During its regularly scheduled meeting on May 10, 2012, the Georgia Board of Education approved the Fulton County School System's request to become a charter system. The charter petition was submitted to the State Department of Education last December. The five year charter will begin on July 1, 2012.
 
The school system began exploring charter system status after the state legislature passed a law requiring all school districts to decide by 2013 whether they would become an IE2 (Investing in Excellence in Education) system, a charter system, or continuing business as usual. Fulton chose the charter system option to increase alignment with the system's educational philosophy, desire for flexibility and need for community engagement.

Prior to submission of the charter system request, the school system engaged parents, staff, and the community through a series of focus groups and meetings, and also conducted intensive study and research. Suggestions and feedback were incorporated into the final petition.
 
This designation does not make the school system a system comprised of individual charter schools. Instead, Fulton will become a charter system - which provides the opportunity for flexibility in operations focusing on three main areas of people, instruction and finance. Additionally, this new charter model will increase flexible allocation of resources at the local school level to better support student achievement, allow innovation within the curriculum related to delivery of instruction, and provide financial flexibility within local schools regarding allocation of resources.
 
Over the next three years, schools will begin organizing School Governance Councils which will include parents, staff, and the community.
 
The school system will host a celebration on May 17, 4 p.m., at Dunwoody Springs Elementary School, located at 8100 Roberts Drive in Sandy Springs. The celebration will be in the school's media center. 

Recent Updates
1.19.2012
A new, convenient one-page location for all Charter System Exploration documents was added to the website. 

12.5.2011
Superintendent Robert Avossa and Board President Linda Schultz signed the documents and formally submitted Fulton's charter system application at the Georgia Department of Education on December 1, 2011.
(press release, photo)

Your continued engagement and feedback throughout this exploration process is welcomed and encouraged.