Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that establishes procedures for designating persistently low-achieving schools as charter schools.

Highlights:

• Authorizes the formation of charter schools as tuition-free public schools and establishes procedures for the conversion of existing public schools into charter schools (Secs. 1 & 3).

• Specifies that only existing public schools can be converted to charter schools (Sec. 1).

• Authorizes a local board of education to designate a persistently low-achieving school as a charter school (Sec. 1).

• Requires the principal of a persistently low-achieving school to present staff with the option to convert to a charter school if 20% of staff sign a petition, and requires the school to convert to a charter school if there is 2/3 approval by all staff (Sec. 1).  

• Requires the principal of a persistently low-achieving school to present parents and guardians with the option to convert to a charter school if 20% of parents and guardians sign a petition, and requires the school to convert to a charter school if there is 2/3 approval by voting parents and guardians (Sec. 1).  

• Requires the educational programs established by a charter school to meet or exceed the student performance standards adopted by the state board (Sec. 4).

• Exempts charter schools from being subject to specific district policies and state administrative regulations (Sec. 3).

• Requires the local school board to distribute to a charter school the proportionate share of federal, state and local funds for each student who is a resident of the district and enrolled in the charter school (Sec. 7).

Full Bill Text