Fulton schools open to "charter" idea

By Nancy Badertscher

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

The Fulton County school system opened its doors Monday to 92,000 students and to the possibility that it will be writing a new chapter in state history this year.

The state's fourth largest school system will be evaluating whether to seek permission to become the largest charter school system in Georgia -- and one of the biggest in the country -- in Fall 2012.

Thirteen of Fulton County's 101 schools are charters, and one of the challenges will be to see how the trademark flexibility of charter schools can be applied system-wide, said Dr. Cindy Loe, county school superintendent.

"I have the feeling the community is going to be supportive because this district, as far as I know, is probably the most charter friendly district in Georgia," Loe said.

Bruce Pifke, who has two children in Fulton County charter schools, expects a thorough debate.

"In this time of skepticism of government, I've really grown to expect Cindy Loe and our school board to get input from the community before they do anything dramatic -- even when it's a good thing," Pifke said.

All local school systems have until 2013 to notify the Georgia Department of Education whether they plan to become either a charter or an IE2 system or remain the status quo, said Matt Cardoza, the DOE's director of communications.

Seven charter school systems already exist in Georgia, including the city systems in Decatur, Marietta and Gainesville. Nationally, the closest models are Charlotte Mecklenburg (N.C.) Schools and Boston Public Schools.

Charter schools traditionally operate with freedom from many of the regulations that apply to traditional public schools. Most are granted charters for five years and are expected to produce positive academic results in exchange for flexibility in spending, staffing and other rules.

Loe said school officials plan to study the school systems in Boston and Charlotte and solicit feedback from parents, students, educators and community leaders, with the goal of bringing a recommendation to members of the county school board next fall.

"They might vote to approve it. They might vote not to approve it," said Laura Stowell, Fulton's charter liaison. "If the stars align, sometime in March or April we'll be notified of approval. It's a five-year plan, so it won't be magically overnight."

Added Loe: "It sort of evolves as the school and the community are ready for the flexibility."

Tony Roberts, chief executive officer of the Georgia Charter Schools Association, said the move to a charter system could be challenging.

"Creating those quality learning environments is not an easy proposition that can be accomplished by simply calling a school a ‘charter' school, and so developing an entire system of quality charter schools is an undertaking that should be approached with great consideration given to all the aspects of true chartering -- innovation, autonomy, accountability and transparency," he said.

Roberts said Fulton school officials have to be careful that any steps they take don't jeopardize independent charter schools, including Amana Academy, Fulton Science Academy, Fulton Science Academy High School, Hapeville Charter Academy and KIPP South Fulton, that have established a consistent level of quality and student achievement.

Currently, he said, there doesn't seem to be any consistent data to determine if system chartering works in the long term.

Bridget Brennan of Sandy Springs, who has four children in charter schools in Fulton, believes a charter system is an idea worth exploring.

"What will be key to the success is everybody having realistic expectations up front," Brennan said."Would it make some of the [programs] I like more available to south Fulton students? Then, I think that's a huge positive. The only thing is it is going to take parents to encourage parents. Everybody sort of has to embrace it."

Brennan, who moved to Fulton County from Philadelphia, said she has been pleased at the broader array of learning experiences her children have had in the charter schools. "I have enjoyed the charter experience," she said.

Pifke said he's concluded that the key to a good charter school is a great principal.

"It takes a lot of dedication, work and time to even create what you think is the proper charter for your school so you can have higher achievement," he said. "It really starts at the top."

Fulton County has sent a letter to the state, expressing interest in becoming a charter system, Cardoza said.

Last year, local officials looked at -- and decided against -- IE2, a system that's in place in neighboring Gwinnett and Forsyth counties and is designed to give local school boards greater flexibility as a trade-off for increased student achievement. The school systems are required to develop school-level student achievement goals, and if those goals aren't met, the local school board can lose authority over those schools.

"It [IE2] just didn't seem to us that wasn't going to be the right fit," said Loe, who was previously in Gwinnett schools.

And the third choice -- no change -- was not an option, she said.

"In Fulton County, we have never been about the status quo," Loe said. "It's always been about getting better each year."

Fulton schools

Fulton County Schools back in session today (Monday)

Enrollment: about 1,700 more students are expected

Calendar: The school year has been reduced to 177 days, saving the system $1.1 million. Students will spend the extra 10 minutes a day focusing on math.

New schools: Feldwood Elementary School, 5790 Feldwood Road, College Park

Furlough days anticipated: three for teachers, minimum of six for administrators

Source: Fulton County Schools