The Georgia General Assembly concluded the 2026 legislative session on Tuesday, April 2. The session included several notable wins for听charter听schools, along with a few legislative challenges, despite sustained advocacy efforts. Below are key highlights and areas where progress fell short.
Wins:
Senate Bill 369 (HB 1257 Provisions)
SB 82 Cleanup
听contains language, drafted by the State听Charter听Schools听Commission. The legislation builds on SB 82 and strengthens the framework for rulemaking and incentive grants. Senate Bill 82, which passed during the 2025 legislative session, addresses the state鈥檚听charter听school听access issue by incentivizing local听school听districts to approve more听charter听schools听and holding districts accountable if they repeatedly deny high-quality听charter听petitions.
Drop-out Recovery听Schools Provision
Adds a new definition for听鈥�completion charter schools,鈥� recognizing them as听schools听specifically designed to serve students who are off-track for graduation or need alternative pathways.听
Creates a tailored framework of rules and standards for these听schools, rather than holding them to the exact same model as traditional听charter听schools.听
Allows existing听charter听schools听to convert into听completion charter schools听if they choose to focus on this student population.听
Establishes separate performance expectations, acknowledging that success metrics for re-engaging and graduating at-risk students should differ from traditional academic benchmarks.
Multi-School听Governance Provision
The bill includes a provision to create a scalable听charter听school听governance model, by allowing the same governing board to oversee both the nonprofit organization and the听school. This legislation enables a centralized structure that can extend across multiple campuses. Instead of building a brand-new board for every听school, an organization can replicate its model under one aligned governing body鈥攎aking expansion faster and more consistent. The bill signals thoughtful growth of proven models, which can attract strong organizations to invest and expand in Georgia.
Virtual听School听Athletic Participation
The legislation听allows virtual听school听students to participate in athletics at their zoned brick-and-mortar听schools. This language was originally part of听听sponsored by Rep. Robert Flournoy.
Losses:
Senate Bill 498
, sponsored by Sen. Clint Dixon, was championed by 91桃色视频 and would have created the Georgia听Charter听School听Facilities Authority to help听charter听schools听address significant challenges in financing facilities by supporting construction and renovation projects through revolving loans and other funding. The bill passed the Senate, cleared the House Education Committee, and was approved by the full House after its language was added to听. It then required a final 鈥渁gree鈥� vote from the Senate to reach final passage. Despite support in both chambers, time ran out on the final day of the session.
House Bill 1308
,听sponsored by Rep. Debra Silcox, would have improved听charter听school听access to unused district-owned facilities.
Senate bill 475
,听sponsored by Sen. RaShaun Kemp, promoted fair treatment of听charter听schools听in ESPLOST (Education Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax) awards.
As always, we’re grateful to our member听schools, and we will continue to keep you informed about any future developments or advocacy efforts.
