Georgia CommonsSR 774: Charter Schools Day; recognize February 25, 2026
Last action February 17, 2026 · Senate Read and Adopted
A Georgia Senate resolution designates February 25, 2026 as Charter Schools Day at the state capitol, recognizing the state's charter public schools and their students and teachers.
The summaries below were written by an AI model (claude-sonnet-5) from the text of the resolution and are not part of it. Quote the text, not the summary. The stored text is the Enrolled version, the latest LegiScan holds.
In plain language
This is a ceremonial resolution from the Georgia Senate, not a change to state law. It formally recognizes February 25, 2026 as Charter Schools Day at the state capitol, honoring Georgia's charter schools, which are tuition-free public schools with open enrollment that operate in all 159 counties. The resolution cites background facts, including that Georgia's first charter school law passed in 1993, that 96 charter schools currently operate in the state, and that about 65,000 students attend them. It also notes a Stanford University study finding charter school students gained more learning days than peers in traditional public schools, and it mentions 21,000 students on charter school wait lists. The resolution directs the Secretary of the Senate to distribute copies to the Georgia Charter Schools Association, the public, and the press.
What the bill does
- Formally recognizes February 25, 2026 as Charter Schools Day at the Georgia state capitol.
- Commends teachers and leaders working in Georgia's charter schools without creating any new legal requirement.
- Directs the Secretary of the Senate to distribute copies of the resolution to the Georgia Charter Schools Association, the public, and the press.
- Cites statistics on charter school enrollment, performance, and wait lists but does not change funding, enrollment rules, or charter school law.
Who it affects
Georgia's charter public schools, their teachers, leaders, and roughly 65,000 enrolled students, as well as families on charter school wait lists. The Georgia Charter Schools Association is named as a recipient of the resolution.
Why it matters
The resolution has no legal effect and changes no laws, funding, or school policies. Its practical impact is symbolic: it publicly recognizes charter schools for a day at the capitol and highlights enrollment and wait list figures that could inform future policy discussions.
Key provisions
- The preamble ('whereas' clauses) states background facts about Georgia charter schools, including the 1993 founding law and 96 currently operating schools.
- Cites a Stanford University study reporting charter school students gained extra learning days compared to traditional public school peers.
- The resolving clause formally designates February 25, 2026 as Charter Schools Day at the state capitol.
- A further resolution directs the Secretary of the Senate to distribute copies to the Georgia Charter Schools Association, the public, and the press.
From the bill
“charter schools are tuition-free, public schools that have fair and open enrollment procedures and serve students and families in all 159 counties in Georgia”
“students in charter schools outperformed their peers in traditional public schools by an average of 16 additional days of learning in reading and six additional days of learning in math”
Status timeline
- Senate Read and Adopted (Senate)
- Senate Hopper (Senate)
Sponsors
- Chuck Payne (R, SD-054)
- Billy Hickman (R, SD-004)
- Shawn Still (R, SD-048)
- Steve Gooch (R, SD-051)
- Larry Walker (R, SD-020)
- Jason Anavitarte (R, SD-031)
- Bo Hatchett (R, SD-050)
Topics
- charter schools
- public education
- school enrollment
- Georgia legislature ceremonial resolutions