HB24-1363: Charter School Accountability - Summary

• Governance Requirements: Charter school governing boards must ensure at least one-third of members are parents or legal guardians of enrolled students, and the whole board reflects community demographics (effective July 1, 2024).

• Automatic Waivers Restrictions: Automatic waivers from state statutes and rules are prohibited in new charter contracts (executed or renewed after July 1, 2024); existing automatic waivers remain valid until contract expiration. Charter schools cannot waive educator performance evaluation system requirements.

• Transparency and Disclosure: Charter schools must post information about waived laws and policies on their websites in plain language; must publicly report unredacted federal Form 990 and marketing/recruitment expense forms; district enrollment portals must provide this information before enrollment.

• Application and Renewal Requirements: Charter school applications and renewals must include descriptions of educational services addressing unmet community needs and annual minimum pupil enrollment requirements. District accountability committees must review renewal applications, and renewal applications must include requested state statute/rule waivers.

• Appeal Process Changes: Eliminates second appeal to state board; local board's final decision ends the appeal process. Creates new process allowing community members to appeal local board decisions to grant charter applications, with state board limited to reviewing whether the decision was arbitrary and capricious or violated federal/state law or court orders.