S.F. No. 867 - Charter School Provisions Summary

• Expands the Charter School Advisory Council from seven to nine members and specifies their composition including sponsors, personnel, teachers, school board members, parents, and district representatives, with council expiration extended to June 30, 2015.

• Increases sponsor accountability by requiring commissioner approval before chartering schools, establishing 60 business day review timelines for affidavits, and allowing the commissioner to review sponsor performance every five years and take corrective action.

• Clarifies charter school board governance requirements including mandatory teacher majority before third year of operation, department-approved training for board members within 12 months, and prohibits conflicts of interest for board members with financial relationships to contracted entities.

• Establishes new sponsor categories including single-purpose charitable organizations (maximum two approved by June 30, 2011) and allows nonprofit building corporations for schools operating 3+ consecutive years, subject to sponsor and commissioner approval.

• Modifies charter school contract timelines (45 business days instead of 90), expands eligible admission preferences for siblings and students within two miles, and prohibits distributing goods or services to students as enrollment inducements.