HR312 Summary

• Urges local boards of education to elect to become charter school authorizers by September 1, 2015, following enactment of the Alabama School Choice and Student Opportunity Act (Act 2015-3) on March 19, 2015.

• Requires local school boards choosing to be authorizers to submit a substantial written application to the state Department of Education detailing their capacity, strategic vision for charter schools, applicant solicitation plans, and performance frameworks for monitoring charter schools.

• Establishes key implementation deadlines: application format to be available by June 1, 2015; State Board of Education to adopt regulations by June 10, 2015; and authorizers to issue requests for proposals within 120 days of enactment (by July 17, 2015).

• Urges the Alabama Public Charter School Commission to fully develop its own rules as an appellate body and charter school authorizer before being required to hear appeals from locally denied applications.