S.F. No. 1171 - Charter Schools Policy and Technical Changes

• Establishes authorizer roles and responsibilities including reviewing applications, negotiating contracts, conducting ongoing oversight of academic/operational/financial performance, and evaluating schools prior to contract renewal or termination.

• Clarifies that the commissioner cannot require authorizers to undertake roles beyond those specified in statute or charter contracts, or perform functions the department exercises for other public schools.

• Creates procedures for charter schools to transfer to new authorizers when both parties mutually agree to not renew, including commissioner approval timelines of 20-45 business days for review and determination.

• Adds requirements for charter school board training within 3-6 months of being seated, requires management agreements with education management organizations (CMOs) to have maximum 5-year terms with public review periods, and prohibits for-profit educational management organization (EMO) contracts.

• Prohibits charter schools from entering agreements with for-profit educational management organizations and establishes detailed transparency and conflict-of-interest requirements for CMO and online education service provider contracts.