Tue., September 1, 2009 8:56am (EDT)

Barrow Eyes Charter System

By Edgar Treiguts

Updated: 3 years ago

ATLANTA  —   Barrow County’s school district is looking to move one step closer to becoming a charter school system. The Gwinnett Daily Post reports the school system’s superintendent will ask the district’s Board of Education tonight to endorse planning committees for charter status.

Barrow's letter of intent was filed with the state's Department of Education in April. The county's school board then voted in July to pursue charter status.

There are currently four districts that operate as charter school systems in Georgia--Warren County, and the cities of Marietta, Decatur and Gainesville. 16 others have letters of intent to apply. Charter systems are given flexibility in class size and designing curriculum. In return, those districts are under stricter governance and accountability in academic achievement.