In the 2014-15 school year, Utopian Academy for the Arts opened its doors against all odds. Throughout its four-year residency in Riverdale, Utopian’s challenges from local city officials and the Clayton County school system prompted state officials, including then Georgia Governor Nathan Deal to intervene on the school’s behalf to prevent several disruptions and interferences in its day-to-day operations. Even further, after two visits within a six-week period from Governor Deal, state legislators recognized the necessity for developing policies and legislation as preventative measures for other future charter schools to avoid Utopian’s rocky start. During the 2015 legislative season the “Utopian Academy for the Arts Act” was signed into law by Governor Nathan Deal. This bill passed unanimously, House of Representatives Passed (170-0 Vote), Georgia Senate Passed (169-0).
