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GeorgiaSB 3692025-2026 Regular SessionSenate

"Charter Schools Act of 1998"; completion charter schools; provide

Sponsored By: Matt Brass (Republican), Jason Esteves (Democrat), RaShaun Kemp (Democrat), Shawn Still (Republican)

Signed by Governor

EducationEducation and YouthGeneral Bill

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

5 provisions identified: 5 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Grants help boards open charter schools

Subject to state funding, local boards get $250,000 per qualifying new charter school annually for its first three operating years. Payments are due by September 1, and petitions must be approved after June 30, 2025. Schools must remain authorized by that board. Total grants are capped at $2.25 million per fiscal year; funding shortages reduce each grant proportionally. The grant program ends July 1, 2035.

More nonprofit options for charter schools

Charter applicants can operate as either a nonprofit corporation or a nonprofit company under Georgia law. This nonprofit-form requirement does not apply to local schools, local school systems, or state or local public entities. A state charter school's governing board can be its nonprofit applicant's board. It can instead be the parent corporation's board, but only when that corporation is the nonprofit's sole member.

New pathways for dropout recovery charters

The State Board of Education must set rules allowing existing charter schools to convert to dropout recovery charters. Converted charters remain subject to state law's initial charter-term restriction. Dropout recovery applications and charters must explain special education, remedial help, and other nontraditional services, with measurable performance standards. The board and State Charter Schools Commission must set separate standards for achievement, growth, and keeping students enrolled, with monitoring and reporting. The Office of Student Achievement must report these schools' results separately each year.

Statewide standards for nontraditional school programs

Georgia's State Board of Education must set rules for nontraditional school programs by July 1, 2027. These cover dropout prevention, academic intervention, credit recovery, and schedules outside the usual school day, week, or year. Rules must explain special education, remedial help, and other services. They must set measurable standards for achievement, student growth, and keeping students enrolled, with ongoing monitoring and reporting. The Office of Student Achievement must report local school systems' nontraditional program results separately each year.

Stronger oversight of high-risk school systems

Charter-authorizing standards now include annual checks, where applicable, for local school systems labeled high-risk by Georgia's auditors. A high-risk system must have a written plan to correct identified problems. Its board members and appropriate staff must take training related to those problems.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsors

  • Matt Brass

    Republican • Senate

  • Jason Esteves

    Democrat • Senate

  • RaShaun Kemp

    Democrat • Senate

  • Shawn Still

    Republican • Senate

Cosponsors

  • Jan Jones

    Republican • House

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 247 • No: 6

Senate vote • 3/31/2026

AGREE TO HOUSE SUBSTITUTE

Yes: 49 • No: 0 • Other: 4

House vote • 3/27/2026

PASSAGE

Yes: 151 • No: 6 • Other: 8

Senate vote • 2/17/2026

PASSAGE BY SUBSTITUTE

Yes: 47 • No: 0 • Other: 6

Actions Timeline

  1. Effective Date

    7/1/2026

  2. Senate Date Signed by Governor

    5/11/2026Senate

  3. Act 504

    5/11/2026

  4. Senate Sent to Governor

    4/10/2026Senate

  5. Senate Agreed House Amend or Sub

    3/31/2026Senate

  6. House Third Readers

    3/27/2026House

  7. House Passed/Adopted By Substitute

    3/27/2026House

  8. House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute

    3/20/2026House

  9. House Second Readers

    2/19/2026House

  10. House First Readers

    2/18/2026House

  11. Senate Third Read

    2/17/2026Senate

  12. Senate Passed/Adopted By Substitute

    2/17/2026Senate

  13. Senate Read Second Time

    2/12/2026Senate

  14. Senate Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute

    2/11/2026Senate

  15. Senate Read and Referred

    4/2/2025Senate

  16. Senate Hopper

    3/31/2025Senate

Bill Text

  • SB 369/AP* (v9)

    PDF

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