The newly established LEARNING Foundation of Georgia, in partnership with Dalton State College, is taking steps to open a new public charter school that, if approved, will open in fall 2026. While the school will serve students in kindergarten through third grade initially, it will add grades over time to serve students through twelfth grade.
“Education fuels and supports every aspect of our community,” Dalton State President John Fuchko said. “The Learning Academy of Northwest Georgia expands our commitment to educational excellence and our region. In addition to enhancing teacher preparation for school systems throughout the region, the school will deliver a rigorous education and positively impact student success.”
The proposed Learning Academy of Northwest Georgia will be a public, tuition-free school operated by the Learning Foundation of Georgia in close collaboration with Dalton State College through its School of Education. It will be a regular school with its own, dedicated teachers, and it will also be an environment where future teachers can develop their skills alongside expert teachers. In combination with paraprofessional instructors in the early grades, this approach reduces the teacher-to-student ratio and allows instructors to meet students’ individual needs more easily.
The Learning Academy of Northwest Georgia will feature a classical education model focused on core knowledge of reading, writing and literature alongside math, history and the sciences. Dalton State’s School of Education has been a leader in efforts to improve literacy, including use of the Science of Reading, a phonics-based approach with proven success that inspired state legislation tied to improving Georgia’s literacy rates. Last year, almost 40% of Georgia third-graders read below grade level, according to data from the Georgia Department of Education. This is a pivotal point in education when students should be transitioning from learning to read to reading to learn new concepts.
The Learning Academy of Northwest Georgia’s plans and opening are pending approval by the Dalton Public Schools Board of Education or the State Charter Schools Commission of Georgia. An essential first step in this process is to gauge community interest for the school. For more information and to express interest in enrolling your child in the Learning Academy of Northwest Georgia, please visit daltonstate.edu/lab-school/.
“The community’s support for this project underscores the potential for the academy to be a collaborative partner for the K-12 school system in our community,” said Sharon Hixon, dean of the School of Education.
Other features will include an emphasis on experiential learning, outdoor play, dual-immersion in English and Spanish, character building through exposure to great works of art and literature, no mobile phones for lower-grade students, and school uniforms to promote a sense of belonging. In addition, the school will emphasize support for families, including a caregiver academy where parents can receive support to assist their children at home.
Enrollment will be based on a weighted lottery with preference given to students in Dalton, Whitfield and the surrounding Georgia counties who may benefit from the school’s approach, including those from low socio-economic backgrounds.
“All families want to help their children prepare for a successful future, and the Learning Academy of Northwest Georgia will provide another option for families trying to find the best fit for their children,” said John Minor, local attorney and the inaugural board chair for the proposed charter school. “This new educational opportunity will provide a strong foundation for student success, subsequently strengthening our local workforce and our economy.”
The LEARNING Foundation of Georgia is a cooperative organization partnering with Dalton State College. With leaders from the northwest Georgia community and Dalton State, it will serve as the governing board for the charter school.
The founding board members are:
- John Minor, V – chair
- Tangela Johnson – vice chair
- Larry Winter – treasurer
- Julie Patterson – secretary
- David Elrod – assistant treasurer/executive director of the Dalton State Foundation
- Dr. John Fuchko – president of Dalton State College
- Dr. Sharon Hixon – dean of the Dalton State College School of Education
