Agreement reached in Atlanta, Fulton school spat

By Kristina Torres

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Atlanta and Fulton County have reached agreement to end what Atlanta officials said was the systematic recruitment of students away from city schools.

The agreement comes in response to a lawsuit filed this spring by the city system over a Fulton high school's enrollment of students who otherwise lived within Atlanta's boundaries. At stake: State funding that follows students when they move from one public school to another.

It allows about 100 Atlanta students currently attending Riverwood International Charter School to stay and complete their education, spokespeople from both systems said. But it would bar new enrollment by city students unless the two systems reach a formal arrangement.

Fulton Superior Court Judge Michael D. Johnson signed off Wednesday on the agreement. He ordered Fulton to reimburse Atlanta for state funding Riverwood would otherwise receive this upcoming school year for some city students. Johnson also ordered Fulton to pay Atlanta $44,000 in attorneys' fees and other expenses.

Riverwood, which has about 1,400 students, is a conversion charter school, which means it operates under the purview of the Fulton school system but with greater freedom from the rules.

The school's charter agreement allows the school to accept out-of-district students on a cost reimbursement basis. That means it can charge tuition to make up for costs that otherwise would be paid for with local tax dollars. Riverwood is charging some Atlanta students $8,000 a year in tuition.

The Atlanta system filed suit in May. The suit followed a ruling in April by the Georgia Department of Education, which said Fulton needed to have a memorandum of understanding with the city school system in order for Riverwood to enroll Atlanta students. The two systems have no agreement now.

Fulton officials have said the school has not enrolled any Atlanta students since receiving the Education Department's letter in April.