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APS Board Update – April 2025

Date of Meeting: April 15, 2025
Key Focus Areas: Charter accountability & performance, exceptional education, fiscal health & transparency, student outcomes and governance, community partnership updates

Accountability

Key Updates:

  • Most APS charter and partner schools met performance expectations, though a few remain on conditional renewal due to low CCRPI progress and academic performance (KIPP, Centennial, Kindezi).
  • APS released performance snapshots for 5th and 8th graders based on the Profile of a Graduate framework: 76% of 5th graders and 67.1% of 8th graders are “on track.”
  • Department of Exceptional Education audit findings addressed with improved initial evaluation compliance (now 97%) and over 150 school-based audits completed.

Action Items:

  • Continued support for AIM charter application decision (June 2025).
  • Budget adjustments approved, including Atlantic Station Tax Allocation Districts revenue and QBE increases.
  • Commitment to deeper integration of the Profile of a Graduate into student report cards and progress monitoring tools.

Equity

Equity-Focused Decisions:

  • $25K collaboration grants awarded for cross-school partnerships (e.g., hydroponics program between ANCS & Humphries).
  • Exceptional Education investments grew to $100.9M, reflecting commitment to student support services (SLP, OT, PT, etc.).
  • Audit-led reforms now include clearer policies, staff training, and family outreach. 

Impact on Students & Families:

  • Parent C.A.F.E. sessions and revised SOPs building transparency and trust for families with exceptional learners.
  • Proposal to align community needs with governance by expanding access to decision-making spaces for families.

Access & School Options

School Choice & Options:

  • Over 4,250 families applied via the Apply APS portal; all participating charter schools have waitlists.
  • Two new state-approved charters opening in SY25-26: Movement School South Fulton and Cherokee Classical Academy.
  • Partner school collaboration continues to be a focus with KIPP, Purpose Built, and others.

Program Accessibility:

  • DEE focusing on instructional quality and community inclusion across all APS clusters.
  • Addressing over 22K empty seats and consolidating under-enrolled areas will remain a strategic consideration.

Community Engagement Opportunities

Upcoming Public Hearings/Feedback Sessions:

  • May 5: Tentative Budget Adoption (Board)May 6 & 13: Community Budget Forums (Virtual)
  • May 15: Budget Commission Review
  • June 2: Final FY26 Budget Adoption

How to Get Involved:

  • Attend community dialogues and feedback sessions
  • Share your story or questions with board members
  • Stay tuned for public forums on the Lakewood Heights redevelopment and AIM charter application

Next Steps

  • Approve development phases for Lakewood Heights school site with the AUDC.
  • Expect continued updates on exceptional education supports, school enrollment planning, and budget strategy.

Stay Informed & Take Action!

Visit the official board website: https://www.atlantapublicschools.us/Page/17233

Sign up for updates: https://www.atlantapublicschools.us/Page/63414

Additional Board Meetings

APS Board Update – June 2025

Read More

APS Board Update – May 2025 

Read More

APS Board Update – March 2025

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Dr. Keith Colbert

Dr. Keith A. Colbert has served in the Clayton County Public Schools (CCPS) system since 1998, starting his career as a fourth-grade teacher at Northcutt Elementary School. After a two-year tenure at Northcutt Elementary, he transferred to Morrow High School, where he served as a math teacher, special education teacher, and assistant head basketball coach. To gain insightful leadership experience, Dr. Colbert shadowed the administrative team, gained useful school leadership experience, and obtained a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership from Troy State University.

Dr. Colbert was selected as assistant principal of Mundy’s Mill High School (MMHS) in 2003 under the leadership of Dr. Anthony W. Smith. During his tenure at MMHS, he was instrumental in preparing the first class to graduate from the newly constructed school.

Dr. Colbert was recognized as a future principal leader in the district and was selected as one of twelve future leaders to participate in the principal preparation program, “A Forward-LEAP.” After completing this program, Dr. Colbert was appointed principal of Lovejoy Middle School in 2006, where he led more than 1,400 students. At the time, Lovejoy Middle School was the largest middle school in the district and considered underperforming. Dr. Colbert and his team led the school to substantial improvements in student achievement and were consequently selected as the 2008 Georgia PTSA Principal of the Year.

Driven to nurture a class of students from 6th grade to graduation, Dr. Colbert was appointed principal of Lovejoy High School in July 2009, where he served for seven years. He is one of the few principals in traditional high schools who is fortunate to have guided sixth graders to graduation with the Class of 2013. During his tenure at Lovejoy High School, the school was recognized as a Title I Rewards school in 2012 and 2013, SAT’s greatest gains school in 2012, and a USA News top high school in 2011. Dr. Colbert’s achievements led to a finalist for Principal of the Year for Clayton County Public Schools in 2011 and 2013.

In June of 2016, Dr. Keith A. Colbert was appointed Assistant Superintendent of Schools for Clayton County Public Schools.

Cayanna Good, Ph.D.

Dr. Cayanna Good serves as Deputy Commissioner for Innovation and Impact at the Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG), where she leads systemwide strategic planning and drives organizational improvement across all institutional pillars.
Previously, she served as Assistant Commissioner for the Office of Adult Education, overseeing statewide literacy initiatives, workforce alignment, and Georgia’s high school equivalency credentialing program.

Before joining TCSG, Dr. Good held leadership roles at the Governor’s Office of Student Achievement, the Georgia Department of Education, Teach For America, and TNTP. Her career began in the classroom in Houston — an experience that continues to ground her unwavering commitment to equity, access, and opportunity for all learners.

Dr. Good earned her bachelor’s degree from Fisk University, her master’s from Georgia State University, and her doctorate from Mercer University. She serves as Chairperson of the State Charter School Commission, she is a member of the Georgia Commission for Service and Volunteerism, a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., and a member of the Brookwood High School Local School Council.