Signed by Governor Mitch Daniels, Jr.

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to concur with Senate amendments and pass a bill that amends the educational system regarding charter schools.

Highlights:

• Defines sponsor as, but not limited to, one of the following (Sec.6):
• The charter board; or
• A nonprofit college or university that provides a 4 year educational program for which it awards a baccalaureate or more advanced degree, including, but not limited to, Butler University, University of Notre Dame, and University of Indianapolis.

• Establishes the Indiana Charter School Board for the purpose of sponsoring charter schools throughout Indiana and shall be composed of the following (Sec. 7):
• 2 members, who may not be members of the same political party, appointed by the governor;
• 1 member who has previous experience with or on behalf of charter schools appointed by the state superintendent;
• 4 members, who may not be legislatures; and
• Of the aforementioned 4 members, one member shall be appointed by the president pro tempore of the senate, one member shall be appointed by the minority leader of the senate, one member shall be appointed by the speaker of the House of Representatives, and one member shall be appointed by the minority leader of the House of Representatives.

• Requires sponsors of charter schools to provide the following (Sec. 12):
• College and career ready indicators including advanced placement participation and passage, dual credit participation and passage, and International Baccalaureate participation and passage;
• Increased numbers of academic honors and technical honors diplomas;
• Student academic growth;
• Financial performance and stability; and
• Governing board performance and stewardship, including compliance with applicable laws, rules, and regulations, and charter terms.

• Requires the charter school to file an annual report that includes, but is not limited to, the following (Sec. 21 & 22):
• Results of all standardized testing, including ISTEP program testing, end of course assessments, and any other assessments used for each sponsored school;
• A description of the educational methods and teaching methods employed for each sponsored school;
• Attendance rates for each sponsored school; and
• Graduation rates.

• Authorizes an existing public school to convert to a charter school if the following requirements are met (Sec. 24):
• At least 51 percent of the parents of students who attend the school have signed a petition requesting the conversion;
• The school has been placed in either of the 2 lowest categories for 2 consecutive years; or
• The governing body votes to convert an existing school within the school corporation.

• Establishes the charter school facilities assistance program with the purpose of making grants and loans to charter schools for (Sec. 25):
• Constructing, purchasing, renovating, and maintaining schools;
• Paying first semester costs for new schools; and
• Reducing common school fund debt for charter schools.

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that amends the educational system regarding charter schools.

Highlights:

• Defines sponsor as, but not limited to, one of the following (Sec.6):
• The charter board; or
• A nonprofit college or university that provides a 4 year educational program for which it awards a baccalaureate or more advanced degree, including, but not limited to, Butler University, University of Notre Dame, and University of Indianapolis.

• Establishes the Indiana Charter School Board for the purpose of sponsoring charter schools throughout Indiana and shall be composed of the following (Sec. 7):
• 2 members, who may not be members of the same political party, appointed by the governor;
• 1 member who has previous experience with or on behalf of charter schools appointed by the state superintendent;
• 4 members, who may not be legislatures; and
• Of the aforementioned 4 members, one member shall be appointed by the president pro tempore of the senate, one member shall be appointed by the minority leader of the senate, one member shall be appointed by the speaker of the House of Representatives, and one member shall be appointed by the minority leader of the House of Representatives.

• Requires sponsors of charter schools to provide the following (Sec. 12):
• College and career ready indicators including advanced placement participation and passage, dual credit participation and passage, and International Baccalaureate participation and passage;
• Increased numbers of academic honors and technical honors diplomas;
• Student academic growth;
• Financial performance and stability; and
• Governing board performance and stewardship, including compliance with applicable laws, rules, and regulations, and charter terms.

• Requires the charter school to file an annual report that includes, but is not limited to, the following (Sec. 21 & 22):
• Results of all standardized testing, including ISTEP program testing, end of course assessments, and any other assessments used for each sponsored school;
• A description of the educational methods and teaching methods employed for each sponsored school;
• Attendance rates for each sponsored school; and
• Graduation rates.

• Authorizes an existing public school to convert to a charter school if the following requirements are met (Sec. 24):
• At least 51 percent of the parents of students who attend the school have signed a petition requesting the conversion;
• The school has been placed in either of the 2 lowest categories for 2 consecutive years; or
• The governing body votes to convert an existing school within the school corporation.

• Establishes the charter school facilities assistance program with the purpose of making grants and loans to charter schools for (Sec. 25):
• Constructing, purchasing, renovating, and maintaining schools;
• Paying first semester costs for new schools; and
• Reducing common school fund debt for charter schools.

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that expands provisions relating to charter schools in Indiana.

Highlights:

• Authorizes charter schools to opt into state health insurance plans (Sec.4).

• Establishes the Indiana charter school board to sponsor, monitor, and review charter schools statewide (Sec. 12).

• Establishes that the charter school's charter must include student academic growth, the school's financial performance and stability, and board performance and stewardship (Sec. 16).

• Requires that all school corporations make facilities that are unused for 2 consecutive years available to charter schools (Sec.25).

• Requires students who transfer to a public school from a charter school to have all their credits transferred consistently and uniformly (Sec. 28).

• Reduces the requirements for petitioning for conversion of a public school to a charter school (Sec. 29).

• Establishes the Charter School Facilities Aid Program and Charter School Facilities Revolving Loan Program which awards grants and loans to public schools for financing purchase of a building, building activities, renovations, or debt from these activities (Sec. 30 & 31).

Full Bill Text