SB 1096: Charter School Approval Process

• Eliminates the "initial certificate of approval" process for charter schools; effective July 1, 2023, the State Board of Education directly grants charters rather than interim certificates.

• Establishes a charter school approval grant account to provide initial funding to newly chartered schools in the fiscal year following charter approval.

• Limits new state charter school approvals to two applications per fiscal year beginning in FY 2024, down from the previous limit of four per year.

• Charters granted to both local and state charter schools must include academic and organizational performance goals with specific performance indicators and metrics for evaluation.

• Maintains existing requirements for school governance, student admission procedures, diversity initiatives, and performance standards, with preference given to schools serving low-performing students, English language learners, and other targeted populations.