S.B. 244 Summary

• Requires charter schools to complete independent annual financial audits complying with authorizer and department requirements.

• Establishes criminal history record check procedures for charter school employees and persons in close proximity to children, allowing employers to refuse employment or terminate workers posing risk to child safety after investigation and opportunity to respond.

• Prohibits charter schools from discriminating in enrollment based on race, color, ethnicity, national origin, religion, gender, sexual orientation, income, disability, English proficiency, special education needs, or academic/athletic ability; requires start-up schools to use public lottery for admissions when capacity is exceeded.

• Clarifies charter school governance provisions including limiting employee/relatives to one-third of voting board members, requiring conflict of interest disclosures, allowing charter school leaders to hire staff without civil service restrictions, and establishing statewide chartering commission appointment and qualifications.

• Provides charter schools opportunity to request facilities funding as part of annual budget and requires authorizers to follow nationally recognized charter authorizing standards for application review, performance contracting, oversight, and renewal decisions.