SB 679 Summary

• Removes caps on the number of public school academy contracts that state public universities may issue, eliminating previous limits of 300 contracts through 2012 and 500 through 2014.

• Requires authorizing bodies to disapprove educational management organization agreements if the organization or its affiliates operate schools on the lowest-achieving 5% list, expanding grounds for disapproval beyond just contract violations.

• Adds requirement that board members of public school academies and schools of excellence must be U.S. citizens.

• Prohibits successor schools from operating at the same location as previously closed charter schools with revoked contracts, and restricts new charters in community school districts unless the authorizing body is accredited by a nationally recognized accreditation body.

• Adds provisions requiring schools of excellence that are cyber schools to cease operations if they receive notice of being among the lowest-achieving 5% of schools, with authority to disapprove authorizing bodies that fail to comply with closure mandates.