HB 2132 Summary

• Creates the Parent Empowerment Act allowing parents and legal guardians at "qualifying schools" (those receiving D or F grades for at least 2 of the last 3 years) to petition for charter school conversion or administrator termination in school districts with 5,000+ students in counties with 500,000+ population.

• Requires petitions to be signed by parents/guardians representing a majority of enrolled students (50% plus one for even enrollments; 50% plus one-half for odd enrollments) and submitted to the superintendent for board consideration within 60 days.

• For charter conversion petitions, establishes a selection committee with 4 petition-signing parents (named by State Board member) and 1 school board member to choose a charter operator within 45 days; board decision can be appealed to State Board of Education.

• For administrator termination petitions, requires school boards to terminate principals and assistant principals by end of their current contract; terminated principals cannot be reemployed at the same school for 5 years.

• Imposes daily fines of $5,000 on school boards failing to meet deadlines without State Board waiver; prevents repeated petitions at same school for 3 years after successful implementation; charter conversions cannot be reversed for 5 years.