Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to concur with Senate amendments and pass a bill that amends charter school regulations relating to sponsors and finances.

Highlights:

• Prohibits a community school from entering into a contract with a new sponsor in either of the following circumstances, effective December 31, 2015 (Sec. 1):
• The school receives a score of “D” or “F” on the performance index and another measure of overall student progress; or
• The school has a majority of students enrolled in a dropout prevention and recovery program and has received a rating of “does not meet standards” for the annual student growth measure and combined graduation rates.

• Requires a community school to provide enrollment and financial information to the community school sponsor and operator, members of the governing authority, and the fiscal officer at least once a month (Sec. 1).

• Requires the following individuals to complete annual training on the public records and open meetings laws (Sec. 1):
• A member of the governing authority of a community school;
• The designated fiscal officer of the school;
• The chief administrative officer and administrative school employees; and
• An individual performing contracted supervisory or administrative services.

• Prohibits a sponsor or its director, employee, or representative from selling goods or services to its community school, effective immediately (Sec. 1).

• Requires the Department of Education to rate sponsors as “exemplary,” “effective,” “ineffective,” or “poor” annually (Sec. 1).

• Authorizes a sponsor that receives an “exemplary” rating for 2 consecutive years to have no limit on the number of community schools it sponsors (Sec. 1).

• Prohibits a sponsor that receives an “ineffective” rating from sponsoring new or additional community schools (Sec. 1).

• Requires a sponsor that receives an “ineffective” rating to undergo a 1-year quality improvement plan (Sec. 1).

• Requires a sponsor that receives a “poor” rating to have sponsorship authority revoked (Sec. 1).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that amends charter school regulations relating to sponsors and finances.

Highlights:

• Requires a community school that has had more than 1 sponsor in the past 5 years to receive approval from the Department of Education before entering into a contract with a new sponsor if one of the following scenarios applies, beginning December 31, 2015 (Sec. 1):
• The community school has received a score of “D” or “F” on the performance index and another measure of overall student progress; or
• The community school has a majority of students enrolled in a dropout prevention and recovery program and has received a rating of “does not meet standards” for the annual student growth measure and combined graduation rates. 

• Requires the sponsor of a community school to submit an annual report to the Board of Education and the school operator describing the amount and type of expenditures made to provide oversight and technical assistance to its community school (Sec. 1).

• Prohibits a sponsor or its director, employee, or representative from selling goods or services to its community school, effective immediately (Sec. 1).

• Requires a member of the governing board of any community school to disclose the name of an immediate relative or business associate employed by any of the following entities within the previous 3 years (Sec. 1):
• The sponsor or operator of the school;
• The school district or educational service center of the school; or
• A vendor who is currently engaged in business or has previously engaged in business with the school.

• Requires a community school to provide enrollment and financial information to the community school sponsor and operator, members of the governing authority, and the fiscal officer at least once a month (Sec. 1).

• Requires the following individuals to complete annual training on the public records and open meetings laws (Sec. 1):
• A member of the governing authority of a community school;
• The designated fiscal officer of the school;
• The chief administrative officer and administrative school employees; and
• An individual performing contracted supervisory or administrative services.

Full Bill Text