Cartersville City Schools Featured in New Book on GA Charter Systems

As four Georgia public school districts—City Schools of Decatur, Gainesville City Schools, Marietta City Schools and Warren County Schools—reach the end of their five-year commitment to an innovative school governance experiment in June 2013, a new book, Room at the Table: Georgia’s School Governance Experiment, offers the first account of how that work began from those on the front lines.

Innovation snapshots from Cartersville City Schools, along with Floyd County and Barrow County schools are also included in the book.

"The school systems were approved in 2008 as part of the state’s new charter system law developed by Lieutenant Governor Casey Cagle," Peg Bumgardner, the book’s co-author, said in a release. Bumgardner, a Decatur business consultant, began writing the book in 2012 with Emmy award-winning journalist Andrea Berry.

"Georgia’s charter systems are unique in the nation," said Berry. "No one has told the story of the hundreds of parents, teachers, school administrators, and community members in school districts across our state who are using this innovative education reform model to increase parent engagement and improve student achievement."

Impact on Education was founded to highlight parent-school partnerships that positively impact student learning through progressive education practices.