Signed by Governor Gary Herbert

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that authorizes an individual or groups of individuals, including teachers and parents or guardians of students who will attend the school, or a not-for-profit legal entity organized under the law, to enter into an agreement with a board of trustees of a higher education institution to establish and operate a charter school.

Highlights:

-Requires those applying for authorization from a board of trustees of a higher education institution to establish and operate a charter school to provide a copy of the application to the State Charter School Board and the local school board of the school (Sec. 7). -Requires the State Board of Education to establish a rule providing a time-line for the opening of a charter school following the approval of a charter school application by a board of trustees of a higher education institution (Sec. 7). -Authorizes the school's charter to include a provision that the charter school pay an annual fee for the board of trustees' costs in providing oversight of, and technical support to, the charter school but the fee shall not exceed the product of (Sec. 7):

-1 percent of the value of the weighted pupil unit as established in statue for the current fiscal year; and -The October 1 enrollment count of the charter school for the current fiscal year.

-Annually review and evaluate the performance of charter schools authorized by the board of trustees and hold the schools accountable for their performance; -Monitor charter schools authorized by the board of trustees for compliance with federal and state laws, rules, and regulations; and -Provide technical support to charter schools authorized by the board of trustees to assist them in understanding and performing their charter obligations.

Full Bill Text