Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that increases regulatory requirements for groups seeking to launch public charter schools

Highlights:

• Prohibits the State Board of Education from sponsoring a charter school unless the State Department of Education has the capacity, both in financial and personnel resources, to sponsor a charter school and the capacity to adhere to the contractual requirements (Sec. 1).

• Requires the State Board of Education to provide a hearing to the charter school and school district board of application during the charter school application process (Sec. 1).

• Requires there to be evidence of clear community support before a charter school is approved in a particular area and a demonstration that the applicants followed every applicable application requirement (Sec. 1).

• Requires the State Board of Education and the applicants looking to launch a charter school, to follow the following regulations and appeal processes when the school district board of education is the new charter school’s sponsor (Sec. 2): 

• The sponsor and charter school applicants are allowed to be represented by an attorney at any hearing before the state board of education; 

• The applicant had 30 days after application denial to file an appeal with the board; 

• The State board of education must schedule a hearing for appeal within 60 days of receiving a filed appeal; 

• The Board may grant a continuance of the hearing upon written notice of either party submitted at least 5 days prior to the date set for the hearing. The hearing also may be reset upon written agreement of all parties;

• If the Board determines that the school district board of education should have accepted the applicant’s proposal, then the Board may choose to sponsor the applicant; and 

• The decision of the Board shall be final and unappealable.

Full Bill Text