Signed by Governor Gavin Newsom

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

A vote to pass a bill with amendment that establishes oversight of charter schools by public school districts.

Highlights:

• Authorizes the State Board of Education to take appropriate action, including, but not limited to, revocation of the charter school’s charter, when the state board finds any of the following (Sec. 1):

• Gross financial mismanagement that jeopardizes the financial stability of the charter school;

• Illegal use of charter school funds for the personal benefit of any executive member of the charter school;

• Significant and sustained departure from measurably successful practices that would jeopardize the educational development of the charter school’s pupils; or

• Failure to improve pupil outcomes across state and school priorities.

• Authorizes any persons seeking to establish a charter school within the geographical boundaries of the school district to circulate a petition (Sec. 2). 

• Authorizes the petition to be submitted to the governing board of the school district for review after either of the following conditions are met (Sec. 2):

• The petition is signed by a number of parents or legal guardians of pupils that is equivalent to at least one-half of the number of pupils that the charter school estimates it will enroll for its first year of operation; or

• The petition is signed by a number of teachers that is equivalent to at least one-half of the number of teachers that the charter school estimates will be employed during its first year of operation.

• Requires the state board’s Advisory Commission on Charter Schools to review all petitions, as well as appeals made after petitions are denied (Sec. 2). 

• Requires teachers employed by charter schools during the 2019-2020 school year to obtain the certificate required for the teacher’s certificated assignment by July 1, 2025 (Sec. 3).

Full Bill Text