SB1001 Summary

• Creates the "Parent Empowerment Act" allowing parents at low-performing schools to petition for charter school conversion through majority-plus-one signature requirement of current student families.

• Establishes procedures for petition circulation and validation, with school boards required to render decisions within 60 days and face $5,000 daily fines for non-compliance with deadlines.

• Creates a selection committee of four petition-signing parents and one school board member to choose charter operators within 45 days, with binding selection authority subject to limited appeal rights.

• Requires charter schools created under this act to maintain the same attendance boundaries and grade levels as the original school, provide building maintenance and transportation services, and give priority admission to students from the geographic area previously served.

• Allows parents at qualifying schools (those receiving "D" or "F" grades for two recent years) to petition for termination of principals and assistant principals, with identical signature and procedural requirements as the charter conversion petition.