Georgia House Bill 318 is a crucial charter school bill championed by the Georgia Charter Schools Association and key state lawmakers. The bill addresses four important issues continually flagged by charter schools: Letters of Assurance, administrative withhold fees, local charter school funding, and charter school oversight. The bill is sponsored by Rep. Scott Hilton, District 48, and carried by Sen. Shelly Echols, District 49 in the Senate. HB 318 does the following:
- Shifts the state’s existing Office of Charter School Compliance from the Georgia Department of Education to the State Charter Schools Commission.
- Requires charter school authorizers to itemize and value the services provided to each local charter school in exchange for any administrative fees withheld from the school.
- Clarifies the allowable usage of Letters of Assurance.
- Ensures that local school boards fund charter schools based on actual student enrollment rather than projected enrollment provided that the school has not exceeded the school-wide enrollment cap outlined in its charter contract.
