Senate passes bill to create completion and dropout-recovery charter schools
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Summary
Senate Bill 369, passed by substitute, creates a category of completion/dropout-recovery charter schools with alternative performance standards aimed at returning marginalized students to a path to graduation; proponents said the approach offers new accountability metrics tailored to students' needs.
The Georgia Senate on Feb. 17 passed a substitute to Senate Bill 369 to establish completion (dropout-recovery) charter schools and create an accountability framework tailored to students who have dropped out or are at high risk of dropping out.
Senator (39) said the proposal allows local districts to approve charter schools focused on marginalized students and recommends alternative, mastery- or outcome-based performance metrics such as credit-recovery rates, increased GPA, attendance improvements, FAFSA completion, or acceptance into postsecondary education as markers of success rather than relying solely on the statewide CCRPI metric. Senator (12), who said she previously led a dropout-prevention high school, described the bill as ‘‘extremely necessary’’ and emphasized that alternative accountability recognizes the different starting points of students and rewards measurable progress.
On the floor, senators asked whether removing these schools from CCRPI pools could change which schools qualify for programs that rely on bottom-25% metrics; supporters acknowledged it could change the composition of that pool and affect eligibility for certain programs. The committee substitute was adopted and the bill passed by a recorded vote showing 47 yeas and 0 nays.
Supporters said the bill will provide districts tools to re-engage students with barriers to traditional schedules and instruction; critics did not prevail in sustaining objections on the floor.
The bill now proceeds through the legislative process.