Advocates for a proposed charter school to be called the STEM Inventors Academy suffered a setback this week when the Cobb County School District turned down a $50,000 planning grant.

Superintendent Michael Hinojosa sent state officials a letter dated Wednesday declining the federal Race to the Top money, which was awarded to a coalition led by the school system.

Cobb officials thought their partners wanted a conversion charter school, then learned the prevailing sentiment actually was for a start-up charter, district spokesman Jay Dillon said. The district, by law, cannot be involved in planning one of those, he said. None of the other coalition partners, including Kennesaw State University, stepped forward to accept the money.

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In this file photo from October 2024, Atlanta Braves outfielder Jorge Soler and teammates react after losing to the San Diego Padres 5-4 in San Diego. The Braves and Soler, who now plays for the Los Angeles Angels, face a lawsuit by a fan injured at a 2021 World Series game at Truist Park in Atlanta. (Jason Getz/AJC)

Credit: Jason.Getz@ajc.com