ID S1421

Requires petitions to establish new public charter schools, including virtual schools, to first undergo a legal sufficiency review by the state department of education to ensure compliance with statutory requirements.

Mandates the state department of education notify the local school district board within 15 days of completing a legal sufficiency review for non-virtual charter schools and provide training on the authorizing process and chartering entity responsibilities.

Establishes that after legal sufficiency review, petitions for virtual charter schools must be submitted directly to the public charter school commission, while other new charter school petitions go to the local board of trustees.

Requires at least one petitioner to attend a state department of education public charter school workshop and provide proof of attendance with the charter petition.

Adds specific requirements for public virtual school petitions including descriptions of the learning management system, online teacher availability, student-to-student interaction, technical support, attendance verification, and equal access provisions for hardware and internet connectivity.