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State officials recommend denial of charter application for Fulton charter school

May 7th, 2012

A charter school recognized last year by the U.S. Department of Education for standardized test achievement may soon have to shut its doors. The state’s charter schools division has recommended the denial of Fulton Science Academy Middle School’s application to become a state chartered special school. State charter schools division officials say even though the charter school’s academic performance is comparable to other schools in the area, they’re recommending a denial of the petition due to concerns over governance, legal compliance and financial accountability.

Charter Schools Division Director Lou Erste says one of the concerns includes the failure of the school’s governing board to secure a charter renewal from Fulton County school officials.

“The school could have received a charter from Fulton County by agreeing to the terms that Fulton County said it could approve any time between September and December, and their failure to do is what led to them not having a charter.”

Erste says his office is also recommending the denial because the school sold $19 million dollars in bonds to build a campus with two sister schools without having a charter.

“So they were putting themselves and the other two schools at risk essentially of bankruptcy.”

He says the school also started construction on the project without state permission.

In a letter addressed to Erste last week, Fulton Science Academy officials stated they worked long and hard to address Fulton County School System’s concerns regarding its charter renewal. Academy officials also said the decision to issue bonds and build a joint campus was thoughtful and conscientious.

A state committee will consider the school’s charter petition on Wednesday. The full state Board of Education is expected to vote on the petition in the next few months.