Fulton Schools Sign Charter Petition

The Fulton County School System today became the largest school system in Georgia to submit a petition to become a charter school district.

At the Georgia Department of Education, Superintendent Robert Avossa and School Board President Linda Schultz signed the documents and formally submitted the application that outlines the district’s proposed practices to improve the academic performance of all Fulton County Schools students. 

“This is the culmination of nearly two years of intensive study, dialogue with parents, staff and the community, and research into the best practices that will help all kids be successful,” said Avossa. “We’ve received excellent feedback from the Georgia Department of Education and look forward to receiving their final recommendation.”

If approved, charter status for the entire school system will allow more flexibility in operations, particularly among three main areas – people, instruction and finances. The 50-page application suggests how the school district could adjust its hiring processes and give schools more flexibility in its staffing. The charter system model also supports curriculum innovation, such as how students receive instruction and how technology could be leveraged in the classroom. 

And as the final charter tenet, financial flexibility also could be found through the way certain resources within each local school are allocated and through waivers from state-mandated spending requirements. 

With the final application now submitted, the Fulton County School System now waits for direction from the Georgia Board of Education, which is expected to make a decision in the spring.