provided an update on Georgia Milestones testing administration and completion.
• Over 50 students who initially missed portions of testing were successfully retested, with six students remaining untested due to parent decisions related to illness.
• The committee discussed summer remediation and retesting requirements for grades 5 and 8 in English Language Arts and Math.
• Diane Freeman shared updates regarding CCRPI reporting timelines and noted that final ELA results are expected in November 2026.
• Upcoming literacy achievement metric changes anticipated for 2027 accountability reporting were also discussed.

Curriculum and Instruction presented by Nisah Brinson

• Nisah Brinson reviewed academic growth data for the after-school program using beginning- and end-of-program diagnostic assessments.
• Academic growth was noted across multiple grade levels, with Grade 6 demonstrating strong math growth and Grade 7 showing significant reading growth.
• Nisah Brinson discussed the need to begin intervention services earlier in the school year to allow additional time for skill development and academic acceleration.
• Recommendations included increased integration of MTSS supports, expanded collaboration with special education services, and stronger alignment of intervention materials with Georgia Milestones standards.
• The committee also discussed ongoing professional development and implementation support related to the Science of Reading and Amplify instructional practices.

Culture and Attendance presented by Nisah Brinson

• Nisah Brinson presented the April culture and attendance report, highlighting an overall decrease in behavioral referrals across the school year.
• Reductions were noted in classroom disruptions and physical aggression incidents.
• The committee discussed increases in cell phone violations and bullying-related incidents.
• Attendance trends showed improvement across most grade levels, though continued attendance concerns remain for grades 7 and 8.
• School leadership discussed strengthening enforcement procedures related to student cell phone expectations and reviewing the student handbook for potential policy updates.
• Committee members also noted approval of sensory room wishlist purchases during the recent budget and operations meetings.

FY27 Board & Committee Calendar & Board Training Update presented by Chantelle Blake

• Chantelle Blake presented the proposed FY27 Board and Committee Meeting Calendar for committee review and feedback.
• Committee members discussed potential adjustments to Academic Committee meeting scheduling to better align with board reporting timelines.
• An update was provided regarding annual board training requirements and outstanding training hours for several board members.
• Additional governance training opportunities through GCSA or other approved providers were discussed to support compliance prior to the June 30 deadline.
• The committee also discussed the importance of continued alignment to charter commitments and enrichment programming as part of ongoing charter renewal preparation.

No items for approval