Senate committee hears broad support for charter-school transparency bill while members press for deeper system fixes

Senate File 1311, a measure to increase transparency and accountability for Minnesota charter public schools, received broad support during a lengthy March 12 hearing before the Senate Education Policy Committee. The bill, sponsored by Senator Susinski, would require additional authorizer training, new financial-governance steps for charter boards, and expanded public posting of authorizer and charter performance and contract materials.

Sponsor’s intent and amendment Senator Susinski said the bill responds to reporting about lapses in transparency and oversight and seeks to tighten accountability while preserving charter innovation in Minnesota. The committee adopted an A2 amendment; Susinski said the amendment reflected stakeholder engagement and technical fixes.

What the bill would require Among the changes described in testimony, Senate File 1311 would: require annual training for authorizers (including training tied to authorizer performance reviews conducted by the Minnesota Department of Education); require charter boards to establish a finance committee and, when under financial corrective action, to include the authorizer in finance meetings…