Signed by Governor Robert Bentley

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to concur with House amendments and pass a bill that authorizes public charter schools.

Highlights:

• Authorizes public charter schools to exist and operate under the state public education system (Sec. 2).

• Specifies that a public charter school has autonomy over key decisions such as finance, personnel, and curriculum and is operated under the terms of a charter contract between the independent governing board and its authorizer (Sec. 4).

• Specifies that a public charter school is governed by an independent governing board that is a 501(c)(3) tax exempt organization (Sec. 4).

• Establishes the Alabama Public Charter School Commission as an independent state entity to authorize public charter schools (Sec. 6).

• Requires a public charter school application to be authorized by either the local school board or the Alabama Public Charter School Commission (Sec. 6).

• Authorizes the commission to approve applications rejected by a local school board only if the rejected application satisfies 1 of the following measures (Sec. 6):

• The applicant chooses to appeal the decision of the local school board to the commission; or

• The applicant wishes to open a “startup public charter school” in a public school system that has chosen not to register as an authorizer.

• Specifies that an applicant must have a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status to submit an application to become a public charter school (Sec. 4).

• Prohibits a private or nonpublic school from establishing a public charter school (Sec. 2).

• Prohibits an authorizer from approving more than 10 “start-up public charter schools” in any 1 fiscal year (Sec. 6).

• Defines a “start-up public charter school” as a public charter school that did not exist as a non-charter public school prior to becoming a public charter school (Sec. 4).

• Specifies that there is no limit on the number of “conversion public charter schools” that may be approved (Sec. 6).

• Defines a “conversion public charter school” as a public charter school that existed as a non-charter public school before becoming a public charter school and gives enrollment preference to students who reside within the former attendance zone of the public school (Sec. 4).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that authorizes the operation of public charter schools.

Highlights:

• Authorizes public charter schools to exist and operate under the state public education system (Sec. 2).

• Specifies that a public charter school has autonomy over key decisions such as finance, personnel, and curriculum and is operated under the terms of a charter contract between the independent governing board and its authorizer (Sec. 4).

• Specifies that a public charter school is governed by an independent governing board that is a 501(c)(3) tax exempt organization (Sec. 4).

• Establishes the Alabama Public Charter School Commission as an independent state entity to authorize public charter schools (Sec. 6).

• Requires a public charter school application to be authorized by either the local school board or the Alabama Public Charter School Commission (Sec. 6).

• Authorizes the commission to approve applications rejected by a local school board only if the rejected application satisfies 1 of the following measures (Sec. 6):

• The applicant chooses to appeal the decision of the local school board to the commission; or

• The applicant wishes to open a “startup public charter school” in a public school system that has chosen not to register as an authorizer.

• Specifies that an applicant must have a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status to submit an application to become a public charter school (Sec. 4).

• Prohibits a private or nonpublic school from establishing a public charter school (Sec. 2).

• Prohibits an authorizer from approving more than 10 “start-up public charter schools” in any 1 fiscal year (Sec. 6).

• Defines a “start-up public charter school” as a public charter school that did not exist as a non-charter public school prior to becoming a public charter school (Sec. 4).

• Specifies that there is no limit on the number of “conversion public charter schools” that may be approved (Sec. 6).

• Defines a “conversion public charter school” as a public charter school that existed as a non-charter public school before becoming a public charter school and gives enrollment preference to students who reside within the former attendance zone of the public school (Sec. 4).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that authorizes the operation of public charter schools.

Highlights:

•  Authorizes public charter schools to exist and operate under the state public education system (Sec. 2).

• Specifies that a public charter school has autonomy over key decisions such as finance, personnel, and curriculum and is operated under the terms of a charter contract between the independent governing board and its authorizer (Sec. 4).

• Specifies that a public charter school is governed by an independent governing board that is a 501(c)(3) tax exempt organization (Sec. 4).

• Establishes the Alabama Public Charter School Commission as an independent state entity to authorize public charter schools (Sec. 6).

• Requires a public charter school application to be authorized by either the local school board or the Alabama Public Charter School Commission (Sec. 6).

• Authorizes the commission to approve applications rejected by a local school board only if the rejected application satisfies 1 of the following measures (Sec. 6):

• The applicant chooses to appeal the decision of the local school board to the commission; or

• The applicant wishes to open a “startup public charter school” in a public school system that has chosen not to register as an authorizer.

• Specifies that an applicant must have a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status to submit an application to become a public charter school (Sec. 4).

• Prohibits a private or nonpublic school from establishing a public charter school (Sec. 2).

• Prohibits an authorizer from approving more than 10 “start-up public charter schools” in any 1 fiscal year (Sec. 6).

• Defines a “start-up public charter school” as a public charter school that did not exist as a non-charter public school prior to becoming a public charter school (Sec. 4).

• Specifies that there is no limit on the number of “conversion public charter schools” that may be approved (Sec. 6).

• Defines a “conversion public charter school” as a public charter school that existed as a non-charter public school before becoming a public charter school and gives enrollment preference to students who reside within the former attendance zone of the public school (Sec. 4).

Full Bill Text