SB 1096 - Charter Schools Summary

• Establishes a new charter approval process effective July 1, 2015, where the State Board of Education grants "initial certificates of approval" that become charters when funding is appropriated, rather than granting charters directly.

• Requires charter applicants to be 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations and introduces new application requirements including plans for charter management organization contracts, sharing student learning practices with local boards, and demonstrating capacity to serve underperforming student populations.

• Mandates governing council training on charter responsibilities, anti-nepotism and conflict of interest policies, criminal background checks for council members and staff, and annual financial audits and reporting of progress toward academic and organizational performance goals.

• Regulates contracts between charter schools and charter management organizations by requiring State Board of Education approval, limiting the organizations to 501(c)(3) nonprofits, and ensuring governing councils retain control over school operations and access to all records.

• Requires charter schools to submit material change requests for approval when fundamentally altering their mission, structure, or educational programs, and establishes procedures for charter renewal based on student progress, compliance with charter terms, and efforts to serve disadvantaged student populations.