HF1321 - Charter School Provisions Summary

• Allows school boards to endorse or authorize charter schools to replace schools the board decided to close, provided the charter is substantially different in purpose and program from the closed school

• Increases the maximum number of single-purpose charter school authorizers from three to ten organizations, with authorizer applications to be reviewed within 45 business days instead of 60

• Modifies authorizer approval requirements by removing the $2,000,000 fund balance requirement and changing the five-year operating requirement for charitable organizations

• Permits charter schools to merge with other charter schools after approval by both schools' boards of directors and authorizers, with the merged school subject to commissioner review and comment

• Clarifies charter school expansion procedures, requiring supplemental affidavits for review and comment rather than approval, with 20 business days for authorizers to address commissioner deficiencies instead of 30