SB 605 Summary

• Amends Oklahoma Charter Schools Act to add Charter School Sponsoring Commission as an authorized sponsor of charter schools in eligible school districts.

• Creates a seven-member Charter School Sponsoring Commission composed of the State Superintendent of Public Instruction (chair), two gubernatorial appointees, two appointees by the Senate President Pro Tempore, and two appointees by the House Speaker.

• Commission members serve staggered three-year terms (with initial appointments ranging from one to three years), receive no compensation but are reimbursed for travel expenses, and may be removed for cause including felony conviction, malfeasance, or three consecutive missed meetings.

• Establishes Commission authority to sponsor charter schools in school districts meeting specific criteria (those with 5,000+ average daily membership in counties with 500,000+ population, or those on the school improvement list).

• Declares an emergency effective date for the legislation upon passage and approval.