HB1040 Summary

• Creates the State Public Charter School Commission as an independent state commission with sole authority over all public charter schools in Arkansas, effective July 1, 2013

• Commission consists of 5 members appointed by the Governor, President Pro Tempore of the Senate, Speaker of the House, and chairs of Senate and House education committees, with staggered terms and geographic diversity requirements

• Transfers charter school authorization responsibilities from the State Board of Education to the new commission, including approval, renewal, revocation, and monitoring of conversion, limited, and open-enrollment public charter schools

• Establishes commission duties to maintain high academic, financial, and governance standards; ensure charter school autonomy; protect student interests; and submit annual reports to legislative education committees on charter school performance

• Updates Arkansas Quality Public Charter Schools Act of 1999 to reflect 2013 changes, including expanded legislative intent focused on establishing independent authorizers and improving quality charter school options for students