Second Lady Usha Vance visits Cherokee Classical Academy as part of focus on charter education

Second Lady Usha Vance visited Cherokee Classical Academy (CCA) in Cherokee County, Georgia last week. During her visit, she toured classrooms, read to students, and observed the school's approach to education.

CCA opened this year and follows a classical education model that focuses on both academic subjects and character development. The school currently serves students from kindergarten through sixth grade and plans to expand to include high school grades in the future.

Charter schools in Georgia serve about 70,000 students. These public schools do not charge tuition and are intended to provide educational options tailored to community needs. Charter schools have been recognized for their performance; 24 of the top 100 public high schools in the United States are charter schools.

Supporters argue that expanding access to charter schools is important so more students can benefit from programs like those offered at CCA. The Charter Schools Program (CSP) is the only federal initiative focused on increasing access to high-quality public charter schools. It makes up less than 2% of the total federal K-12 education budget. CCA is part of Liberty Classical Schools, which received CSP funding for replication and expansion through the Georgia Strategic Charter School Growth Initiative, managed by the State Charter Schools Foundation of Georgia.

The CSP aims to give states and individual schools flexibility in meeting student needs. However, some say regulations have made it difficult for charter schools to grow or access necessary resources. The National Alliance for Public Charter Schools advocates for changes they believe would improve how the program operates.

A significant challenge facing many charter schools is securing adequate facilities without taking funds away from classroom instruction. The Equitable Access to School Facilities Act has been introduced as a bipartisan effort aimed at helping charter schools address facility-related costs so more funding can be directed toward teaching rather than rent or repairs.

There are over 8,000 charter schools across the country serving nearly four million students and their families. Supporters note that demand for these types of educational options continues to increase as enrollment rises.

"In Georgia and across the country, charter schools are preparing students for the future – empowering new generations of students to lead and succeed."