by Georgia Charter Schools Association
By GCSA
According to a new report released by the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, Atlanta is one of 10 U.S. cities which cannot meet parental demand for charter schools.
“With the advent of public charter schools, however, parents finally have a viable public alternative in some of our lowest-performing urban school systems. Each school year thousands of families faced with schools unable to meet their children’s needs seek better options by applying to public charter schools. Unfortunately, in communities with few high-quality public school options, the demand for public charter schools is substantially higher than the number of seats available. When this happens, public charter schools hold lotteries to determine which students will be able to attend. And every year far too many students end up on wait lists, rather than in the schools of their choice. No student’s fate should be decided by a lottery ball.”
“This report examines conditions in 10 urban districts that have large wait lists for their public charter schools. These districts are from all regions of the country and from states with varying policy contexts, particularly as it relates to caps, facilities funding, and start-up dollars. However, what many of these school districts have in common is that their traditional public school systems perform well below their state’s average, and they have public charter schools that are achieving positive academic outcomes for their students. Not surprisingly, these school districts also have thousands of students who are still waiting for a chance to attend a public charter school.”
Download the Report: “Waiting for Their Chance: A Closer Look at Wait Lists in Urban Public Charter Schools.”
Georgia Charter Schools Association
The Georgia Charter Schools Association (GCSA) is the membership organization for Georgia’s charter school operators and petitioners, established in 2001. Our mission is to be an effective advocate and service provider for all charter public schools in Georgia.
