Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that amends certain education laws and programs.

Highlights:

• Authorizes public charter schools be approved to participate in the Public Employees Insurance program and specifies that participation is not required (Ch. 6, Article 16).

• Specifies that beginning with the 2020 fiscal year and the 2019 tax year the regular levy rates for the county board of education shall be the following, including (Ch. 11, Article 8).

• 19.4 cents per $100 for Class I properties;

• 38.8 cents per $100 for Class II properties; and

• 77.6 cents per $100 for Class III and IV properties.

• Requires that the regular levy rate increase be approved by a majority vote of the voters of each county and shall increase to the following set amount (Ch. 11, Article 8):

• 22.95 cents per $100 for Class I properties;

• 45.9 cents per $100 for Class II properties; and

• 91.8 cents per $100 for Class III and IV properties.

• Authorizes a nonrefundable credit (up to $250) for the purchase of supplementary education materials (Ch. 11, Article 21).

• Specifies that if any provision of this act is deemed invalid during the 2019 session then this entire act shall be deemed invalid and will have no further force or effect as law (Ch. 18, Article 1).

• Establishes an appeal process for parents of a student that was refused transfer by a county board and specifies that if the education and welfare of the student could be enhanced then the State Superintendent may direct the student transfer (Ch. 18, Article 5).

• Authorizes the county board to withhold pay for any employee who participates in a work stoppages or strikes that forces the school to temporarily close and requires teachers sign off annually on union dues (Ch. 18, Article 5).

• Prohibits schools from taking part in extracurricular activities such as sporting events on instructional days canceled because of strikes (Ch. 18, Article 5).

• Specifies that public charter schools shall not levy taxes or have entrance requirements or charge tuition or fees and requires a criminal background checks for all public charter school staff and volunteers (Ch. 18, Article 5G).

• Requires public charter schools be administered by a governing board that shall consist of the following individuals, including, but not limited to (Ch. 18, Article 5G):

• 2 parents of students attending the public charter school; and

• 1 member of the county board in which the school district is located;

• Exempts employees of the public charter school from being eligible to serve on the governing board (Ch. 18, Article 5G).

• Appropriates state funds for the salary compensation of 4 professional student support personnel positions for each 1,000 students in net enrollment (Ch. 18, Article 9A).

• Defines that “Professional student support personnel” shall include both social workers and psychologists (Ch. 19, Article 9A).

• Specifies that classroom teachers providing math instruction for at least 60 percent of the time shall be considered to have 3 additional years of experience for the purpose of salary rate increases (Ch. 18, Article 9A).

• Establishes an Education Savings Account (ESA) to fund state public charter schools and specifies that funds shall be allocated for the following purposes, including, but not limited to (Ch. 18, Article 31):

• Tuition and fees at private school and nonpublic online learning programs;

• Tutoring services provided by an individual tutoring facility;

• Services contracted for, and provided by, public district, charter or magnet school;

• Textbooks, curriculum, and other instructional materials for online instruction;

• Computer hardware or other technological devices;

• Fees for summer education programs and specialized after-school programs; or

• Educational services and occupational, behavioral, physical, speech-language and audiology therapies.

Full Bill Text