HB347 Summary

• Expands the Alabama Public Charter School Commission from 10 to 11 members, with the 11th member being a rotating position appointed by the local school system where a charter application was denied.

• Authorizes the commission to employ staff to coordinate commission business and requires orientation and annual training for commission members and authorizing board members.

• Allows applicants to apply directly to the commission to open a public charter school if the local school board denies their application or chooses not to register as an authorizer.

• Changes public charter school funding from quarterly to monthly disbursement basis and revises funding calculations to be based on projected enrollment during growth years and current enrollment thereafter.

• Limits local tax revenue allocations to charter schools: start-up schools capped at 10 mill ad valorem match per student, conversion schools receive only the amount that would have gone to the student's former school.