Gwinnett denies charter school bids
Gwinnett County school board members Thursday evening unanimously denied two separate applications by groups to open charter schools.
District officials said the application for the proposed Crimson International Academy did not offer curriculum that is different from what is currently available in Gwinnett’s elementary and middle schools, and it did not clearly or accurately address how it would serve special-needs and academically gifted students. Gwinnett officials also thought the revenue projections were overstated and would result in a first-year shortfall of about $76,000. The academy would serve at least 226 kindergarten through eighth-grade students.
The other proposed school, Purpose International Academy, would serve at least 320 sixth- through 12th-grade students. It would operate as a year-round school with an intensive foreign language study program. District officials mentioned concerns similar to those about Crimson International Academy.
The petitioners can appeal Gwinnett’s decision to the state Department of Education’s Charter School Division.
About the Author
Eric Stirgus joined The Atlanta Journal-Constitution in 2001. He is the newsroom's education editor. Born and raised in Brooklyn, N.Y., Eric is active in the Atlanta Association of Black Journalists and the Education Writers Association and enjoys mentoring aspiring journalists.
