Nearly 400 charter school teachers, principals, board members, school founders and potential school founders will be in attendance at the two-day conference, held outside of Metro Atlanta for the first time
(October 4, 2011) ATLANTA – For the first time in the nine-year history of the event, the annual conference of the Georgia Charter Schools Association will be held outside of metro Atlanta.
About 400 charter school supporters are expected to attend the GCSA Charter Schools Conference, Thursday and Friday, Oct. 6 and 7, at the Macon Marriott City Center Hotel. The theme for the Conference, the only statewide gathering of the entire Georgia charter school community, is “Planting, Growing and Sustaining a Quality Charter School.”
The two-day event will feature a keynote address by State Schools Superintendent John Barge (Thursday, 12:30 p.m.) and more than 50 informative workshops and seminars on topics dealing with charter schools and public education.
“Due to the significant amount of interest in and influence of charter schools across the state, we wanted to make attending the Conference a little more convenient for folks outside of metro Atlanta, illustrate to everyone that charter schools are no longer just an Atlanta-driven phenomena, and continue to cultivate and grow the charter school environment in other parts of Georgia,” said Tony Roberts, President and CEO of the Georgia Charter Schools Association. “Holding the Conference in Macon accomplishes all three, we believe.
“There are great charter schools outside of metro Atlanta,” Roberts said. “Oglethorpe Charter School in Savannah just celebrated its 10th anniversary. The Charter Conservatory for Liberal Arts and Technology in Statesboro routinely has the among the highest graduation rates in Georgia. International Studies Elementary Charter School in Albany, Lake Oconee Academy in Greene County and Pataula Charter School in southwest Georgia are providing children and families in those communities with a quality public school option to the traditional schools in those communities.”
# # #
ABOUT THE GCSA
The Georgia Charter Schools Association is the only non-profit membership organization for Georgia’s charter school operators and petitioners. Established in 2001, the mission of the GCSA is to be an effective advocate and service provider for all charter public schools in Georgia by:
- Advancing awareness of charter schools and their mission.
- Increasing awareness that charter schools are public schools.
- Communicating charter school needs to state and local officials.
- Supporting legislation to strengthen charter schools in Georgia.
- Facilitating opportunities for networking/collaboration among charter schools in Georgia and nationwide.
- Developing and implementing programs and services that advance student achievement, accountability and success in all of Georgia’s charter schools.
