The important parts of SB 1830, attached to HB 3220, that survived conference and will go to the governor’s desk are:
1. CAP RAISED 12 PER YEAR
The cap on the number of charters for open-enrollment schools will be raised by 12 per year. Two of those must be “schools that will primarily serve students with disabilities.”
2. EXPEDITED APPROVAL FOR NEW CAMPUSES
Open-enrollment charter schools, meeting the following conditions, may NOTIFY, rather than APPLY for approval to, the Commissioner that they intend to open a new campus. If the Commissioner doesn’t deny the new campus within 90 days, the new campus is automatically approved.
The conditions for the charter’s schools are:
- At least 90% of the charter’s campuses have been rated acceptable or higher for the preceding two years.
- If any campus has been rated unacceptable more than once in the preceding three years, it has been closed.
- The charter holder satisfies generally accepted accounting standards of fiscal management.
3. JUNIOR COLLEGES MAY SPONSOR CHARTER SCHOOLS.
Currently, only 4-year colleges can.
4. REMOVED! COLOCATION INCENTIVE
3. REMOVED! FAIR DROPOUT COUNT FOR DROPOUT RECOVERY SCHOOLS
