For Immediate Release
May 6, 2016
ATLANTA – The Georgia Charter Schools Association (GCSA) is pleased Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal signed House Bill 895 into law on Tuesday, May 3. The new law, which was sponsored by Rep. Rahn Mayo, D-Decatur, will bring more accountability to charter school finances and the directors who oversee them.
HB 895 requires financial training for those managing finances in Georgia charter schools. It also clearly separates the duties of the head of school and those who administer school finances. Additionally, charter school boards will have to undergo at least two hours of financial oversight training.
“The Georgia Charter Schools Association believes that those in charge of finances at Georgia’s public charter schools need proper qualifications and training to ensure fiscal responsibility, oversight, and controls,” said Tony Roberts, President and CEO of the Georgia Charter Schools Association. “Finance directors who lack the expertise gained through documented and charter-school-specific financial training put the long-term operational sustainability of charter schools at risk. GCSA applauds Rep. Rahn Mayo, the sponsor of HB 895, for taking steps to strengthen charter school financial operations and ensure that taxpayer money is well-managed and wisely spent.”
The Georgia Charter Schools Association worked closely with Rep. Mayo, House and Senate leadership, and the Georgia Department of Education to address financial oversight concerns expressed by a number of state lawmakers prior to the start of the 2016 legislative session. GCSA believes greater financial accountability is needed for not only charter schools but for all public schools in the state of Georgia.
About the Georgia Charter Schools Association
The Georgia Charter Schools Association is the nonprofit membership organization for Georgia’s public charter schools and petitioners. Its mission is to advance awareness of high-quality public charter schools, communicate charter school needs to state and local officials, support legislation to strengthen public charter schools in Georgia and build partnerships, collaborations and grassroots support. GCSA also provides programs and services that advance student achievement, school accountability and professional learning for charter school leaders.
Contact: Michelle Wirth
Director of Communications
Georgia Charter Schools Association
Office: 404-835-8903
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