Charter School Petition Timeline: 2025-2026 School Year
Important Notice
This timeline is published to ensure compliance with Georgia State Board Rule 160-4-9-.05, which became effective May 28, 2025. Houston County School District will update its Board Policy IBB to align with these requirements.
Charter School Petition Timeline
| Activity | Deadline | Requirements |
| Letter of Intent | December 1, 2025 | Must be submitted to both Houston County School District and the Office of Charter School Compliance (OCSC) using the OCSC template |
| Petition Submission | January 1, 2026 | Complete petition must be submitted to Houston County School District using the standardized OCSC petition form |
| Panel Interview | Within 90-day review period | In-person interview with district representatives and petitioner team |
| Board Decision | No later than June 30, 2026 | Houston County Board of Education will approve or deny petition by majority vote |
| Pre-Opening Period | Minimum 6 months | Charter schools approved in June 2026 will open in August 2027 or later |
Contact Information
Primary Contact: Dr. Chris Brown, Deputy Superintendent
Office: Office of the Deputy Superintendent
Address: 1100 Main Street, Perry, GA 31069
Phone: (478) 988-6200
Website: www.hcbe.net
Four-Category Review Process
Houston County School District will categorize each petition into one of four groups during the 90-day review period:
- Rejection Group: Applications with irreparable flaws that cannot be considered in the current cycle
- Revision Group: Applications requiring substantial material revisions within 30 days
- Clarification Group: Applications needing clarification or supplemental information within 30 days
- Approval Group: Applications of near-perfect quality recommended for board approval
Key Requirements
- Open Enrollment: All charter schools must maintain open enrollment policies
- Attendance Zone: Charter schools serve students within Houston County School District boundaries
- OCSC Coordination: All approved petitions will be forwarded to the Office of Charter School Compliance within 30 days of board approval
- State Oversight: Charter petitions are subject to review by the Georgia State Board of Education
Important Dates for 2025-2026 Cycle
- December 1, 2025: Letter of Intent deadline
- January 1, 2026: Petition submission deadline
- June 2, 2026: Scheduled board meeting for charter decisions (1:00 PM)
- August 2027: Earliest opening date for approved charter schools
Last Updated: August 28, 2025
Next Update: September 1, 2026
This timeline is subject to updates based on guidance from the Office of Charter School Compliance and Georgia State Board of Education.