Senate Bill sb0038A
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Florida Senate - 2003 SB 38-A
By Senator Webster
9-2588-03
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to charter schools; amending s.
3 1002.33, F.S.; providing guiding principles;
4 requiring an emphasis on reading; requiring
5 certain accountability measures; authorizing
6 community colleges to develop charter schools;
7 revising application requirements; requiring
8 fiscal projections in a charter application;
9 extending the time allowed for the State Board
10 of Education to act on an appeal; requiring
11 auditors to provide notification of certain
12 financial conditions; providing additional
13 requirements for a charter school's annual
14 report; eliminating limitations on the number
15 of charter schools per school district;
16 revising administrative fees charged by the
17 sponsor for the provision of services;
18 providing a report to the Governor; amending s.
19 1002.32, F.S.; correcting a cross-reference;
20 providing exceptions to the one lab school per
21 university limitation; revising provisions
22 relating to funding for lab schools; revising
23 provisions relating to employees of lab
24 schools; amending s. 1011.68, F.S.; correcting
25 a cross-reference; amending s. 1013.62, F.S.;
26 revising eligibility criteria for charter
27 school capital outlay funding; revising
28 purposes for charter school capital outlay
29 funds; providing allocation criteria for
30 charter school capital outlay appropriations;
31 providing for construction of the act in pari
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1 materia with laws enacted during the Regular
2 Session of the Legislature; providing an
3 effective date.
4
5 WHEREAS, in the 2002-2003 school year, Florida has 223
6 charter schools educating approximately 51,000 Florida
7 students, with a projected increase of 117 additional charter
8 schools in the next school year, and
9 WHEREAS, this rate of growth is a dramatic increase
10 over the prior averages of 36 charter schools per year, and
11 WHEREAS, while charter schools are public schools,
12 their unique populations or small size mean that few of them
13 are eligible for inclusion in the state's accountability
14 system, with only 38 of the 173 charter schools receiving a
15 school performance grade in 2002, and
16 WHEREAS, the issue of charter school accountability is
17 of the utmost importance at this time of budget constraints
18 and heightened awareness of public ethics, NOW, THEREFORE,
19
20 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
21
22 Section 1. Subsections (2), (5), (6), (7), (8), (9),
23 (10), (13), (21), and (24) of section 1002.33, Florida
24 Statutes, are amended and present subsections (14) through
25 (26) are renumbered as subsections (13) through (25),
26 respectively, to read:
27 1002.33 Charter schools.--
28 (2) GUIDING PRINCIPLES; PURPOSE.--
29 (a) Charter schools in Florida shall be guided by the
30 following principles:
31
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1 1. Meet high standards of student achievement while
2 providing parents flexibility to choose among diverse
3 educational opportunities within the state's public school
4 system.
5 2. Promote enhanced academic success and financial
6 efficiency by aligning responsibility with accountability.
7 3. Provide parents with sufficient information on
8 whether their child is reading at grade level and whether the
9 child gains at least a year's worth of learning for every year
10 spent in the charter school.
11 (b)(a) Charter schools shall fulfill the following
12 purposes:
13 1. Improve student learning and academic achievement.
14 2. Increase learning opportunities for all students,
15 with special emphasis on low-performing students and reading.
16 3. Create new professional opportunities for teachers,
17 including ownership of the learning program at the school
18 site.
19 4. Encourage the use of innovative learning methods.
20 5. Require the measurement of learning outcomes.
21 (c)(b) Charter schools may fulfill the following
22 purposes:
23 1. Create innovative measurement tools.
24 2. Provide rigorous competition within the public
25 school district to stimulate continual improvement in all
26 public schools.
27 3. Expand the capacity of the public school system.
28 (5) SPONSOR; DUTIES.--
29 (a) Sponsoring entities.--
30
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1 1. A district school board may sponsor a charter
2 school in the county over which the district school board has
3 jurisdiction.
4 2.(b) A state university may grant a charter to a lab
5 school created under s. 1002.32 and shall be considered to be
6 the school's sponsor. Such school shall be considered a
7 charter lab school.
8 (b) Sponsor duties.--
9 1.(c) The sponsor shall monitor and review the charter
10 school in its progress toward the goals established in the
11 charter.
12 2.(d) The sponsor shall monitor the revenues and
13 expenditures of the charter school.
14 3.(e) The sponsor may approve a charter for a charter
15 school before the applicant has secured space, equipment, or
16 personnel, if the applicant indicates approval is necessary
17 for it to raise working capital.
18 4.(f) The sponsor's policies shall not apply to a
19 charter school.
20 5.(g) The A sponsor shall ensure that the charter is
21 innovative and consistent with the state education goals
22 established by s. 1000.03(5).
23 6. The sponsor shall ensure that the charter school
24 participates in the state's education accountability system.
25 If a charter school falls short of performance measures
26 included in the approved charter, the sponsor shall report
27 such shortcomings to the Department of Education.
28
29 A community college may work with the school district or
30 school districts in its designated service area to develop
31 charter schools that offer secondary education. These charter
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1 schools must include an option for students to receive an
2 associate degree upon high school graduation. District school
3 boards shall cooperate with and assist the community college
4 on the charter application. Community college applications for
5 charter schools are not subject to the time deadlines outlined
6 in subsection (6) and may be approved by the district school
7 board at any time during the year. Community colleges shall
8 not report FTE for any students who receive FTE funding
9 through the Florida Education Finance Program.
10 (6) APPLICATION PROCESS AND REVIEW.--Beginning
11 September 1, 2003, applications are subject to the following
12 requirements:
13 (a) A person or entity wishing to open a charter
14 school shall prepare an application that:
15 1. Demonstrates how the school will use the guiding
16 principles and meet the statutorily defined purpose of a
17 charter school.
18 2. Provides a detailed curriculum plan that
19 illustrates how students will be provided services to attain
20 the Sunshine State Standards.
21 3. Contains goals and objectives for improving student
22 learning and measuring that improvement. These goals and
23 objectives must indicate how much academic improvement
24 students are expected to show each year, how success will be
25 evaluated, and the specific results to be attained through
26 instruction.
27 4. Describes the reading curriculum and differentiated
28 strategies that will be used for students reading at grade
29 level or higher and a separate curriculum and strategies for
30 students who are reading below grade level. A sponsor shall
31 deny a charter if the school does not propose a reading
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1 curriculum that is consistent with effective teaching
2 strategies that are grounded in scientifically based reading
3 research.
4 5. Contains an annual financial plan for each year
5 requested by the charter for operation of the school for up to
6 5 years. This plan must contain anticipated fund balances
7 based on revenue projections, a spending plan based on
8 projected revenues and expenses, and a description of controls
9 that will safeguard finances and projected enrollment trends.
10 (b)(a) A district school board shall receive and
11 review all applications for a charter school. A district
12 school board shall receive and consider charter school
13 applications received on or before September 1 October 1 of
14 each calendar year for charter schools to be opened at the
15 beginning of the school district's next school year, or to be
16 opened at a time agreed to by the applicant and the district
17 school board. A district school board may receive applications
18 later than this date if it chooses. A sponsor may not charge
19 an applicant for a charter any fee for the processing or
20 consideration of an application, and a sponsor may not base
21 its consideration or approval of an application upon the
22 promise of future payment of any kind.
23 1. In order to facilitate an accurate budget
24 projection process, a district school board shall be held
25 harmless for FTE students who are not included in the FTE
26 projection due to approval of charter school applications
27 after the FTE projection deadline. In a further effort to
28 facilitate an accurate budget projection, within 15 calendar
29 days after receipt of a charter school application, a district
30 school board or other sponsor shall report to the Department
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1 of Education the name of the applicant entity, the proposed
2 charter school location, and its projected FTE.
3 2. In order to ensure fiscal responsibility, an
4 application for a charter school shall include a full
5 accounting of expected assets, a projection of expected
6 sources and amounts of income, including income derived from
7 projected student enrollments and from community support, and
8 an expense projection that includes full accounting of the
9 costs of operation, including start-up costs.
10 3.2. A district school board shall by a majority vote
11 approve or deny an application no later than 60 calendar days
12 after the application is received, unless the district school
13 board and the applicant mutually agree to temporarily postpone
14 the vote to a specific date, at which time the district school
15 board shall by a majority vote approve or deny the
16 application. If the district school board fails to act on the
17 application, an applicant may appeal to the State Board of
18 Education as provided in paragraph (c)(b). If an application
19 is denied, the district school board shall, within 10 calendar
20 days, articulate in writing the specific reasons based upon
21 good cause supporting its denial of the charter application.
22 4.3. For budget projection purposes, the district
23 school board or other sponsor shall report to the Department
24 of Education the approval or denial of a charter application
25 within 10 calendar days after such approval or denial. In the
26 event of approval, the report to the Department of Education
27 shall include the final projected FTE for the approved charter
28 school.
29 5.4. Upon approval of a charter application, the
30 initial startup shall commence with the beginning of the
31 public school calendar for the district in which the charter
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1 is granted unless the district school board allows a waiver of
2 this provision for good cause.
3 (c)(b) An applicant may appeal any denial of that
4 applicant's application or failure to act on an application to
5 the State Board of Education no later than 30 calendar days
6 after receipt of the district school board's decision or
7 failure to act and shall notify the district school board of
8 its appeal. Any response of the district school board shall be
9 submitted to the State Board of Education within 30 calendar
10 days after notification of the appeal. Upon receipt of
11 notification from the State Board of Education that a charter
12 school applicant is filing an appeal, the Commissioner of
13 Education shall convene a meeting of the Charter School Appeal
14 Commission to study and make recommendations to the State
15 Board of Education regarding its pending decision about the
16 appeal. The commission shall forward its recommendation to the
17 state board no later than 7 calendar days prior to the date on
18 which the appeal is to be heard. The State Board of Education
19 shall by majority vote accept or reject the decision of the
20 district school board no later than 90 60 calendar days after
21 an appeal is filed in accordance with State Board of Education
22 rule. The Charter School Appeal Commission may reject an
23 appeal submission for failure to comply with procedural rules
24 governing the appeals process. The rejection shall describe
25 the submission errors. The appellant may have up to 15
26 calendar days from notice of rejection to resubmit an appeal
27 that meets requirements of State Board of Education rule. An
28 application for appeal submitted subsequent to such rejection
29 shall be considered timely if the original appeal was filed
30 within 30 calendar days after receipt of notice of the
31 specific reasons for the district school board's denial of the
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1 charter application. The State Board of Education shall remand
2 the application to the district school board with its written
3 decision that the district school board approve or deny the
4 application. The district school board shall implement the
5 decision of the State Board of Education. The decision of the
6 State Board of Education is not subject to the provisions of
7 the Administrative Procedure Act, chapter 120.
8 (d)(c) The district school board shall act upon the
9 decision of the State Board of Education within 30 calendar
10 days after it is received. The State Board of Education's
11 decision is a final action subject to judicial review.
12 (e)(d)1. A Charter School Appeal Commission is
13 established to assist the commissioner and the State Board of
14 Education with a fair and impartial review of appeals by
15 applicants whose charters have been denied or whose charter
16 contracts have not been renewed by their sponsors.
17 2. The Charter School Appeal Commission may receive
18 copies of the appeal documents forwarded to the State Board of
19 Education, review the documents, gather other applicable
20 information regarding the appeal, and make a written
21 recommendation to the commissioner. The recommendation must
22 state whether the appeal should be upheld or denied and
23 include the reasons for the recommendation being offered. The
24 commissioner shall forward the recommendation to the State
25 Board of Education no later than 7 calendar days prior to the
26 date on which the appeal is to be heard. The state board must
27 consider the commission's recommendation in making its
28 decision, but is not bound by the recommendation. The decision
29 of the Charter School Appeal Commission is not subject to the
30 provisions of the Administrative Procedure Act, chapter 120.
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1 3. The commissioner shall appoint the members of the
2 Charter School Appeal Commission. Members shall serve without
3 compensation but may be reimbursed for travel and per diem
4 expenses in conjunction with their service. One-half of the
5 members must represent currently operating charter schools,
6 and one-half of the members must represent school districts.
7 The commissioner or a named designee shall chair the Charter
8 School Appeal Commission.
9 4. The chair shall convene meetings of the commission
10 and shall ensure that the written recommendations are
11 completed and forwarded in a timely manner. In cases where the
12 commission cannot reach a decision, the chair shall make the
13 written recommendation with justification, noting that the
14 decision was rendered by the chair.
15 5. Commission members shall thoroughly review the
16 materials presented to them from the appellant and the
17 sponsor. The commission may request information to clarify the
18 documentation presented to it. In the course of its review,
19 the commission may facilitate the postponement of an appeal in
20 those cases where additional time and communication may negate
21 the need for a formal appeal and both parties agree, in
22 writing, to postpone the appeal to the State Board of
23 Education. A new date certain for the appeal shall then be set
24 based upon the rules and procedures of the State Board of
25 Education. Commission members shall provide a written
26 recommendation to the state board as to whether the appeal
27 should be upheld or denied. A fact-based justification for the
28 recommendation must be included. The chair must ensure that
29 the written recommendation is submitted to the State Board of
30 Education members no later than 7 calendar days prior to the
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1 date on which the appeal is to be heard. Both parties in the
2 case shall also be provided a copy of the recommendation.
3 (f)(e) The Department of Education may provide
4 technical assistance to an applicant upon written request.
5 (g)(f) In considering charter applications for a lab
6 school, a state university shall consult with the district
7 school board of the county in which the lab school is located.
8 The decision of a state university may be appealed pursuant to
9 the procedure established in this subsection.
10 (h)(g) The terms and conditions for the operation of a
11 charter school shall be set forth by the sponsor and the
12 applicant in a written contractual agreement, called a
13 charter. The sponsor shall not impose unreasonable rules or
14 regulations that violate the intent of giving charter schools
15 greater flexibility to meet educational goals. The applicant
16 and sponsor shall have 6 months in which to mutually agree to
17 the provisions of the charter. The Department of Education
18 shall provide mediation services for any dispute regarding
19 this section subsequent to the approval of a charter
20 application and for any dispute relating to the approved
21 charter, except disputes regarding charter school application
22 denials. If the Commissioner of Education determines that the
23 dispute cannot be settled through mediation, the dispute may
24 be appealed to an administrative law judge appointed by the
25 Division of Administrative Hearings. The administrative law
26 judge may rule on issues of equitable treatment of the charter
27 school as a public school, whether proposed provisions of the
28 charter violate the intended flexibility granted charter
29 schools by statute, or on any other matter regarding this
30 section except a charter school application denial, and shall
31 award the prevailing party reasonable attorney's fees and
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1 costs incurred to be paid by the losing party. The costs of
2 the administrative hearing shall be paid by the party whom the
3 administrative law judge rules against.
4 (7) CHARTER.--The major issues involving the operation
5 of a charter school shall be considered in advance and written
6 into the charter. The charter shall be signed by the governing
7 body of the charter school and the sponsor, following a public
8 hearing to ensure community input.
9 (a) The charter shall address, and criteria for
10 approval of the charter shall be based on:
11 1. The school's mission, the students to be served,
12 and the ages and grades to be included.
13 2. The focus of the curriculum, the instructional
14 methods to be used, any distinctive instructional techniques
15 to be employed, and identification and acquisition of
16 appropriate technologies needed to improve educational and
17 administrative performance which include a means for promoting
18 safe, ethical, and appropriate uses of technology which comply
19 with legal and professional standards. The charter shall
20 ensure that reading is a primary focus of the curriculum and
21 that resources are provided to identify and provide
22 specialized instruction for students who are reading below
23 grade level. The curriculum and instructional strategies for
24 reading must be consistent with the Sunshine State Standards
25 and grounded in scientifically based reading research.
26 3. The current incoming baseline standard of student
27 academic achievement, the outcomes to be achieved, and the
28 method of measurement that will be used. The criteria listed
29 in this subparagraph shall include a detailed description for
30 each of the following:
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1 a. How the baseline student academic achievement
2 levels and prior rates of academic progress will be
3 established.
4 b. How these baseline rates will be compared to rates
5 of academic progress achieved by these same students while
6 attending the charter school.
7 c. To the extent possible, how these rates of progress
8 will be evaluated and compared with rates of progress of other
9 closely comparable student populations.
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11 The district school board is required to provide academic
12 student performance data to charter schools for each of their
13 students coming from the district school system, as well as
14 rates of academic progress of comparable student populations
15 in the district school system.
16 4. The methods used to identify the educational
17 strengths and needs of students and how well educational goals
18 and performance standards are met by students attending the
19 charter school. Included in the methods is a means for the
20 charter school to ensure accountability to its constituents by
21 analyzing student performance data and by evaluating the
22 effectiveness and efficiency of its major educational
23 programs. Students in charter schools shall, at a minimum,
24 participate in the statewide assessment program created under
25 s. 1008.22.
26 5. In secondary charter schools, a method for
27 determining that a student has satisfied the requirements for
28 graduation in s. 1003.43.
29 6. A method for resolving conflicts between the
30 governing body of the charter school and the sponsor.
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1 7. The admissions procedures and dismissal procedures,
2 including the school's code of student conduct.
3 8. The ways by which the school will achieve a
4 racial/ethnic balance reflective of the community it serves or
5 within the racial/ethnic range of other public schools in the
6 same school district.
7 9. The financial and administrative management of the
8 school, including a reasonable demonstration of the
9 professional experience or competence of those individuals or
10 organizations applying to operate the charter school or those
11 hired or retained to perform such professional services and
12 the description of clearly delineated responsibilities and the
13 policies and practices needed to effectively manage the
14 charter school. A description of internal audit procedures and
15 establishment of controls to ensure that financial resources
16 are properly managed must be included. Both public sector and
17 private sector professional experience shall be equally valid
18 in such a consideration.
19 10. The asset and liability projections required in
20 the application which are incorporated into the charter and
21 which shall be compared with information provided in the
22 annual report of the charter school. The charter shall ensure
23 that, if a charter school internal audit reveals a deficit
24 financial position, the auditors are required to notify the
25 charter school governing board, the sponsor, and the
26 Department of Education. The internal auditor shall report
27 such findings in the form of an exit interview to the
28 principal or the principal administrator of the charter school
29 and the chair of the governing board within 7 working days
30 after finding the deficit position. A final report shall be
31 provided to the entire governing board, the sponsor, and the
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1 Department of Education within 14 working days after the exit
2 interview.
3 11.10. A description of procedures that identify
4 various risks and provide for a comprehensive approach to
5 reduce the impact of losses; plans to ensure the safety and
6 security of students and staff; plans to identify, minimize,
7 and protect others from violent or disruptive student
8 behavior; and the manner in which the school will be insured,
9 including whether or not the school will be required to have
10 liability insurance, and, if so, the terms and conditions
11 thereof and the amounts of coverage.
12 12.11. The term of the charter which shall provide for
13 cancellation of the charter if insufficient progress has been
14 made in attaining the student achievement objectives of the
15 charter and if it is not likely that such objectives can be
16 achieved before expiration of the charter. The initial term of
17 a charter shall be for 3, 4, or 5 years. In order to
18 facilitate access to long-term financial resources for charter
19 school construction, charter schools that are operated by a
20 municipality or other public entity as provided by law are
21 eligible for up to a 15-year charter, subject to approval by
22 the district school board. A charter lab school is eligible
23 for a charter for a term of up to 15 years. In addition, to
24 facilitate access to long-term financial resources for charter
25 school construction, charter schools that are operated by a
26 private, not-for-profit, s. 501(c)(3) status corporation are
27 eligible for up to a 10-year charter, subject to approval by
28 the district school board. Such long-term charters remain
29 subject to annual review and may be terminated during the term
30 of the charter, but only for specific good cause according to
31 the provisions set forth in subsection (8).
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1 13.12. The facilities to be used and their location.
2 14.13. The qualifications to be required of the
3 teachers and the potential strategies used to recruit, hire,
4 train, and retain qualified staff to achieve best value.
5 15.14. The governance structure of the school,
6 including the status of the charter school as a public or
7 private employer as required in paragraph (12)(i).
8 16.15. A timetable for implementing the charter which
9 addresses the implementation of each element thereof and the
10 date by which the charter shall be awarded in order to meet
11 this timetable.
12 17.16. In the case of an existing public school being
13 converted to charter status, alternative arrangements for
14 current students who choose not to attend the charter school
15 and for current teachers who choose not to teach in the
16 charter school after conversion in accordance with the
17 existing collective bargaining agreement or district school
18 board rule in the absence of a collective bargaining
19 agreement. However, alternative arrangements shall not be
20 required for current teachers who choose not to teach in a
21 charter lab school, except as authorized by the employment
22 policies of the state university which grants the charter to
23 the lab school.
24 (b) A charter may be renewed every 5 school years,
25 provided that a program review demonstrates that the criteria
26 in paragraph (a) have been successfully accomplished and that
27 none of the grounds for nonrenewal established by paragraph
28 (8)(a) has been documented. In order to facilitate long-term
29 financing for charter school construction, charter schools
30 operating for a minimum of 2 years and demonstrating exemplary
31 academic programming and fiscal management are eligible for a
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1 15-year charter renewal. Such long-term charter is subject to
2 annual review and may be terminated during the term of the
3 charter.
4 (c) A charter may be modified during its initial term
5 or any renewal term upon the recommendation of the sponsor or
6 the charter school governing board and the approval of both
7 parties to the agreement.
8 (8) CAUSES FOR NONRENEWAL OR TERMINATION OF CHARTER.--
9 (a) At the end of the term of a charter, the sponsor
10 may choose not to renew the charter for any of the following
11 grounds:
12 1. Failure to participate in the state's education
13 accountability system created in s. 1008.31, as required in
14 this section, or failure to meet the requirements for student
15 performance stated in the charter.
16 2. Failure to meet generally accepted standards of
17 fiscal management.
18 3. Violation of law.
19 4. Other good cause shown.
20 (b) During the term of a charter, the sponsor may
21 terminate the charter for any of the grounds listed in
22 paragraph (a).
23 (c) At least 90 days prior to renewing or terminating
24 a charter, the sponsor shall notify the governing body of the
25 school of the proposed action in writing. The notice shall
26 state in reasonable detail the grounds for the proposed action
27 and stipulate that the school's governing body may, within 14
28 calendar days after receiving the notice, request an informal
29 hearing before the sponsor. The sponsor shall conduct the
30 informal hearing within 30 calendar days after receiving a
31 written request. The charter school's governing body may,
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1 within 14 calendar days after receiving the sponsor's decision
2 to terminate or refuse to renew the charter, appeal the
3 decision pursuant to the procedure established in subsection
4 (6).
5 (d) A charter may be terminated immediately if the
6 sponsor determines that good cause has been shown or if the
7 health, safety, or welfare of the students is threatened. The
8 school district in which the charter school is located shall
9 assume operation of the school under these circumstances. The
10 charter school's governing board may, within 14 days after
11 receiving the sponsor's decision to terminate the charter,
12 appeal the decision pursuant to the procedure established in
13 subsection (6).
14 (e) When a charter is not renewed or is terminated,
15 the school shall be dissolved under the provisions of law
16 under which the school was organized, and any unencumbered
17 public funds from the charter school shall revert to the
18 district school board. In the event a charter school is
19 dissolved or is otherwise terminated, all district school
20 board property and improvements, furnishings, and equipment
21 purchased with public funds shall automatically revert to full
22 ownership by the district school board, subject to complete
23 satisfaction of any lawful liens or encumbrances. Any
24 unencumbered public funds from the charter school, district
25 school board property and improvements, furnishings, and
26 equipment purchased with public funds, or financial or other
27 records pertaining to the charter school, in the possession of
28 any person, entity, or holding company, other than the charter
29 school, shall be held in trust upon the district school
30 board's request, until any appeal status is resolved.
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1 (f) If a charter is not renewed or is terminated, the
2 charter school is responsible for all debts of the charter
3 school. The district may not assume the debt from any contract
4 for services made between the governing body of the school and
5 a third party, except for a debt that is previously detailed
6 and agreed upon in writing by both the district and the
7 governing body of the school and that may not reasonably be
8 assumed to have been satisfied by the district.
9 (g) If a charter is not renewed or is terminated, a
10 student who attended the school may apply to, and shall be
11 enrolled in, another public school. Normal application
12 deadlines shall be disregarded under such circumstances.
13 (9) CHARTER SCHOOL REQUIREMENTS.--
14 (a) A charter school shall be nonsectarian in its
15 programs, admission policies, employment practices, and
16 operations.
17 (b) A charter school shall admit students as provided
18 in subsection (10).
19 (c) A charter school shall be accountable to its
20 sponsor for performance as provided in subsection (7).
21 (d) A charter school shall not charge tuition or
22 registration fees, except those fees normally charged by other
23 public schools. However, a charter lab school may charge a
24 student activity and service fee as authorized by s.
25 1002.32(5).
26 (e) A charter school shall meet all applicable state
27 and local health, safety, and civil rights requirements.
28 (f) A charter school shall not violate the
29 antidiscrimination provisions of s. 1000.05.
30 (g) A charter school shall provide for an annual
31 financial audit in accordance with s. 218.39.
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1 (h) No organization shall hold more than 15 charters
2 statewide.
3 (i) In order to provide financial information that is
4 comparable to that reported for other public schools, charter
5 schools are to maintain all financial records which constitute
6 their accounting system:
7 1. In accordance with the accounts and codes
8 prescribed in the most recent issuance of the publication
9 titled "Financial and Program Cost Accounting and Reporting
10 for Florida Schools"; or
11 2. At the discretion of the charter school governing
12 board, a charter school may elect to follow generally accepted
13 accounting standards for not-for-profit organizations, but
14 must reformat this information for reporting according to this
15 paragraph.
16
17 Charter schools are to provide annual financial report and
18 program cost report information in the state-required formats
19 for inclusion in district reporting in compliance with s.
20 1011.60(1). Charter schools that are operated by a
21 municipality or are a component unit of a parent nonprofit
22 organization may use the accounting system of the municipality
23 or the parent but must reformat this information for reporting
24 according to this paragraph.
25 (j) The governing board of the charter school shall
26 annually adopt and maintain an operating budget.
27 (k) The governing body of the charter school shall
28 exercise continuing oversight over charter school operations
29 and make annual progress reports to its sponsor, which upon
30 verification shall be forwarded to the Commissioner of
31 Education at the same time as other annual school
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1 accountability reports. The report shall contain at least the
2 following information:
3 (l) The governing body of the charter school shall
4 report its progress annually to its sponsor, which shall
5 forward the report to the Commissioner of Education at the
6 same time as other annual school accountability reports. The
7 Department of Education shall include in its compilation a
8 notation if a school failed to file its report by the deadline
9 established by the department. The report shall include at
10 least the following components:
11 1. Student achievement performance data, including the
12 information required for the annual school report and the
13 education accountability system governed by ss. 1008.31 and
14 1008.345. Charter schools are subject to the same
15 accountability requirements as other public schools, including
16 reports of student achievement information that links baseline
17 student data to the school's performance projections
18 identified in the charter. The charter school shall identify
19 reasons for any difference between projected and actual
20 student performance The charter school's progress toward
21 achieving the goals outlined in its charter.
22 2. Financial status of the charter school which must
23 include revenues and expenditures at a level of detail that
24 allows for analysis of the ability to meet financial
25 obligations and timely repayment of debt The information
26 required in the annual school report pursuant to s. 1008.345.
27 3. Documentation of the facilities in current use and
28 any planned facilities for use by the charter school for
29 instruction of students, administrative functions, or
30 investment purposes Financial records of the charter school,
31 including revenues and expenditures.
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1 4. Descriptive information about the charter school's
2 personnel, including salary and benefit levels of charter
3 school employees, the proportion of instructional personnel
4 who hold professional or temporary certificates, and the
5 proportion of instructional personnel teaching in-field or
6 out-of-field.
7 (m)(l) A charter school shall not levy taxes or issue
8 bonds secured by tax revenues.
9 (n)(m) A charter school shall provide instruction for
10 at least the number of days required by law for other public
11 schools, and may provide instruction for additional days.
12 (10) ELIGIBLE STUDENTS.--
13 (a) A charter school shall be open to any student
14 covered in an interdistrict agreement or residing in the
15 school district in which the charter school is located;
16 however, in the case of a charter lab school, the charter lab
17 school shall be open to any student eligible to attend the lab
18 school as provided in s. 1002.32 or who resides in the school
19 district in which the charter lab school is located. Any
20 eligible student shall be allowed interdistrict transfer to
21 attend a charter school when based on good cause.
22 (b) The charter school shall enroll an eligible
23 student who submits a timely application, unless the number of
24 applications exceeds the capacity of a program, class, grade
25 level, or building. In such case, all applicants shall have an
26 equal chance of being admitted through a random selection
27 process.
28 (c) When a public school converts to charter status,
29 enrollment preference shall be given to students who would
30 have otherwise attended that public school.
31
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1 (d) A charter school may give enrollment preference to
2 the following student populations:
3 1. Students who are siblings of a student enrolled in
4 the charter school.
5 2. Students who are the children of a member of the
6 governing board of the charter school.
7 3. Students who are the children of an employee of the
8 charter school.
9 (e) A charter school may limit the enrollment process
10 only to target the following student populations:
11 1. Students within specific age groups or grade
12 levels.
13 2. Students considered at risk of dropping out of
14 school or academic failure. Such students shall include
15 exceptional education students.
16 3. Students enrolling in a charter
17 school-in-the-workplace or charter school-in-a-municipality
18 established pursuant to subsection (15)(16).
19 4. Students residing within a reasonable distance of
20 the charter school, as described in paragraph (20) (21)(c).
21 Such students shall be subject to a random lottery and to the
22 racial/ethnic balance provisions described in subparagraph
23 (7)(a)8. or any federal provisions that require a school to
24 achieve a racial/ethnic balance reflective of the community it
25 serves or within the racial/ethnic range of other public
26 schools in the same school district.
27 5. Students who meet reasonable academic, artistic, or
28 other eligibility standards established by the charter school
29 and included in the charter school application and charter or,
30 in the case of existing charter schools, standards that are
31 consistent with the school's mission and purpose. Such
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1 standards shall be in accordance with current state law and
2 practice in public schools and may not discriminate against
3 otherwise qualified individuals.
4 6. Students articulating from one charter school to
5 another pursuant to an articulation agreement between the
6 charter schools that has been approved by the sponsor.
7 (f) Students with handicapping conditions and students
8 served in English for Speakers of Other Languages programs
9 shall have an equal opportunity of being selected for
10 enrollment in a charter school.
11 (g) A student may withdraw from a charter school at
12 any time and enroll in another public school as determined by
13 district school board rule.
14 (h) The capacity of the charter school shall be
15 determined annually by the governing board, in conjunction
16 with the sponsor, of the charter school in consideration of
17 the factors identified in this subsection.
18 (13) NUMBER OF SCHOOLS.--
19 (a) The number of newly created charter schools is
20 limited to no more than 28 in each school district that has
21 100,000 or more students, no more than 20 in each school
22 district that has 50,000 to 99,999 students, and no more than
23 12 in each school district with fewer than 50,000 students.
24 (b) An existing public school which converts to a
25 charter school shall not be counted toward the limit
26 established by paragraph (a).
27 (c) Notwithstanding any limit established by this
28 subsection, a district school board or a charter school
29 applicant shall have the right to request an increase of the
30 limit on the number of charter schools authorized to be
31
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1 established within the district from the State Board of
2 Education.
3 (d) Whenever a municipality has submitted charter
4 applications for the establishment of a charter school feeder
5 pattern (elementary, middle, and senior high schools), and
6 upon approval of each individual charter application by the
7 district school board, such applications shall then be
8 designated as one charter school for all purposes listed
9 pursuant to this section.
10 (20)(21) SERVICES.--
11 (a) A sponsor shall provide certain administrative and
12 educational services to charter schools. These services shall
13 include contract management services, full-time equivalent and
14 data reporting services, exceptional student education
15 administration services, test administration services,
16 processing of teacher certificate data services, and
17 information services. A total administrative fee for the
18 provision of such services shall be calculated based upon 5
19 percent of the available funds defined in paragraph (17)(b)
20 for all students. However, a sponsor may only withhold a
21 5-percent administrative fee for enrollment for up to and
22 including 500 students. For charter schools with a population
23 of 501 or more students, the difference between the total
24 administrative fee calculation and the amount of the
25 administrative fee withheld may only be used for capital
26 outlay purposes specified in s. 1013.62(2) Any administrative
27 fee charged by the sponsor for the provision of services shall
28 be limited to 5 percent of the available funds defined in
29 paragraph (18)(b).
30 (b) If goods and services are made available to the
31 charter school through the contract with the school district,
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1 they shall be provided to the charter school at a rate no
2 greater than the district's actual cost. To maximize the use
3 of state funds, school districts shall allow charter schools
4 to participate in the sponsor' s bulk purchasing program if
5 applicable.
6 (c) Transportation of charter school students shall be
7 provided by the charter school consistent with the
8 requirements of subpart I.e. of chapter 1006. The governing
9 body of the charter school may provide transportation through
10 an agreement or contract with the district school board, a
11 private provider, or parents. The charter school and the
12 sponsor shall cooperate in making arrangements that ensure
13 that transportation is not a barrier to equal access for all
14 students residing within a reasonable distance of the charter
15 school as determined in its charter.
16 (23)(24) ANALYSIS OF CHARTER SCHOOL PERFORMANCE.--Upon
17 receipt of the annual report required by paragraph
18 (9)(l)(9)(k), the Department of Education shall provide to the
19 State Board of Education, the Commissioner of Education, the
20 Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the
21 House of Representatives an analysis and comparison of the
22 overall performance of charter school students, to include all
23 students whose scores are counted as part of the statewide
24 assessment program, versus comparable public school students
25 in the district as determined by the statewide assessment
26 program currently administered in the school district, and
27 other assessments administered pursuant to s. 1008.22(3).
28 Section 2. Subsection (2) and paragraphs (a), (c), and
29 (h) of subsection (9) of section 1002.32, Florida Statutes,
30 are amended to read:
31 1002.32 Developmental research (laboratory) schools.--
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1 (2) ESTABLISHMENT.--There is established a category of
2 public schools to be known as developmental research
3 (laboratory) schools (lab schools). Each lab school shall
4 provide sequential instruction and shall be affiliated with
5 the college of education within the state university of
6 closest geographic proximity. A lab school to which a charter
7 has been issued under s. 1002.33(5)(a)2. (5)(b) must be
8 affiliated with the college of education within the state
9 university that issued the charter, but is not subject to the
10 requirement that the state university be of closest geographic
11 proximity. For the purpose of state funding, Florida
12 Agricultural and Mechanical University, Florida Atlantic
13 University, Florida State University, the University of
14 Florida, and other universities approved by the State Board of
15 Education and the Legislature are authorized to sponsor a lab
16 school one or more lab schools. The limitation of one lab
17 school per university shall not apply to the following charter
18 lab schools authorized prior to June 1, 2003: Florida State
19 University Charter Lab Elementary School in Broward County,
20 Florida Atlantic University Charter Lab 9-12 High School in
21 Palm Beach County, and Florida Atlantic University Charter Lab
22 K-12 School in St. Lucie County.
23 (9) FUNDING.--Funding for a lab school, including a
24 charter lab school, shall be provided as follows:
25 (a) Each lab school shall be allocated its
26 proportional share of operating funds from the Florida
27 Education Finance Program as provided in s. 1011.62 and the
28 General Appropriations Act. The nonvoted ad valorem millage
29 that would otherwise be required for lab schools shall be
30 allocated from state funds. The required local effort funds
31 calculated pursuant to s. 1011.62 shall be allocated from
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1 state funds to the schools as a part of the allocation of
2 operating funds pursuant to s. 1011.62. Each eligible lab
3 school in operation as of September 1, 2002, shall also
4 receive a proportional share of the sparsity supplement as
5 calculated pursuant to s. 1011.62. In addition, each lab
6 school shall receive its proportional share of all categorical
7 funds, with the exception of s. 1011.68, and new categorical
8 funds enacted after July 1, 1994, for the purpose of
9 elementary or secondary academic program enhancement. The sum
10 of funds available as provided in this paragraph shall be
11 included annually in the Florida Education Finance Program and
12 appropriate categorical programs funded in the General
13 Appropriations Act.
14 (c) All operating funds provided under this section
15 shall be deposited in a Lab School Trust Fund and shall be
16 expended for the purposes of this section. The university
17 assigned a lab school shall be the fiscal agent for these
18 funds, and all rules of the university governing the budgeting
19 and expenditure of state funds shall apply to these funds
20 unless otherwise provided by law or rule of the State Board of
21 Education. The university board of trustees shall be the
22 public employer of lab school personnel for collective
23 bargaining purposes for lab schools in operation prior to the
24 2002-2003 fiscal year. Employees of charter lab schools
25 authorized prior to June 1, 2003, but not in operation prior
26 to the 2002-2003 fiscal year shall be employees of the entity
27 holding the charter and must comply with the provisions of s.
28 1002.33(12).
29 (h) A lab school to which a charter has been issued
30 under s. 1002.33(5)(a)2.(5)(b) is eligible to receive funding
31 for charter school capital outlay if it meets the eligibility
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1 requirements of s. 1013.62. If the lab school receives funds
2 from charter school capital outlay, the school shall receive
3 capital outlay funds otherwise provided in this subsection
4 only to the extent that funds allocated pursuant to s. 1013.62
5 are insufficient to provide capital outlay funds to the lab
6 school at one-fifteenth of the cost per student station.
7 Section 3. Section 1011.68, Florida Statutes, is
8 amended to read:
9 1011.68 Funds for student transportation.--The annual
10 allocation to each district for transportation to public
11 school programs, including charter schools as provided in s.
12 1002.33(17)(18)(b), of students in membership in kindergarten
13 through grade 12 and in migrant and exceptional student
14 programs below kindergarten shall be determined as follows:
15 (1) Subject to the rules of the State Board of
16 Education, each district shall determine the membership of
17 students who are transported:
18 (a) By reason of living 2 miles or more from school.
19 (b) By reason of being students with disabilities or
20 enrolled in a teenage parent program, regardless of distance
21 to school.
22 (c) By reason of being in a state prekindergarten
23 program, regardless of distance from school.
24 (d) By reason of being career and technical, dual
25 enrollment, or students with disabilities transported from one
26 school center to another to participate in an instructional
27 program or service; or students with disabilities, transported
28 from one designation to another in the state, provided one
29 designation is a school center and provided the student's
30 individual educational plan (IEP) identifies the need for the
31 instructional program or service and transportation to be
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1 provided by the school district. A "school center" is defined
2 as a public school center, community college, state
3 university, or other facility rented, leased, or owned and
4 operated by the school district or another public agency. A
5 "dual enrollment student" is defined as a public school
6 student in membership in both a public secondary school
7 program and a community college or a state university program
8 under a written agreement to partially fulfill ss. 1003.435
9 and 1007.23 and earning full-time equivalent membership under
10 s. 1011.62(1)(i).
11 (e) With respect to elementary school students whose
12 grade level does not exceed grade 6, by reason of being
13 subjected to hazardous walking conditions en route to or from
14 school as provided in s. 1006.23. Such rules shall, when
15 appropriate, provide for the determination of membership under
16 this paragraph for less than 1 year to accommodate the needs
17 of students who require transportation only until such
18 hazardous conditions are corrected.
19 (f) By reason of being a pregnant student or student
20 parent, and the child of a student parent as provided in s.
21 1003.54, regardless of distance from school.
22 (2) The allocation for each district shall be
23 calculated annually in accordance with the following formula:
24
25 T = B + EX. The elements of this formula are defined as
26 follows: T is the total dollar allocation for transportation.
27 B is the base transportation dollar allocation prorated by an
28 adjusted student membership count. The adjusted membership
29 count shall be derived from a multiplicative index function in
30 which the base student membership is adjusted by multiplying
31 it by index numbers that individually account for the impact
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1 of the price level index, average bus occupancy, and the
2 extent of rural population in the district. EX is the base
3 transportation dollar allocation for disabled students
4 prorated by an adjusted disabled student membership count. The
5 base transportation dollar allocation for disabled students is
6 the total state base disabled student membership count
7 weighted for increased costs associated with transporting
8 disabled students and multiplying it by the prior year's
9 average per student cost for transportation. The adjusted
10 disabled student membership count shall be derived from a
11 multiplicative index function in which the weighted base
12 disabled student membership is adjusted by multiplying it by
13 index numbers that individually account for the impact of the
14 price level index, average bus occupancy, and the extent of
15 rural population in the district. Each adjustment factor shall
16 be designed to affect the base allocation by no more or less
17 than 10 percent.
18 (3) The total allocation to each district for
19 transportation of students shall be the sum of the amounts
20 determined in subsection (2). If the funds appropriated for
21 the purpose of implementing this section are not sufficient to
22 pay the base transportation allocation and the base
23 transportation allocation for disabled students, the
24 Department of Education shall prorate the available funds on a
25 percentage basis. If the funds appropriated for the purpose of
26 implementing this section exceed the sum of the base
27 transportation allocation and the base transportation
28 allocation for disabled students, the base transportation
29 allocation for disabled students shall be limited to the
30 amount calculated in subsection (2), and the remaining balance
31 shall be added to the base transportation allocation.
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1 (4) No district shall use funds to purchase
2 transportation equipment and supplies at prices which exceed
3 those determined by the department to be the lowest which can
4 be obtained, as prescribed in s. 1006.27(1).
5 (5) Funds allocated or apportioned for the payment of
6 student transportation services may be used to pay for
7 transportation of students to and from school on local general
8 purpose transportation systems. Student transportation funds
9 may also be used to pay for transportation of students to and
10 from school in private passenger cars and boats when the
11 transportation is for isolated students, or students with
12 disabilities as defined by rule. Subject to the rules of the
13 State Board of Education, each school district shall determine
14 and report the number of assigned students using general
15 purpose transportation private passenger cars and boats. The
16 allocation per student must be equal to the allocation per
17 student riding a school bus.
18 (6) Notwithstanding other provisions of this section,
19 in no case shall any student or students be counted for
20 transportation funding more than once per day. This provision
21 includes counting students for funding pursuant to trips in
22 school buses, passenger cars, or boats or general purpose
23 transportation.
24 (7) Any funds received by a school district under this
25 section that are not required to transport students may, at
26 the discretion of the district school board, be transferred to
27 the district's Florida Education Finance Program.
28 Section 4. Section 1013.62, Florida Statutes, is
29 amended to read:
30 1013.62 Charter schools capital outlay funding.--
31
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1 (1) In each year in which funds are appropriated for
2 charter school capital outlay purposes, the Commissioner of
3 Education shall allocate the funds among eligible charter
4 schools. To be eligible for a funding allocation, a charter
5 school must:
6 (a)1. Have been in operation for 3 or more years;
7 2. Be an expanded feeder chain of a charter school
8 within the same school district that is currently receiving
9 charter school capital outlay funds; or
10 3. Have been accredited by the Commission on Schools
11 of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
12 (b) Have financial stability for future operation as a
13 charter school.
14 (c) Have satisfactory student achievement based on
15 state accountability standards applicable to the charter
16 school.
17 (d) Have received final approval from its sponsor
18 pursuant to s. 1002.33 for operation during that fiscal year.
19 (e) Serve students in facilities that are not provided
20 by the charter school's sponsor meet the provisions of
21 subsection (6), must have received final approval from its
22 sponsor pursuant to s. 1002.33 for operation during that
23 fiscal year, and must serve students in facilities that are
24 not provided by the charter school's sponsor.
25
26 Prior to the release of capital outlay funds to a school
27 district on behalf of the charter school, the Department of
28 Education shall ensure that the district school board and the
29 charter school governing board enter into a written agreement
30 that includes provisions for the reversion of any unencumbered
31 funds and all equipment and property purchased with public
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1 education funds to the ownership of the district school board,
2 as provided for in subsection (3), in the event that the
3 school terminates operations. Any funds recovered by the state
4 shall be deposited in the General Revenue Fund. A charter
5 school is not eligible for a funding allocation if it was
6 created by the conversion of a public school and operates in
7 facilities provided by the charter school's sponsor for a
8 nominal fee or at no charge or if it is directly or indirectly
9 operated by the school district. Unless otherwise provided in
10 the General Appropriations Act, the funding allocation for
11 each eligible charter school shall be determined by
12 multiplying the school's projected student enrollment by
13 one-fifteenth of the cost-per-student station specified in s.
14 1013.64(6)(b) for an elementary, middle, or high school, as
15 appropriate. If the funds appropriated are not sufficient, the
16 commissioner shall prorate the available funds among eligible
17 charter schools. However, no charter school or charter lab
18 school shall receive state charter school capital outlay funds
19 in excess of the one-fifteenth cost per student station
20 formula if the charter school's combination of state charter
21 school capital outlay funds, capital outlay funds calculated
22 through the reduction in the administrative fee provided in s.
23 1002.33(20), and capital outlay funds allowed in s.
24 1002.32(9)(e) and (h) exceeds the one-fifteenth cost per
25 student station formula. Funds shall be distributed on the
26 basis of the capital outlay full-time equivalent membership by
27 grade level, which shall be calculated by averaging the
28 results of the second and third enrollment surveys. The
29 Department of Education shall distribute capital outlay funds
30 monthly, beginning in the first quarter of the fiscal year,
31 based on one-twelfth of the amount the department reasonably
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1 expects the charter school to receive during that fiscal year.
2 The commissioner shall adjust subsequent distributions as
3 necessary to reflect each charter school's actual student
4 enrollment as reflected in the second and third enrollment
5 surveys. The commissioner shall establish the intervals and
6 procedures for determining the projected and actual student
7 enrollment of eligible charter schools.
8 (2) A charter school's governing body may use charter
9 school capital outlay funds for the following purposes any
10 capital outlay purpose that is directly related to the
11 functioning of the charter school, including the:
12 (a) Purchase of real property.
13 (b) Construction, renovation, repair, and maintenance
14 of school facilities.
15 (c) Purchase, lease-purchase, or lease of permanent or
16 relocatable school facilities.
17 (d) Purchase of vehicles to transport students to and
18 from the charter school.
19 (e) Renovation, repair, and maintenance of school
20 facilities that the charter school owns or is purchasing
21 through a lease-purchase or long-term lease of 5 years or
22 longer.
23
24 Conversion charter schools may use capital outlay funds
25 received through the reduction in the administrative fee
26 provided in s. 1002.33(20) for renovation, repair, and
27 maintenance of school facilities that are owned by the
28 sponsor.
29 (3) When a charter school is nonrenewed or terminated,
30 any unencumbered funds and all equipment and property
31 purchased with district public funds shall revert to the
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1 ownership of the district school board, as provided for in s.
2 1002.33(8)(e) and (f). In the case of a charter lab school,
3 any unencumbered funds and all equipment and property
4 purchased with university public funds shall revert to the
5 ownership of the state university that issued the charter. The
6 reversion of such equipment, property, and furnishings shall
7 focus on recoverable assets, but not on intangible or
8 irrecoverable costs such as rental or leasing fees, normal
9 maintenance, and limited renovations. The reversion of all
10 property secured with public funds is subject to the complete
11 satisfaction of all lawful liens or encumbrances. If there are
12 additional local issues such as the shared use of facilities
13 or partial ownership of facilities or property, these issues
14 shall be agreed to in the charter contract prior to the
15 expenditure of funds.
16 (4) The Commissioner of Education shall specify
17 procedures for submitting and approving requests for funding
18 under this section and procedures for documenting
19 expenditures.
20 (5) The annual legislative budget request of the
21 Department of Education shall include a request for capital
22 outlay funding for charter schools. The request shall be based
23 on the projected number of students to be served in charter
24 schools who meet the eligibility requirements of this section.
25 A dedicated funding source, if identified in writing by the
26 Commissioner of Education and submitted along with the annual
27 charter school legislative budget request, may be considered
28 an additional source of funding.
29 (6) Unless authorized otherwise by the Legislature,
30 allocation and proration of charter school capital outlay
31 funds shall be made to eligible charter schools by the
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1 Commissioner of Education in an amount and in a manner
2 authorized by subsection (1).
3 (7) Notwithstanding the provisions of this section,
4 beginning in the 2003-2004 fiscal year:
5 (a) If the appropriation for charter school capital
6 outlay funds is no greater than the 2002-2003 appropriation,
7 the funds shall be allocated according to the formula outlined
8 in subsection (1) to:
9 1. The same schools that received funding in
10 2002-2003.
11 2. Schools that are an expanded feeder pattern of
12 schools that received funding in 2002-2003.
13 3. Schools that have an approved charter and are
14 serving students at the start of the 2003-2004 school year and
15 either incurred long-term financial obligations prior to
16 January 31, 2003, or began construction on educational
17 facilities prior to December 31, 2002.
18 (b) If the appropriation for charter school capital
19 outlay funds is less than the 2002-2003 appropriation, the
20 funds shall be prorated among the schools eligible in
21 paragraph (a).
22 (c) If the appropriation for charter school capital
23 outlay funds is greater than the 2002-2003 appropriation, the
24 amount of funds provided in the 2002-2003 appropriation shall
25 be allocated according to paragraph (a). First priority for
26 allocating the amount in excess of the 2002-2003 appropriation
27 shall be to prorate the excess funds among the charter schools
28 with long-term debt or long-term lease to the extent that the
29 initial allocation is insufficient to provide one-fifteenth of
30 the cost per student station specified in s. 1013.64(6)(b),
31
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1 and second priority shall be to other eligible charter
2 schools.
3 Section 5. If any law that is amended by this act was
4 also amended by a law enacted at the 2003 Regular Session of
5 the Legislature, such laws shall be construed as if they had
6 been enacted during the same session of the Legislature, and
7 full effect should be given to each if that is possible.
8 Section 6. This act shall take effect July 1, 2003.
9
10 *****************************************
11 SENATE SUMMARY
12 Revises requirements for charter schools in the state.
Authorizes community colleges to develop charter schools.
13 Revises the application process for a charter school.
Provides additional reporting requirements. Eliminates
14 the limitation on the number of charter schools per
school district. Exempts certain universities from the
15 limitation on the number of lab schools at the
university. (See bill for details.)
16
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CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.