IRWIN COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT

CHARTER SCHOOL PETITION DEADLINES

For Opening Fall of 2027
Letter of Intent Deadline:  July 1, 2025
Petition Deadline: on or before January 1, 2026
School Board Decision:  on or before June 30, 2026
Pre-opening period:  12-18 months, opening August 2027

For Opening Fall of 2028
Letter of Intent Deadline:  July 1, 2026
Petition Deadline: on or before January 1, 2027
School Board Decision:  on or before June 30, 2027
Pre-opening period:  12-18 months, opening August 2028

For Opening Fall of 2029
Letter of Intent Deadline:  July 1, 2027
Petition Deadline: on or before January 1, 2028
School Board Decision:  on or before June 30, 2028
Pre-opening period:  12-18 months, opening August 2029

Charter Petitioner Resources:  https://scsc.georgia.gov/office-charter-school-compliance/local-start-petition

PETITION PROCESS

A charter school letter of intent shall be submitted to the Superintendent of the Irwin County School District no later than July 1st (approximately 24 months before proposed opening date).  

Charter school petitions shall be submitted to the Superintendent of the Irwin County School District and to the Office of Charter Schools for approval for the succeeding fiscal year prior to January 1.  Any petition submitted after January 1 will be considered for the fiscal year after the succeeding year.

The Irwin County Board of Education shall review and evaluate the petition, and the Superintendent shall make a recommendation to the Board. The Board by a majority vote shall approve or deny the petition no later than 90 days after the submission of the petition, unless the petitioner requests an extension, and ultimately no later than June 30 if the school plans to open the subsequent fiscal year.  Approved petitioners would be expected to begin serving students 12-18 months following School Board action.

If the Board denies the petition, it must within sixty (60) calendar days specifically state the reason for the denial; list all deficiencies with respect to the requirements of the Charter Schools Act, State Board of Education Rule, and this policy; and provide a written statement of the denial to the charter petitioner and the State Board.  A denial of the petition by the Irwin County Board of Education shall not preclude the submission to the Board of a revised petition that addresses deficiencies cited in the denial.