Schools

Fulton Science Academy High Wants a State Charter

The Fulton County Board of Education voted to terminate the public school's charter, and that decision is on appeal with the state school board.

Fulton Science Academy High School has asked the Georgia Board of Education to hold off in making a ruling on its charter termination appeal until it has a chance to find out if it can get a state charter instead.

Rocco E. Testni of Sutherland, Asbill & Brennan, the law firm representing the school, sent a letter dated April 9 to the state board asking for the deferral.

The Fulton County School System voted to terminate the public school's charter earlier this year, saying the school had the same lack of management and fiscal problems as Fulton Science Academy Middle School had before it lost its charter renewal bid. An audit report by a consultant for the school system said low enrollment contributed to the school’s inability to adequately provide educational services.

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The charter school's governing board doesn't believe the county school board has established grounds for termination.

The creation of a new State Charter Schools Commission returns the possibility of a state charter for schools that are denied charters by local school systems.  Voters approved a state constitutional amendment for a new charter commission.

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The State Charter Schools Commission set a June 14 deadline for petitions for charters for the 2014-2015 school year. Only former commission schools will be heard on an expedited basis. So Fulton Science Academy High School understands its petition will be heard by Oct. 30.

If the high school received a recommendation for a charter through the State Charter Schools Commission, the state Board of Education could vote to approve that charter. That would make the Fulton County Schools charter irrelevant. However, if the commission voted against the state charter, the state board could still rule on the Fulton charter termination.

"We think that a deferral of a decision on the Local Board's request is not only fair under the circumstances of this case, in which the Local Board initiated termination proceeding sin the middle of the school year and after many years of operation, but would be consistent with the public policy set forth in HB 797, and the constitutional amendment approved by the voters in November 2012, providing for a meaningful and expended alternative to locally approved charter schools," Testani said.

The attorney for the charter school's governing board said it would be better and less disruptive for everyone, and more efficient, if there was an orderly transition from the school's status as a locally approved charter school to a state commission charter school.

"Specifically, this approach gives students the chance to continue at one school rather than having to make a change in the midst of their high school education," Testani said in his letter to the Georgia Department of Education's general counsel, Jennifer L. Hackemeyer.

See Also

School board: Fulton Science Academy appeal must wait till May, June – Northfulton.com

Board Votes for Closure of Fulton Science Academy High School

Fulton Superintendent Plans to Close Fulton Science Academy High

Board Votes for Closure of Fulton Science Academy High School

Fulton Superintendent Plans to Close Fulton Science Academy High




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