Lt. Governor Casey Cagle applauded the decision today by the State Board of Education to approve Warren County School System as Georgia’s first Charter System.

“Today, we have taken a significant step that will make a difference in the lives of students in Georgia. I am very proud of the historic step Warren County School System has taken today and am confident that they will maximize their potential for educational excellence as a result of becoming a Charter System. It is thrilling to see this law become a reality and I look forward to witnessing the positive change it will bring to our students.

“Charter Systems offer the truest form of local control and Georgia will see a genuine paradigm shift as more charter schools advance flexibility, innovation and resourceful teaching. I continue to hear from parents, teachers and students who want the positive change Charter Systems bring in their own community and I look forward to more systems moving in this direction in the future. We plan to work closely with the State Board of Education to ensure that the additional pending petitions, Decatur, Marietta, Gainesville and Chattahoochee County school systems will be given a fair review and quickly approved as well,” said Lt. Governor Casey Cagle.

Charter Systems, along with Career Academies, were Cagle’s educational initiatives to promote innovation and flexibility in the classroom. A Charter System provides the opportunity for teachers, administrators, parents, and school boards to have greater flexibility and to determine the educational needs of students within their district in exchange for specific achievement standards.

Four other school districts, Gainesville City, Marietta City, Decatur City and Chattahoochee County have also submitted petitions and expect the board to consider them in June.