Four of five Georgia school districts that have applied to become the state's first charter school systems received letters this week from the state saying their petitions did not pass muster with a review committee and should be revised.

The fifth school system — Decatur City — learned its application has been approved for recommendation by the committee, said Andrew Broy, state associate superintendent for policy and charter schools.

The state Board of Education gives final approval to the charter petitions.

The other school systems applying for charter district status are: Marietta City; Gainesville City; Warren County, near Augusta; and Chattahoochee County, near Columbus.

Districts must submit their revised petitions to the state Department of Education's charter division by April 22.

The state board is expected to consider those petitions May 8.

Broy and committee members met with each of the districts to discuss the petitions.

In most cases, it was a matter of not enough detail on how goals of local school governance would be implemented at the local school level, he said.

The school systems needed to be more specific as to how local schools gain power over personnel and budget, Broy said. And, districts needed to spell out how requested waivers from state regulations would improve student performance.

Broy said Decatur City Schools' petition is "highly likely" to be recommended for approval.