SB 406 Summary

• Charter school boards must include at least two members who reside within the school corporation's geographic boundaries where the school is located.

• Authorizers cannot approve new charter schools from organizers already operating Indiana charter schools unless the organizer provides evidence of student academic performance improvement based on statewide assessments, attendance rates, graduation rates, and college/career readiness indicators.

• Removes provisions allowing charter schools to limit new admissions and give enrollment preferences to founders' and employees' children; establishes requirements for independent annual audits and annual reporting to the Department of Education on enrollment, finances, and employee salaries.

• All full-time charter school teachers must hold a teaching license or be enrolled in a transition to teaching program (to be completed within 3 years); prohibits charter school authorizers and organizers from interfering with employee collective bargaining rights.

• Establishes a Charter School Market Assessment Board to conduct an 11-member assessment of need for additional charter schools and whether moratoriums should be implemented, with a report due to the legislative council by January 1, 2019; requires at least 50% of charter school board public meetings be held within the school corporation's boundaries.