Board Bulletin for 6/22/2026
The Fulton County Board of Education met on Thursday, June 18, 2026, for its regularly scheduled School Board meeting at the South Learning Center. The full agenda is available via Simbli, a website that makes the Board agenda and all supporting documents available online. Meetings are streamed live on the FCS homepage, with recordings available within 48 hours.
Superintendent’s Report
Dr. Mike Looney began his report by recognizing seven assistant principals who are actively participating in a mentoring program with Cabinet members and contributing to key special projects for the district. He then yielded the floor to Chief Academic Officer Brannon Gaskins for two updates.
Attendance and Discipline Update
Mr. Gaskins provided an update on districtwide attendance and discipline trends, highlighting progress made over the course of the school year and outlining next steps for continued improvement.
Overall, attendance improved compared to the previous year, with more students meeting expectations and fewer falling into chronic absenteeism categories. Gains were seen across all school levels, with notable reductions in chronic absenteeism in elementary, middle, and high schools, reflecting a strong, systemwide focus on student engagement and daily attendance.
Additionally, the district reported a decrease in total disciplinary incidents and out-of-school suspensions, indicating overall improvement in student behavior. See the full presentation here.
CSI/TSI/ATSI Update
Mr. Gaskins then shared an update on schools identified by the federal and state governments as requiring additional support, including Comprehensive Support and Improvement (CSI), Additional Targeted Support and Improvement (ATSI), Targeted Support and Improvement (TSI), and Promise Act schools.
He reviewed the current list of identified schools and highlighted positive progress, recognizing schools that have shown improvement and those that have successfully exited state and federal accountability lists.
Regular updates will be provided to the Board and district leadership to ensure alignment, transparency, and a sustained focus on improving outcomes for all students. See the full presentation here.
ESPLOST Resolution to fund Capital Plan 2032
The Board approved a resolution calling for an Education Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (ESPLOST) referendum to be placed on the November 3, 2026 ballot. The referendum will ask voters to reauthorize the existing 1% sales tax to fund the district’s capital improvement needs.
The resolution includes approximately $1.306 billion in Capital Plan 2032 projects and is based on projected revenues from a continued five-year collection of the 1% sales tax, subject to voter approval. The Board also authorized district staff to negotiate an intergovernmental agreement, if necessary, with the Atlanta Board of Education and the Fulton County Board of Registrations and Elections for the provision of election services.
Since the Georgia Legislature authorized school districts to utilize sales tax funding, Fulton County Schools has relied on ESPLOST to support capital projects. After a comprehensive review of the district’s facility needs and available funding options, it was determined that reauthorizing the ESPLOST provides the greatest benefit to the district while minimizing the burden on taxpayers. The current ESPLOST is scheduled to expire on June 30, 2027. Information about Capital Plan 2032 projects, including the proposed ESPLOST funding source, is posted at www.fultonschools.org/capitalplan2032.
Non-Resident Tuition Rate – Find Your Future at Fulton
The Board approved a new policy and tuition rate that will allow Fulton County Schools to offer tuition-based enrollment opportunities for eligible out-of-district Georgia students. The initiative, being promoted as Find Your Future at Fulton, expands access to select district schools while ensuring resident students remain the priority through enrollment based on available capacity.
Beginning in the 2026-2027 school year, tuition enrollment opportunities will be available at Fulton Academy of Virtual Excellence (FAVE), Global Impact Academy, North Springs High School, and Northview High School. Students and families will have access to specialized academic pathways, innovative learning environments, advanced coursework, and college and career-focused programs.
For Fiscal Year 2027, the Board approved a nonresident tuition rate of $11,000 per student annually, or $5,500 per semester. Additional information about eligibility, admissions requirements, and the application process is available on the Find Your Future at Fulton website.
Board Policy Update
The following policies were approved by the Board:
- Board Policy BBAA Board Officer Method of Elections
This policy was updated to comply with House Bill 1514, which changes the timing of Board officer elections from January to December. The revision also reorganizes the policy with updated formatting and headings to improve clarity and readability.
- Board Policy DI Accounting and Reporting
This revision increases the capitalization threshold for district assets from $5,000 to $10,000 (excluding buildings, which remain at $100,000). The change ensures consistency in how district assets are identified, tracked, and reported.
- Board Policy FEAE Community Involvement in Project Planning
This new policy establishes the district's framework for community-funded facility improvements and donated projects. It clarifies expectations for project approval, fundraising, ownership, maintenance responsibilities, and compliance with district standards. While the policy establishes the overall governance structure, a supporting regulation outlining detailed procedures and timelines will be presented for information within 60 days.
- Board Policy IHF Graduation Requirements (Action)
This policy was updated to comply with House Bill 1284, which allows eligible students receiving end-of-life care to petition for a waiver of graduation requirements in order to receive a diploma and provides for the award of posthumous diplomas when applicable. The revision also updates English Language Arts graduation requirements to align with Georgia's revised ELA standards and course offerings and references guidance from the Georgia Department of Education.
- Board Policy JBC School Admissions
This policy was updated to comply with House Bill 1193 and Senate Bill 589. The revisions expand Georgia Pre-K eligibility to include children who are four or five years old and clarify that students may participate in the state's pre-K program only once.
The policy also updates kindergarten and first-grade enrollment requirements to align with state law. Parents enrolling a child in a Georgia public school for the first time who is age-eligible for first grade may choose to enroll their child in kindergarten instead.
Additionally, first-grade placement decisions will be based on both age eligibility and a state-required first-grade readiness assessment, with additional guidance from the Georgia Department of Education forthcoming. The policy also clarifies procedures for reviewing enrollment requests involving students with current or prior disciplinary actions.
- Regulation DI Accounting and Reporting
This regulation was revised to improve clarity and align with updates to Board Policy DI. The changes clarify asset definitions and tracking requirements, establish consistent asset status categories, and standardize capitalization rules through a consolidated asset table. The regulation also raises the capitalization threshold for machinery, equipment, and vehicles from $5,000 to $10,000, formalizes procedures for recording donated assets, and strengthens annual inventory and reporting requirements to support accurate financial reporting and asset management.
- Regulation GBRI Professional Personnel Personal Leaves and Absences
This regulation was updated to comply with Senate Bill (SB) 148 and House Bill (HB) 1118. The revisions allow all employees to use up to five sick leave days annually for personal or professional reasons, regardless of years of service, and include the new Maternal Birth Leave benefit established by HB 1118, which provides three weeks of paid leave for eligible employees who give birth.
The regulation also clarifies employee eligibility for Paid Parental Leave and establishes a clear sequence for using leave related to maternity, paternity, adoption, or foster care placement. Eligible employees must first use maternal birth leave when eligible, then Paid Parental Leave, and then employees may use any accrued leave (sick, personal, or vacation) before transitioning to unpaid leave.
In addition, the regulation revises sick leave accrual for employees hired on or after July 1, 2026. These employees will accrue 1.25 sick leave days per complete contract month, based on contract type, with a maximum annual accrual of 15 days regardless of years of service. Employees hired before July 1, 2026, will continue to accrue sick leave under the district's current provisions. This change simplifies the accrual structure and creates a consistent annual maximum for newly hired employees.
- Regulation IC Curriculum Development
This regulation establishes a more formal and transparent process for curriculum and course development. It outlines requirements for proposing and approving new courses, reviewing instructional materials, evaluating supplemental resources, managing classroom libraries, and addressing parent concerns. The updates help ensure consistency, alignment with district curriculum standards, and appropriate community engagement in instructional decisions.
- Regulation IHF-R(7) Graduation Requirements for Students Entering Ninth Grade in 2022 and Beyond
This regulation was updated to align with changes to Georgia's English Language Arts standards and course structure. The revision clarifies how credits earned under the Georgia Standards of Excellence can be combined with credits earned under the new ELA standards to satisfy graduation requirements and directs students and families to the Georgia Department of Education guidance for additional information.
New Hires & Promotions
The following individuals were approved for a new position at the Board meeting:
- Ashley Perry | Principal, State Bridge Crossing Elementary School
- Natasha Simmons | Principal, The Promise Career Institute
- Tamara Whitaker | Principal, College Park Elementary School
Board Recognitions
Each month, the Board recognizes outstanding students, staff, and schools honored at the state, national, or international level. Honorees must have placed first at the regional or state level or be among the top finishers at the national or international level. The following teams and individuals were recognized at the meeting:
- Rory Berg was named 2026 Georgia Poetry Out Loud State Champion
- Lynda Ankiel, Theatre Director at Milton High School, won Best Direction at the 2026 Shuler Awards
- Fulton County Schools Human Resources Division received the prestigious Georgia Oglethorpe Award from The Sterling Council
