Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Charter Schools Accountability topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Committee advances charter authorizing overhaul to tighten performance expectations and streamline application process
Summary
The Education Committee approved legislation that streamlines charter applications, sets clearer performance-runway timelines and requires revocation of charters after repeated low grades, while preserving appeal rights and allowing waivers targeted to specific needs.
The committee approved a charter school accountability bill that revises the state—s charter application and contract practices, emphasizes performance metrics in authorizing decisions and adds an accountability mechanism for chronically low-performing operators.
Senator Justin Boyd presented language drafted with Department of Education staff. The bill consolidates and streamlines application requirements across different authorizers, creates a charter-authorizing panel review with state-board approval, adds a timeline for changing the performance contract, and makes explicit that a charter operator receiving an "F" grade for three consecutive years will have its performance contract nullified unless it successfully appeals or demonstrates compelling mitigating circumstances.
Department witnesses said the bill includes accommodations for virtual operators (for example, recognizing that virtual schools may not need on-site nurses or librarians) and requires the state board to promulgate rules governing appeals and hearing requests. Committee members asked about whether a requested hearing would be granted and how closures would be handled while a hearing is pending; department staff said hearing timelines and procedures will be specified in forthcoming rules and the department expects to grant hearings requested in the appeal process.
The bill passed by voice vote in committee. Department staff answered questions about how existing school grades would be used during a transition to a revised grading methodology and said the department is working on a more output-focused grading system emphasizing student growth. The bill applies to new charters and to existing ones as they come up for renewal under the updated contract process.
Ending: The committee advanced the bill and asked the Department of Education to develop rules and guidance for hearings, appeals and contract changes; sponsors said the measure balances flexibility for high-quality operators with specific performance expectations.
