CS/HB 1031 - Charter Schools Summary

• Establishes the Charter School Review Commission composed of seven members selected by the Commissioner of Education to review and approve charter school applications with the same duties as district sponsors.

• Allows charter school assets held by not-for-profit or municipal entities to be used for other charter schools operated by the same entity within the state.

• Authorizes virtual charter schools to provide part-time virtual instruction and be approved as virtual instruction providers, and permits them to contract with public or charter schools for courses they cannot provide.

• Modifies high-performing charter school application requirements, allowing them to submit up to two applications per year instead of establishing multiple schools, with exceptions for persistently low-performing school areas.

• Requires school districts to act upon State Board of Education decisions within 30 calendar days and serve as sponsor of charter schools appealed to the state level; revises teacher-parent contact requirements for virtual instruction providers from phone-only to multiple communication methods.