The Georgia Charter Schools Commission (GCSC) on Friday (June 18, 2010) approved the creation of two statewide virtual charter schools that together will serve grades 4-12. A virtual school offers courses to students via the Internet with teachers available online and by telephone.
Provost Academy Georgia is a statewide virtual high school serving grades 9-12. It proposes to contract with EdisonLearning, Inc. as its educational management organization. EdisonLearning currently contracts with 3 charter schools in Georgia, including 2 newly approved charter schools that will open this fall and the Charles R. Drew Charter School, which has demonstrated long-term and significant success in improving student achievement.
Kaplan Academy of Georgia is a statewide virtual school serving grades 4-12. It proposes to contract with Kaplan Virtual Education to provide the virtual curriculum and instruction.
The Commission’s final award of both new charters was made contingent upon the submission of acceptable revised budgets based on QBE (Quality Basic Education Act) funding only, and acceptable revisions to the education plans as required by the budget revisions.
“We are pleased to increase the opportunities for virtual schools for Georgia students,” said Commission Chairman Ben Scafidi. “We are especially pleased that both schools will serve high school students – a first for Georgia.”
Mark Peevy, the Commission’s Executive Director, said, “Today’s decisions mark the end of the Commission’s first full-year cycle. We are now looking forward to the 2010 application cycle and consideration of new applications for high quality Georgia charter schools.”
Click here for the Georgia Charter Schools Commission website.
Click here to review the GCSC’s recommendations.
