Donovan Head appointed as Executive Director of
State Charter Schools Commission of Georgia
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The State Charter Schools Commission of Georgia has announced the appointment of Donovan Head as the new Executive Director, with his official start date set for August 1. Governor Brian Kemp and Board Chair Buzz Brockway both lauded the decision, commending Donovan's deep commitment to the success of Georgia's students and his impressive qualifications.
Donovan Head brings valuable experience to the role, having served as Deputy Director of the Governor's Office of Student Achievement. His previous contributions extend beyond state-level work, as he played crucial roles in Governor Kemp's 2018 campaign as Deputy Campaign Manager and served as a senior Congressional staffer for two members of Congress.
With a bachelor's degree in political science from Valdosta State University, Donovan is well-equipped to lead the Commission and fulfill its mission of authorizing high-quality charter schools that provide students with better educational opportunities than they would otherwise receive in traditional district schools. His appointment marks a pivotal moment for the Commission, as they look forward to enhancing educational opportunities for families across Georgia under his leadership.
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State Charter Schools Commission Updates & Announcements | |
Commission Board Approves Charter Petitions | |
The Commission Board approved petitions for two start-up state charter schools at its July board meeting. Commissioners affirmed staff recommendations to authorize Excelsior Village Academies and Movement Schools Athens. The schools plan to open in the 2024-25 and 2025-26 school years, respectively. | |
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We are beyond excited about the approval of Excelsior Village Academies! To be granted the opportunity to serve our kids in an impactful way is a dream come true. We are proud to be the first charter school in Henry County which will in turn offer all families another school option. Our board is more than ready to support our CEO, Michelle Flowers, in carrying out the vision of EVA, and cannot wait to continue on to the next part of this journey!
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Movement Schools wants to express our deepest gratitude for the SCSC board’s approval of Movement Schools Athens. We are eager to collaborate with the SCSC board, local authorities, parents, and community members to ensure that our school becomes an integral part of the fabric of Georgia. Together, we can create a vibrant educational institution that prepares our students for future success, equips them with the necessary skills, and instills in them a sense of social responsibility and civic engagement.
This approval not only validates our vision and mission but also signifies the trust and confidence that the SCSC board has placed in our ability to make a positive impact on the lives of students. We recognize the immense responsibility that comes with operating a school in Georgia, and we are fully committed to upholding the highest standards of educational excellence, transparency, and accountability.
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Comprehensive Performance Framework Updates | |
The Commission board approved the staff's proposed updates to the Comprehensive Performance Framework (CPF) school years 2022-23 and 2023-24. The updates span all three CPF categories - Academic, Financial and Operational - and are intended to increase clarity and transparency for Georgia stakeholders. The updates CPF can be viewed on the SCSC website. | |
| FY24 Monitoring Webinar
Registration Link | August 14, 2023, 2 p.m. | | Monitoring Application opens in the
SCSC Administrative Portal | August 15, 2023 | | Notice of assigned date of Health &
Safety Site Visit for qualifying schools | August 15, 2023 | | Monitoring Application Submission Deadline | September 18, 2023, 11:59 p.m. | | Health and Safety Site Visit Window | September 1-October 31, 2023 | | |
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Remember to use your
School’s ESSER Dollars
The 2023-2024 School Year is the last full school year for schools and districts to use their remaining ESSER dollars. Funds are available through September 30, 2024.
The Georgia Department of Education’s ESSER webpage provides resources regarding submitting ESSER budgets, allowable uses of funds, and other helpful information. It also holds monthly ESSER Open Office Hour sessions which answer questions regarding any new updates, so ESSER grants continue to be used effectively. The next Office Hour session is August 8 from 10a-11a. Schools can register from the ESSER webpage.
Don’t delay in submitting budgets and using your ESSER dollars to make the upcoming school year the best ever for your students.
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Website Monitoring Reminder
State Charter Schools must ensure website transparency compliance. Please utilize this checklist as a resource to ensure that school websites promote transparency and monitoring per SCSC Rule 691-2-.03 (State Charter School Monitoring) and SBOE Rule 160-4-9-.06 (Charter Authorizers, Financing, Management, and Governance Training)
State Charter School Website Checklist
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Update your School’s Profile | |
The FindaGaCharter.org website features a school locator map. This map includes each Georgia charter school and a link to their profile page. With the new school year starting, we are encouraging schools to update their free profiles with correct information (i.e. updated grade bands, updated attendance zones, other school updates).
To update your school’s profile, log into the site with your credentials (FindaGaCharter.org/login). If you have never logged in before, please reach out to Molly Gassman (mgassman@scsfga.org) for your preliminary credentials. Once logged in, visit your school’s page, click the gear icon in the top right corner, click “Edit Profile,” and make any changes. Schools can also post information about upcoming events, and changes may be made at any time free of charge. FindaGaCharter.org is a website created by the Georgia Strategic Charter School Growth Initiative and maintained by the State Charter Schools Foundation of Georgia. Information about CSP grant and cohort opportunities will be posted on this site soon.
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Replication and Expansion Cohort Program
Application Coming Soon
The SCSF will be accepting applications for the 2nd round of the Replication and Expansion Cohort program. This one-year program features three components – intensive strategic planning services provided by a national consultant, facility and finance consultative services, and implementation support to help schools carry out their strategic plans. The program will include in-person and remote services and several group convenings. Charter schools are eligible to apply if they are planning to expand into a new grade band or serve at least 100 new students or if they are considering replicating their model. Schools with already-approved expansions or replications that are underway are eligible for this opportunity in most cases. The program will be free of charge to participating schools, and funding is provided by the SCSF’s federal CSP Grant as a part of the Georgia Strategic Charter School Growth Initiative. Information will be posted this week.
For more information and the application, please visit FindaGaCharter.org.
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Georgia Department of Education Updates & Announcements | |
Literacy Guidance Update
The state board voted last week to approve the list of universal screeners in compliance with the Georgia Early Literacy Act.
Additionally, the state board initiated an amendment to SBOE Rule 160-3-1-.07 Testing Programs – Student Assessment to adopt the mathematics and ELA courses that will be assessed with the Georgia Milestones EOCs and GAA 2.0 in alignment with Georgia’s new mathematics and ELA standards, adopt dyslexia and universal reading screening requirements as specified in state law, and provide exemption from the GKIDS ELA portion for kindergarten students being administered dyslexia and universal reading screeners.
Aligning Literacy State Policies and Practices – Updated Guidance
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Feminine Hygiene Grant Expanded
The Feminine Hygiene Grant provides funds based on the October FTE to provide feminine hygiene products to students in need. This year, the potential uses of the funds have expanded to include dispensers. These funds will be released to districts within the next month, in addition to specific requirements and suggestions for expenditure.
For additional info, please contact:
Kim Conley, kim.conley@doe.k12.ga.us
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Statewide Passing Score SBOE Rule Amended
The state board voted last week to approve an amendment to the SBOE Rule 160-4-2-.13 Statewide Passing Score. The amendment changes the percentage requirement of the numeric score on the Georgia Milestones EOC assessment on a student’s final numeric grade in the course assessed by the EOC to a minimum of 10%, from the current percentage requirement of 20%.
SBOE Rule 160-4-2-.13 - Redlined
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Professional Learning & Development Opportunity | |
Title I, Part A Open Office Hours
Upcoming Dates
Aug 2, 9:30-10:30 AM
Sep 13, 9:30-10:30 AM
Full calendar for 2023-24
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GaLEADS Pilot Application
Cohort B Application Now Open
Deadline: Aug 3
Application & additional information
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Office of Rural Education and Innovation (REI) Partnerships Office Hours
Upcoming Dates
Aug 10, 8:30 - 9:30 am
Sep 14, 8:30-9:30 am
Full Calendar for Fall 2023
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ESSER Open Office Hour
Upcoming Dates
Aug 10, 10-11 AM
Sep 14, 10-11 AM
Full Calendar for Fall 2023
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Title III, Part A Open Office Hours
Upcoming Dates
Aug 15, 10-11 AM
Sep 5, 10-11 AM
Full Calendar for 2023-24
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GaDOE 2023-2024 Data, Privacy & Cybersecurity Conference
Registration Deadline: Aug 3
Aug 22-24, 2023
Info & Registration
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DRC BEACON Pre-Administration Training
DRC BEACON, a through-year, computer adaptive, free formative, interim assessment system currently available for ELA and mathematics in grades 3-8. Learn about how DRC BEACON provides estimated score ranges of performance on the Georgia Milestones end of year summative assessment. Aug. 1, 2023, 10:00 am - 12:00 pm. Register: DRC Beacon
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US Department of Education
National Student Privacy & Data Security Webinar 3-Day Series
Aug 16, 2 PM: FERPA 101 & FERPA
Aug 23, 2 PM: Data Security & Data Breach Incident Response
Aug 30, 2 PM: Vetting Educational Technology & Transparency
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Georgia's Family-Friendly Partnership School Initiative
To help schools, families, and communities work together in creating a Family-Friendly Partnership School, the Georgia Department of Education created Georgia’s Virtual Family-Friendly Partnership Schools.
Deadline: Aug 31
Application & additional information
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A private professional networking space to engage with other educators across the state.
| | GaDOE’s Professional Learning platform for Georgia school and district staff and education partners. | | The one-stop-shop site for Georgia educators to provide quick access to GaDOE educational resources, GA Standards of Excellence, data dashboards, professional learning, and GaDOE applications. | |
Funding & Engagement Programs | |
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GaDOE Competitive Grants
Periodically, funding is available for GaDOE to award to districts and schools in the form of competitive grants, solidifying this commitment to Georgia's students. In an effort to streamline communication and create a consistent application process, all competitive grant opportunities can now be accessed below.
GaDOE Grant Opportunities
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Follow the SCSC for real-time news and updates. | |
The State Charter Schools Commission of Georgia (SCSC) is a state-level, independent charter school authorizing entity. The SCSC has the power to approve or deny petitions for state charter schools and renew, nonrenew, or terminate state charter school contracts in accordance with Georgia law. | |
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