DECATUR, Ga. (AP) — DeKalb County could soon become the latest metro Atlanta school system to pursue charter school status.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports (http://bit.ly/1gH0wI0) that all Georgia school districts must decide by summer 2015 whether to maintain their current structure or pursue a charter school status.

The charter school status is expected to move more decision-making from the central office to school buildings.

If DeKalb County opts for charter school status, it would join Fulton County in that category.

Gwinnett County, Georgia's largest school district, chose a middle ground, becoming an "Investing in Educational Excellence" district and keeping more central control than a charter system.

DeKalb County Superintendent Michael Thurmond is recommending charter status instead of the status quo or the middle ground selected by Gwinnett.

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