Agenda Item
a. Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between the Acceleration Academies and the DeKalb County School District (Not to Exceed $3,000,000) ~ Updated 6.11.2026
Summary: Presented by: Dr. Sean Tartt, Acting Chief Academic Officer, Division of Teaching and Learning
Request: It is requested that the DeKalb County Board of Education approve the Memorandum of Agreement between the Acceleration Academies and the DeKalb County School District to serve up to 360 students in an amount not to exceed $3,000,000.
Why: The DeKalb County School District’s Strategic Plan Goal Area I Student Academic Success with Equity and Access prioritizes graduating students who are ready to thrive in college, career, military, and life. DCSD is committed to students who have historically been underserved in the traditional public education system by providing the instructional support and services they need. Through a partnership with Acceleration Academies, students will benefit from a flexible, non-traditional approach to earning their high school diploma.
Details: Acceleration Academies will operate a physical Academy site in Tucker, Georgia and three satellite sites (hubs) at schools throughout the school district to serve students 16-21 years of age. These students will be identified via recruitment efforts of currently withdrawn students as well as direct referrals of active but credit deficient, at-risk students by their principals or guidance counselors. Acceleration Academies will support as many students as possible; therefore, the Enrollment Marketing Team will utilize a multitude of marketing techniques to find, inform, recruit, and retain students.
Currently, the Acceleration Academy serves 180 graduation candidates. At this time, 107 1523 courses have been completed, and 53.5 761.5 Carnegie units have been earned by graduation candidates.
Financial impact: The method of compensation in this MOA will be payments in an amount not to exceed $3,000,000 to be paid to Acceleration Academies in accordance with the Memorandum of Agreement from general funds.
Students enrolled during the state count period will generate per pupil funding for the school district. For every eligible student enrolled in the program, Acceleration Academies will bill the school district a base of $600 per month for each student plus applicable supplemental funding for special education and ESOL services. Last year, the DeKalb County School District spent $13,834 per student.
Cost Code: 100.2210.530000.00011.7210.9990.8010.035.0000
2025-2026 Acceleration Academies Monthly Expenses
Month
Invoice Number
Invoice Amount
Number of Graduation Candidates
July 2025
1802
$59,212.26
97
August 2025
1868
$73,217.65
114
September 2025
1890
$93,763.41
152
October 2025
1957
$104,224.72
166
November 2025
1991
$110,145.45
181
December 2025
2061
$110,692.36
184
January 2026
2105
$97,186.18
161
February 2026
2144
$104,086.18
171
March 2026
2206
$102,646.18
169
April 2026
2269
$105,135.05
173
Total as of April 2026
$960,309.44
Contact: Dr. Sean Tartt, Deputy Chief Academic Officer, Division of Teaching and Learning, 678.676.0731
Dr. Rose Prejean-Harris, Assistant Superintendent (6-12), Division of Teaching and Learning, 678.676.0137
Effective: July 1, 2026 - June 30, 2027
Status: Pending Approval by the Office of Legal Affairs
CHRONOLOGY OF THE AGENDA ITEM
Board Agenda Item Title: Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between
the Acceleration Academies and the DeKalb County School District
(Not to exceed $3,000,000)
Background/Details
The DeKalb County School District (DCSD) began an official partnership
with the Acceleration Academies through the Memorandum of
Agreement approved by the Board of Education on Monday, July 8,
2024, for the period of July 1, 2024-June 30, 2025, with two additional
one-year renewal terms.
Currently, the DeKalb Acceleration Academies serves 180 graduation
candidates. At this time, 1523 courses have been completed, and 761.5
Carnegie units have been earned by graduation candidates.
Contract Term
The new MOU is effective July 1, 2026 – June 30, 2027, in an amount
not to exceed $3,000,000. This is year 2 of 2 one-year renewal options.
Students enrolled during the state count period will generate per pupil
funding. For every eligible student enrolled in the program 15 days or
more, DeKalb Acceleration Academies will bill DCSD a base of $600 per
month for each student plus applicable supplemental funding for special
education and ESOL services. For every eligible student enrolled in the
program less than 15 days, DeKalb Acceleration Academies will bill the
DCSD a daily rate of $20 per day for each student plus applicable
prorated supplemental funding for special education and ESOL services.
Scope
DeKalb Acceleration Academies will operate a physical academy site in
Tucker, Georgia and three satellite sites (hubs) to serve students 16-21
years of age. These students will be identified via recruitment efforts of
currently withdrawn students as well as direct referrals of active but
credit deficient, at-risk students by their principals or counselors.