Dahlonega, GA — August 27, 2025 – The Lumpkin County Board of Education (LBOE) has reaffirmed and continues to enforce Board Policy IBB: Charter Schools, ensuring compliance with state law and Georgia State Board of Education regulations governing the establishment and operation of charter schools.
Policy IBB, originally adopted on March 9, 2015, outlines the procedures and requirements for submitting charter school petitions to the LBOE. This policy serves as a critical component of Lumpkin County’s commitment to transparency, accountability, and educational innovation within the framework of Georgia’s charter system law.
Key Provisions of Policy IBB
Who May Apply: Representatives from an existing public school within the district, private individuals, private organizations, or state/local public entities may submit charter petitions. By law, home study programs, sectarian or religious schools, for-profit schools, and existing private schools are prohibited from applying.
Submission Process: Petitioners must contact the Superintendent or designee for detailed guidelines and timelines for submission.
Approval Timelines:
Require a letter of intent to be submitted to the local Board and the Office of Charter School Compliance at least 6 months in advance of the charter petition being submitted.
Require that a final petition be submitted on or before January 1 (unless the OCSC approves an alternative deadline in advance).
Identify the timeframe between when the local board approves the charter petition and when the charter school is expected to begin serving students (pre-opening period). The pre-opening period shall be at least 6 months.
Require the local board to, by majority vote, approve or deny a petition no later than June 30.
If the petition is denied, then within 20 days a detailed statement of denial will be provided to the petitioner, the SBOE and the OCSC, with the elements set forth in state statute.
If the petition is approved, a copy is to be submitted to OCSC and notice of approval to the petitioner within 30 days.
The Superintendent is authorized to develop administrative regulations that ensure compliance with all state laws and provide an expedited review process for high-quality charter school renewals, expansions, and replications.
“This policy ensures that our district upholds the highest standards of governance and compliance while supporting educational options that serve students and families,” said Sharon Head, Superintendent of Lumpkin County Schools.
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Media Contact:
Jason D. Lemley
Director of Community Engagement
Lumpkin County School System
706-864-3611
jason.lemley@lumpkinschools.com