Agenda Item
a. Renewal of COGNIA Membership Approval (Not to exceed $171,600)
Summary: Mr. Elijah Palmer, Chief of Staff, Chief of Staff Division
Request: It is requested that the Board of Education approve the payment of accreditation membership to COGNIA for all DeKalb schools for the 2025-2026 school year, in an amount not to exceed $171,600.
Why: The DeKalb County School District received final notification of the 2022 Cognia Engagement Review results on June 17, 2022, awarding the district full accreditation through June 30, 2027, from the Cognia Global Commission. Each year to remain in good accreditation standing with COGNIA, the district must pay all associated membership costs for district and individual school accreditation. District accreditation membership is paid to COGNIA to cover accreditation services for the district and for all DeKalb County Schools. Services and added benefits from COGNIA include but are not limited to diagnostic reviews of school improvement and performance; professional learning; partnerships; research; STEM certifications; school improvement feedback tools; policy support; and school accountability.
As of 2025, 31 DeKalb County Schools have earned the global distinction of becoming a COGNIA Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Certified School. This STEM recognition is done through an evaluation process and examination of school innovation practices, partnerships and parental support as guided by an established set of STEM standards.
Additionally, Coralwood Center and The Early Learning Center have earned COGNIA Early Learning Accreditation. These schools have demonstrated adherence to the five COGNIA Standards, which describe the quality practices and conditions that research and best practice indicate are necessary for early learning schools to achieve quality learning, growth, and development for young children.
To bring coherence to the district’s internal systems towards district improvement, COGNIA’s standards represent one alignment criterion that ensures that the district’s work is aligned to the expected practices. As an example, all Board Agenda items must align to one or more COGNIA standards to ensure coherence to the best systematic practices.
Additionally, over 150 GA districts (Attached) - as indicated by COGNIA - are accredited through COGNIA, including several neighboring metro districts, such as Decatur City, Cobb, Fulton, Gwinnett, Clayton, and Henry County Schools. Executive Session, Work Session, Community Input Session & Business Meeting 07/08/2024 - 11:30 AM J. David Williamson Board Room, Robert R. Freeman Administrative Complex 1701 Mountain Industrial Boulevard Stone Mountain, GA 30083 .
Details: This proposed budget item requests funds not to exceed $171,600 to cover the costs of annual accreditation membership for all DeKalb County Schools.
Financial impact: The financial impact is an amount not to exceed $171,600 for FY26. The purchase amount will be paid through charge code: 100.2300.581000.00011.7001.9990.8010.010.0000 - Chief of Staff general budget - through the Department of Organizational Effectiveness. Payment of the invoice covers COGNIA 2025-2026 accreditation membership. COGNIA payment is required for FY26 to avoid loss of district accreditation as well as accreditation technology licenses.
Contact: Mr. Elijah Palmer, Chief of Staff, Chief of Staff Division, 678-676-0196,
Mrs. Pamela McCloud, Director of Organizational Effectiveness, Chief of Staff Division, 678-676-0455
Effective: Upon Board Approval
Status: Attorney Approval Not Required
Name City State Postal Code
Archdiocese of Atlanta Smyrna Georgia 30080-8862
Baldwin County School System Milledgeville Georgia 31061-1188
Banks County School System Homer Georgia 30547
Barrow County School System Winder Georgia 30680
Bartow County School System Cartersville Georgia 30121-5016
Ben Hill County School System Fitzgerald Georgia 31750
Berrien County School System Nashville Georgia 31639-2029
Bibb County School System Macon Georgia 31201-7906
Bremen City School System Bremen Georgia 30110-2137
Brooks County School System Quitman Georgia 31643
Bryan County School System Black Creek Georgia 31308
Buford City School System Buford Georgia 30518-2514
Bulloch County School System Statesboro Georgia 30458
Burke County School System Waynesboro Georgia 30830
Butts County School System Jackson Georgia 30233-0819
Calhoun City School System Calhoun Georgia 30701
Camden County School System Kingsland Georgia 31548
Candler County School System Metter Georgia 30439
Carroll County Schools Carrollton Georgia 30116-7506
Carrollton City School System Carrollton Georgia 30117
Cartersville City School System Cartersville Georgia 30120
Catoosa County School System Ringgold Georgia 30736-2057
Chattahoochee County School System Cusseta Georgia 31805-3708
Chattooga County School System Summerville Georgia 30747-5131
Cherokee County School District Canton Georgia 30169-0769
Chickamauga City School System Chickamauga Georgia 30707-1614
City Schools of Decatur Decatur Georgia 30030-3039
Clarke County School System Athens Georgia 30606
Clay County Board of Education Fort Gaines Georgia 39851-3619
Clayton County School System Jonesboro Georgia 30236-3299
Cobb County School District Marietta Georgia 30060-2706
Coffee County School System Douglas Georgia 31533
Colquitt County School System Moultrie Georgia 31776-2708
Columbia County School District Evans Georgia 30809-6037
Commerce City School System Commerce Georgia 30529-2632
Cook County School System Adel Georgia 31620
Coweta County School System Newnan Georgia 30263
Crawford County Schools Roberta Georgia 31078
Crisp County School System Cordele Georgia 31010
Name City State Postal Code
Dade County School System Trenton Georgia 30752
Dalton Public School System Dalton Georgia 30720-1408
Dawson County School System Dawsonville Georgia 30534-4351
Decatur County School System Bainbridge Georgia 39817
DeKalb County School District Stone Mountain Georgia 30083
Diocese of Savannah Savannah Georgia 31404-3918
Dodge County School System Eastman Georgia 31023-6768
Dooly County School System Vienna Georgia 31092-1598
Dougherty County School System Albany Georgia 31702
Douglas County School System Douglasville Georgia 30134-1539
Dublin City School System Dublin Georgia 31021
Early County School System Blakely Georgia 39823
Effingham County School System Springfield Georgia 31329-4958
Elbert County School District Elberton Georgia 30635-1842
Evans County School System Claxton Georgia 30417
Fannin County School System Blue Ridge Georgia 30513
Fayette County School System Fayetteville Georgia 30214-1643
Floyd County School System Rome Georgia 30161-2938
Forsyth County Schools Cumming Georgia 30040-4536
Franklin County School System Carnesville Georgia 30521-6919
Fulton County School System Atlanta Georgia 30339-2926
Gainesville City Schools System Gainesville Georgia 30501-3506
Georgia Department of Juvenile Justice Decatur Georgia 30032
Gilmer County School System Ellijay Georgia 30540-3713
Glynn County School System Brunswick Georgia 31520-7244
Gordon County School System Calhoun Georgia 30701-7000
Greene County Schools Greensboro Georgia 30642
Griffin Spalding County School System Griffin Georgia 30224
Gwinnett County Public Schools Suwanee Georgia 30024-2978
Habersham County Schools Clarkesville Georgia 30523
Hall County School System Gainesville Georgia 30501-3374
Hancock County School District Sparta Georgia 31087
Haralson County School System Tallapoosa Georgia 30176
Harris County Schools Hamilton Georgia 31811
Hart County Schools Hartwell Georgia 30643-2223
Heard County School System Franklin Georgia 30217-0330
Henry County School System McDonough Georgia 30253
Houston County School District Perry Georgia 31069
Jackson County Schools Jefferson Georgia 30549-5458
Name City State Postal Code
Jasper County Charter System Monticello Georgia 31064-2118
Jeff Davis County Schools Hazlehurst Georgia 31539-6474
Jefferson City Schools Jefferson Georgia 30549-1018
Jefferson County School System Louisville Georgia 30434
Jenkins County Schools Millen Georgia 30442-0660
Jones County School District Gray Georgia 31032-5201
KIPP Metro Atlanta Schools Atlanta Georgia 30331
Lamar County School System Barnesville Georgia 30204-1581
Laurens County School System Dublin Georgia 31021-2682
Lee County School System Leesburg Georgia 31763-399
Liberty County Schools Hinesville Georgia 31313
Lincoln County School System Lincolnton Georgia 30817-3444
Long County School System Ludowici Georgia 31316
Lowndes County School District Valdosta Georgia 31601-3581
Lumpkin County School District Dahlonega Georgia 30533
Macon County Schools Oglethorpe Georgia 31068
Madison County Schools Danielsville Georgia 30633-7032
Marietta City School System Marietta Georgia 30060-1953
Marion County Board of Education Buena Vista Georgia 31803
McDuffie County Schools Thomson Georgia 30824-1831
McIntosh County School System Darien Georgia 31305
Meriwether County School System Greenville Georgia 30222-2847
Miller County School System Colquitt Georgia 39837
Mitchell County Board of Education Camilla Georgia 31730
Monroe County Schools Forsyth Georgia 31029-1308
Montgomery County Schools Mount Vernon Georgia 30445-2511
Morgan County Schools Madison Georgia 30650
Murray County School System Chatsworth Georgia 30705-2012
Muscogee County School District Columbus Georgia 31906-2204
Newton County School System Covington Georgia 30014-2459
Oconee County School System Watkinsville Georgia 30677-0146
Oglethorpe County Schools Lexington Georgia 30648
Paulding County School District Dallas Georgia 30132
Peach County School System Fort Valley Georgia 31030
Pelham City Schools Pelham Georgia 31779
Pickens County Board of Education Jasper Georgia 30143-1519
Pike County Public Schools Zebulon Georgia 30295-6734
Polk School District Cedartown Georgia 30125-3522
Pulaski County Schools Hawkinsville Georgia 31036-4516
Name City State Postal Code
Putnam County School System Eatonton Georgia 31024
Quitman County Schools Georgetown Georgia 39857
Rabun County School System Tiger Georgia 30576
Randolph County Schools Cuthbert Georgia 39840
Richmond County School System Augusta Georgia 30901
Rockdale County Schools Conyers Georgia 30012
Rome City School System Rome Georgia 30161-3112
Savannah Chatham County Public Schools Savannah Georgia 31401
Screven County School System Sylvania Georgia 30467
Seminole County School System Donalsonville Georgia 39845-1900
Social Circle City Schools Social Circle Georgia 30025-4370
Stephens County Schools Toccoa Georgia 30577
Stewart County Schools Lumpkin Georgia 31815
Sumter County Schools Americus Georgia 31719
Taylor County Schools Butler Georgia 31006-5617
Telfair County Schools Mc Rae Georgia 31055-1913
Terrell County School System Dawson Georgia 39842
Thomas County Schools Thomasville Georgia 31792
Thomaston-Upson School System Thomaston Georgia 30286
Thomasville City Schools Thomasville Georgia 31792-4776
Tift County Schools Tifton Georgia 31793
Towns County School System Hiawassee Georgia 30546
Trion City School System Trion Georgia 30753
Troup County School System LaGrange Georgia 30241
Twiggs County School System Jeffersonville Georgia 31044
Union County School System Blairsville Georgia 30512-3551
Valdosta City Schools Valdosta Georgia 31601-4043
Vidalia City School System Vidalia Georgia 30474-4825
Walker County School System LaFayette Georgia 30728
Walton County School District Monroe Georgia 30656-4665
Warren County School System Warrenton Georgia 30828-8835
Washington County School District Sandersville Georgia 31082-7008
White County School System Cleveland Georgia 30528-1187
Whitfield County School System Dalton Georgia 30721
Wilkes County Schools Washington Georgia 30673
Worth County Schools Sylvester Georgia 31791-1349