For Immediate Release: Feb. 2, 2016
Atlanta, GA – Hundreds of Georgia charter school teachers, leaders and authorizers will gather for the 13th annual Georgia Charter Schools Conference on Feb. 3-5 at the Marriott Century Center at 2000 Century Blvd. N.E. This year’s keynote speaker is Tim King. King is founder, president and CEO of Urban Prep Academies, a nonprofit organization operating a network of public college-prep boys’ schools in Chicago. 100 percent of Urban Prep graduates have been admitted to four-year colleges and universities. King will speak at 8:30 a.m. on Thursday, Feb. 4.
Attendees will also hear a panel discussion regarding education funding formula recommendations recently made by the Governor’s Education Reform Commission and their potential impact on Georgia charter schools on Thursday, Feb. 4 at 12:30 p.m. The panel discussion will feature Erin Hames, President of ReformEd; Hannah Heck, Vice Chair of Westside Atlanta Charter School; Cynthia Kuhlman, Director of Educational Achievement for the CF Foundation, Inc. and Kennesaw State University professor Ben Scafidi.
In addition, those attending the conference hosted by the Georgia Charter Schools Association will learn more about weighted lotteries during a breakout session at 1:45 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 4. The discussion comes after Georgia lawmakers passed legislation last year that allows some charter schools to give more weight in admission lotteries to students who are educationally or economically disadvantaged. Supporters say the method allows charter schools to create student bodies that are more socioeconomically diverse. Those opposed say weighted lotteries would leave fewer spots for those who live in the attendance zones of certain charter schools.
Other breakout session topics include: what role charter schools can play in solving Georgia’s graduation dilemma, the importance of well trained teachers and what options charter schools have when seeking facilities. The conference will also feature the 2016 Georgia Charter School of the Year Award. Please see the attached schedule for more information on the entire conference.
The Georgia Charter Schools Association is the nonprofit membership organization for Georgia’s charter school operators and petitioners. The mission of GCSA is to improve student achievement and promote educational choice by serving and advancing Georgia’s charter school sector.
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Contact
Michelle Wirth
Director of Communications, Georgia Charter Schools Association
404-835-8903 (Office)