DeKalb County School District officials have already begun putting things in place to ease the transition for Ivy Prep Academies high school students after the charter school eliminated those grades.
“Many of the students may be returning to DeKalb school district if the parents decide,” said Pat Copeland, director of the DeKalb district’s school-choice program.
Ivy Prep leaders said Thursday decided to eliminate the high school grades based on their belief that the school did not have enough funding, staffing and space to properly educate those students. The charter school has two campuses in DeKalb County and one in Gwinnett County. The closing affects about 90 students.
“The DeKalb County School District welcomes with open arms the DeKalb students and families affected by the sudden closure of Ivy Prep,” Superintendent Stephen Green said. “We have plans in place to transition them smoothly back into DeKalb County Schools should they choose to return.”
A meeting for parents and children took place Friday at the academy’s Kirkwood location. Others were expected Monday at the academy’s other DeKalb location at 8 a.m. and its Gwinnett location at 6 p.m.
Copeland said the district has prepared a welcome packet for the new students and parents, which includes, among other things:
• A welcome letter
• Home attendance-area school and contact information
• Student and household registration packets
• Request for student record form
• Registration guidelines
• School choice application and information flyer
• Student support services directory
Copeland said any time a charter school stops serving students, the effect for the school district is like a new subdivision being built. She said the number of students affected by the Ivy Prep change should be easy to absorb. When Peachtree Hope charter school imploded after a year, about 500 students came back into district schools.
Copeland said there may be spots available in the gifted programs and magnet schools.
“We can take a look and see if there’s availability.” she said. “There’s criteria, and there may be some schools where we’ve exhausted the wait lists.”
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