Troup County Center for Strategic Planning will host a town hall-style meeting to discuss plans for a college and career academy on Monday.

The Troup County Center for Strategic Planning gained approval from the Troup County Board of Education to explore the process of creating an academy locally. This process, first used in Coweta County to create Central Education Center in 2000 and made formal by the state in 2005, requires the participation of a committed planning group representing public and private stakeholders.

Since 2007, nearly 30 Georgia communities have started academies with goals of workforce development and student achievement. According to a release from the center, those communities report lower unemployment rates, fewer high school dropouts and “thriving community partnerships.”

The Strategic Planning Board has contracted with Seamless Education Associates, Inc. to work through the process. Russ Moore of Seamless Education is the former CEO of Central Education Center, has spent the last 12 years starting charter college and career academies in Georgia, and has been involved with 21 of the 27 current Georgia academies.

The town hall meeting is set for Monday from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. at the Callaway Conference Center, 220 Fort Drive at the West Georgia Technical College campus, to inform the public about the exploration and planning process for creating a college and career academy.

To reserve a seat, contact Carrie Brkich at 706-298-3639 or cbrkich@troupco.org.