The Georgia Charter Schools Association will host The Charter School Founders Summit on June 25 in Savannah, bringing together educators, community leaders, and prospective founders interested in creating new public charter school options for Georgia students.

Roger Moss, President of the Savannah-Chatham County Board of Education, will provide opening remarks and participate in an authorizer insights forum, where attendees will learn how charter school authorizers—such as local boards of education and the State Charter Schools Commission of Georgia—evaluate applications, assess school readiness, and oversee charter schools from approval through renewal.

The summit will also include members of the founding team behind Dream Big STEM Academy, a proposed public charter school designed to serve students whose families live and work at Fort Stewart. Dream Big STEM Academy envisions a future where every student is Determined, Resilient, Engaged, Accepted, and Motivated to discover their purpose and shape a better future through innovation, character, and service.

The full-day conference at the Henderson E. Formey, Jr. Early Learning Center will provide an inside look at the charter school development process, covering community engagement, governance, finance, operations, and state authorization requirements. Participants will hear from experienced charter school leaders and experts who have successfully guided schools from concept to opening day.

The summit comes as demand for high-quality public-school options continues to grow across Georgia. More than 65,000 students attend charter schools statewide, while more than 21,000 students remain on charter school waitlists. The event is designed to help communities explore how new charter schools can address local educational needs and expand high-quality educational opportunities for students.

Public charter schools are tuition-free public schools that are open to all students and operate with greater flexibility than traditional schools in exchange for increased accountability for student performance. Across Georgia, charter schools help students build real-world skills, explore career pathways, and graduate prepared for college, careers, and life beyond the classroom.

Roger Moss and members of the Dream Big STEM Academy founding team will be available for interviews upon request.

Conference Details:
Evening Reception
Wednesday, June 24
5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Grand Bohemian Hotel | Savannah, Georgia

Summit Day
Thursday, June 25
10:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Henderson E. Formey, Jr. Early Learning Center | Savannah, Georgia
Registration cost: $108.55. Click here to register under the Charter School Founders Summit.