MN SF1185

School district boards may create and sponsor collaborative charter schools through a memorandum of understanding with teachers' unions or by contracting with eligible parties, operating as cooperatives or nonprofits under Minnesota law.

Collaborative charter schools must be located within the sponsoring district's boundaries, governed by boards of at least five members, and comply with open meeting requirements and conflict-of-interest prohibitions for board members.

Charter contracts must specify school purposes, academic outcomes, admission policies, governance, special education services, insurance requirements, and term lengths of up to three years initially or five years for renewals based on performance.

Students generate state funding the same as traditional public school pupils and qualify for charter school lease aid and startup aid; teachers employed by collaborative schools are covered by public teacher retirement systems.

Authorizers may assess annual fees (0.5-1.5% of basic formula allowance in later years) to monitor fiscal and academic performance; contracts may be terminated for failure to meet pupil performance standards, fiscal mismanagement, or law violations with 60 days' notice and informal hearing rights.