Senate Bill No. 677 Summary

• Repeals previous provisions requiring school district corporate organization to lapse after two successive years of unaccredited classification and replaces with state board of education review of governance conditions.

• Requires the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to conduct at least two public hearings in unaccredited districts to discuss return to accredited status, revised governance options, and continuity of educational services.

• Authorizes the state board of education to allow continued governance by existing school board, appoint a special administrative board (minimum five members, majority residents), determine alternative governance structures, attach territory to other districts, or establish new districts within lapsed district territory.

• Special administrative boards must retain authority of school boards, may void existing contracts and enter contracts with accredited districts for educational services, and expire after three years unless extended by state board.

• Districts receiving territory from lapsed districts with over 5,000 pupils must obtain approval from the receiving district's board; graduates attending schools operated under contract with accredited districts receive diplomas from the accredited district.