State grants charter status to three districts

Three of four school districts being considered for charter school status were approved Thursday by the state Board of Education. Decatur, Marietta, and Gainesville city schools become the first of Georgia’s "charter" systems. Chattahoochee County was denied charter status by unanimous vote. The three approved districts join Warren County this fall in going "charter". The new status allows the districts to operate relatively free of state control. The schools however, must show progress or face danger of losing such status.