State Charter Schools Commission Approves Three New Schools

Atlanta, GA – At its September 24 meeting, the State Charter Schools Commission (SCSC) approved three new public charter schools. All three schools were given an extra month at the Commission’s August meeting, in order to provide additional information for the SCSC.

Dr. Tony Roberts, President and CEO of the Georgia Charter Schools Association expressed his pleasure at the approvals, which will bring new charter school options to Middle Georgia, Valdosta and Clayton County. “The addition of these three charter schools will provide more parents and children with quality options in public K-12 education. We applaud the thoughtful consideration by the SCSC staff and Commissioners working together with community leaders and educators to establish these new charter schools.”

The three new charter schools are:

Cirrus Academy Charter School | Attendance Zone: Statewide |Grades: K-12

Cirrus Academy Charter School, based in Bibb County, but open to students statewide, is founded on the theory of multiple intelligences and established curricular pathways in Science, Technology, Engineering, Math, and the Arts (STEM + Arts). Beyond required core courses within each academic area, students participate in a science and technology based curriculum where they will explore seven creative and performing arts classes: ballet, visual arts, French, instrumental, creative writing, science, and vocal music.  

Du Bois Integrity Academy | Attendance Zone: Clayton County |Grades: K-5

Du Bois Integrity Academy’s mission is to prepare college and career ready scholars who are confident and inquisitive lifelong learners. The academic program has two pillars that support substantial achievement improvement — STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) combined with Blended Learning. The program embeds a nationally-renowned STEM curriculum and development model that is aligned with Common Core State Standards (CCSS) and Common Core Georgia Performance Standards (CCGPS). 

Scintilla Charter Academy | Attendance Zone: Lowndes County/Valdosta City |Grades: K-5

The mission of Scintilla Charter Academy is to increase student achievement and develop social responsibility through educational innovations in a safe community of involved families and educators. The school will guide locally underserved and underperforming students in reaching their educational potential with a strong focus on Project-Based Learning (PBL) and Service Learning (SL). It will also emphasize collaborative teaching across subjects, with subject-specific teachers from first grade upwards. The school will integrate looping, foreign language, keyboarding, extended school day, and technology into its academic design.

Speaking on behalf of Cirrus Academy Charter School, which will serve Bibb and six adjacent counties, Board President Pamela Brown thanked the Commission for their approval and said, “Your request for additional information actually made us sharper and stronger. We now have formalized partnerships with four local universities. Voting for charter schools was one of the best votes I have ever cast as a citizen,” Ms. Brown added.

Asked about the name of his school, Scintilla Charter Academy Board President Zachary Cowart explained that the word scintilla means a tiny spark that creates a bigger fire.  Commissioner Tony Lowden expressed the hope that all three new schools will be sparks to inspire new charter school petitioners.

 

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