HB 1419 Summary

• Establishes the New Charter Application Commission comprised of seven members with charter school experience selected by the Commissioner of Education to serve as a charter school authorizer alongside local school districts.

• Authorizers must receive charter applications by August 1 (or February 1 for 18-month timeline) and approve or recommend denial within 90 days, with applicants given 7 days to correct technical errors before denial recommendations.

• Requires charter school applicants to include full accounting of expected assets, income projections including student enrollment, and operating expense projections including start-up costs.

• Allows applicants to appeal recommended denials to the State Board of Education within 30 days; the State Board must decide within 90 days and can direct the local school district to approve the application regardless of whether it was the authorizer.

• Takes effect July 1, 2021.