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1998 SESSION

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SB 318 Charter schools.

Introduced by: Warren E. Barry | all patrons    ...    notes | add to my profiles

SUMMARY:

Charter schools. Authorizes the establishment of charter schools in Virginia. After public notice, a public hearing, and adoption by the local school board of a resolution stating its intent to receive applications for the establishment of charter schools in the school division, the local school board may receive and review all charter school applications, which may be submitted by individuals or organizations. Each charter application must include a school mission statement consistent with the Standards of Quality (SOQ); goals and learning objectives that must meet or exceed the Standards of Learning (SOL); evidence of parental, teacher, and pupil support; a description of a lottery process used to determine enrollments; a statement of need; a proposed budget; a plan for displaced pupils and teachers; and a description of governance, employment conditions, and other related matters. The local school board may establish procedures for public notice, comment, or hearings on charter school applications and retains final, ultimate authority over the approval, denial, revocation, or nonrenewal of charter contracts; there is no appeals process. The contract between the charter school and the local school contains all agreements releasing of the charter school from school division policies, and is to include all requests for release of the charter school from state regulations, except for the requirements of the SOQ. As public, nonsectarian, nonreligious, non-home-based alternative schools, charter schools remain subject not only to the SOQ, but also to state and federal anti-discrimination laws and regulations, and court-ordered desegregation plans. Tuition-free, charter schools are deemed part of the school division and are accountable to the local school board. The conversion of a private, nonpublic, religious, or home-based program into a charter school is specifically prohibited. Enrollment is open to any child residing in the school division, through a lottery process on a space-available basis. The school board may restrict the number of charters granted, and no more than two charters may be granted per division before July 1, 2000. Subsequently, the total number of charter schools shall not exceed ten percent of the school division's total number of schools or two charter schools, which ever is greater. The term of any charter, whether initial or renewed, may not exceed three years. At least half of a division's charters must be reserved for applications designed to increase opportunities for at-risk students and priority given to these applications. The funding mechanism for charter schools is similar to that for some Governor's Schools and alternative education programs: students enrolled in a charter school are included in the division's average daily membership, but the schools are not included in fall membership for purposes of calculating division SOQ costs. The proportionate share of state and federal money for disabled pupils and special education personnel as well as state and federal categorical aid must also go to the charter school. Other details for funding for the charter school are to be negotiated in the charter contract. Licensed personnel may volunteer for employment at the charter school on an annual contract basis; charter school teachers are entitled to the same benefits as noncharter school teachers. School boards must submit an annual evaluation of their charter schools to the Board of Education; the Board, in turn, must report its findings to the Governor and the General Assembly beginning in January 1999. This bill is identical to HB 543.


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