Senate Bill sb1710

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    Florida Senate - 2005                                  SB 1710

    By the Committee on Education





    581-359C-05

  1                      A bill to be entitled

  2         An act relating to charter schools; amending s.

  3         218.39, F.S.; requiring that a charter school

  4         be notified of certain deteriorating financial

  5         conditions; amending s. 1002.32, F.S.;

  6         clarifying that charter laboratory schools are

  7         included within provisions governing other

  8         developmental research schools; deleting

  9         obsolete provisions; amending s. 1002.33, F.S.;

10         requiring sponsors of charter schools to

11         implement specified policies and procedures by

12         the effective date of the act; providing

13         additional obligations of the sponsor; revising

14         requirements for the sponsor in monitoring a

15         charter school; requiring that the sponsor

16         conduct an annual review of the charter school;

17         requiring that the director and representative

18         of the school's governing board appear before

19         the sponsor under certain circumstances;

20         providing duties of the chief executive officer

21         of the sponsor; requiring that a charter school

22         review its achievement after its first full

23         year of operation and propose revisions to the

24         charter for consideration by the district

25         school board; requiring that the Department of

26         Education conduct an annual survey of the

27         governing boards of charter schools and report

28         the results to the State Board of Education;

29         revising application requirements; prohibiting

30         a sponsor from approving an application unless

31         it meets the requirements of the State Board of

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 1         Education; requiring that the district school

 2         board notify the Department of Education of a

 3         denial of a charter application; deleting

 4         provisions providing for the review of certain

 5         disputes by the Charter School Appeal

 6         Commission; requiring that the department offer

 7         or arrange for training and technical

 8         assistance for applicants; decreasing the

 9         period provided for an applicant and sponsor to

10         agree on the provisions of the charter;

11         providing requirements for mediation; providing

12         requirements for the application for a charter

13         school; revising provisions specifying issues

14         for inclusion in a charter; requiring that a

15         charter school file a financial-recovery plan

16         with the district school board after a finding

17         of a state of financial emergency; specifying

18         circumstances under which the sponsor is

19         required to not renew or to terminate the

20         charter; providing requirements for the sponsor

21         if the charter is terminated; requiring

22         applicants for a charter school to register

23         with the Department of Education; requiring

24         that the department maintain certain

25         information concerning charter schools;

26         requiring the department to develop an annual

27         financial report for use by charter schools,

28         along with guidelines; providing reporting and

29         monitoring requirements for the governing body

30         of a charter school; requiring that the sponsor

31         be an advocate for the charter school in

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    Florida Senate - 2005                                  SB 1710
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 1         matters relating to interpretations of the fire

 2         code; authorizing the State Board of Education

 3         to adopt rules and enforce the provisions

 4         governing charter schools; requiring that the

 5         department provide or arrange for the provision

 6         of specified assistance to potential

 7         applicants, sponsors, charter schools, and

 8         school district personnel; deleting provisions

 9         establishing the Charter School Review Panel;

10         requiring the department to develop

11         financial-management indicators for use by

12         sponsors; requiring the department to include

13         information concerning schools at risk in an

14         annual report; providing an effective date.

15  

16  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:

17  

18         Section 1.  Subsection (5) of section 218.39, Florida

19  Statutes, is amended to read:

20         218.39  Annual financial audit reports.--

21         (5)  At the conclusion of the audit, the auditor shall

22  discuss with the chair of each local governmental entity or

23  the chair's designee, or with the elected official of each

24  county agency or with the elected official's designee, or with

25  the chair of the district school board or the chair's

26  designee, or with the chair of the board of the charter school

27  or the chair's designee, or with the chair of the charter

28  technical career center or the chair's designee, as

29  appropriate, all of the auditor's comments that will be

30  included in the audit report.  If the officer is not available

31  to discuss the auditor's comments, their discussion is

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 1  presumed when the comments are delivered in writing to his or

 2  her office. The auditor shall notify each member of the

 3  governing body of a local governmental entity, or district

 4  school board, or charter school for which deteriorating

 5  financial conditions exist that may cause a condition

 6  described in s. 218.503(1) to occur if actions are not taken

 7  to address such conditions.

 8         Section 2.  Paragraph (c) of subsection (9) of section

 9  1002.32, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

10         1002.32  Developmental research (laboratory) schools.--

11         (9)  FUNDING.--Funding for a lab school, including a

12  charter lab school, shall be provided as follows:

13         (c)  All operating funds provided under this section

14  shall be deposited in a Lab School Trust Fund and shall be

15  expended for the purposes of this section. The university

16  assigned a lab school or charter lab school shall be the

17  fiscal agent for these funds, and all rules of the university

18  governing the budgeting and expenditure of state funds shall

19  apply to these funds unless otherwise provided by law or rule

20  of the State Board of Education. The university board of

21  trustees shall be the public employer of lab school personnel

22  for collective bargaining purposes for lab schools in

23  operation prior to the 2002-2003 fiscal year. Employees of

24  charter lab schools authorized prior to June 1, 2003, but not

25  in operation prior to the 2002-2003 fiscal year shall be

26  employees of the entity holding the charter and must comply

27  with the provisions of s. 1002.33(12). Lab schools are not

28  subject to the payment of overhead or indirect costs as

29  described in s. 216.346.

30         Section 3.  Section 1002.33, Florida Statutes, is

31  amended to read:

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 1         1002.33  Charter schools.--

 2         (1)  AUTHORIZATION.--Charter schools shall be part of

 3  the state's program of public education. All charter schools

 4  in Florida are public schools. A charter school may be formed

 5  by creating a new school or converting an existing public

 6  school to charter status. A public school may not use the term

 7  charter in its name unless it has been approved under this

 8  section.

 9         (2)  GUIDING PRINCIPLES; PURPOSE.--

10         (a)  Charter schools in Florida shall be guided by the

11  following principles:

12         1.  Meet high standards of student achievement while

13  providing parents flexibility to choose among diverse

14  educational opportunities within the state's public school

15  system.

16         2.  Promote enhanced academic success and financial

17  efficiency by aligning responsibility with accountability.

18         3.  Provide parents with sufficient information on

19  whether their child is reading at grade level and whether the

20  child gains at least a year's worth of learning for every year

21  spent in the charter school.

22         (b)  Charter schools shall fulfill the following

23  purposes:

24         1.  Improve student learning and academic achievement.

25         2.  Increase learning opportunities for all students,

26  with special emphasis on low-performing students and reading.

27         3.  Create new professional opportunities for teachers,

28  including ownership of the learning program at the school

29  site.

30         4.  Encourage the use of innovative learning methods.

31         5.  Require the measurement of learning outcomes.

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 1         (c)  Charter schools may fulfill the following

 2  purposes:

 3         1.  Create innovative measurement tools.

 4         2.  Provide rigorous competition within the public

 5  school district to stimulate continual improvement in all

 6  public schools.

 7         3.  Expand the capacity of the public school system.

 8         4.  Mitigate the educational impact created by the

 9  development of new residential dwelling units.

10         (3)  APPLICATION FOR CHARTER STATUS.--

11         (a)  An application for a new charter school may be

12  made by an individual, teachers, parents, a group of

13  individuals, a municipality, or a legal entity organized under

14  the laws of this state.

15         (b)  An application for a conversion charter school

16  shall be made by the district school board, the principal,

17  teachers, parents, and/or the school advisory council at an

18  existing public school that has been in operation for at least

19  2 years prior to the application to convert, including a

20  public school-within-a-school that is designated as a school

21  by the district school board. An application submitted

22  proposing to convert an existing public school to a charter

23  school shall demonstrate the support of at least 50 percent of

24  the teachers employed at the school and 50 percent of the

25  parents voting whose children are enrolled at the school,

26  provided that a majority of the parents eligible to vote

27  participate in the ballot process, according to rules adopted

28  by the State Board of Education. A district school board

29  denying an application for a conversion charter school shall

30  provide notice of denial to the applicants in writing within

31  30 days after the meeting at which the district school board

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 1  denied the application. The notice must specify the exact

 2  reasons for denial and must provide documentation supporting

 3  those reasons. A private school, parochial school, or home

 4  education program shall not be eligible for charter school

 5  status.

 6         (4)  UNLAWFUL REPRISAL.--

 7         (a)  No district school board, or district school board

 8  employee who has control over personnel actions, shall take

 9  unlawful reprisal against another district school board

10  employee because that employee is either directly or

11  indirectly involved with an application to establish a charter

12  school. As used in this subsection, the term "unlawful

13  reprisal" means an action taken by a district school board or

14  a school system employee against an employee who is directly

15  or indirectly involved in a lawful application to establish a

16  charter school, which occurs as a direct result of that

17  involvement, and which results in one or more of the

18  following: disciplinary or corrective action; adverse transfer

19  or reassignment, whether temporary or permanent; suspension,

20  demotion, or dismissal; an unfavorable performance evaluation;

21  a reduction in pay, benefits, or rewards; elimination of the

22  employee's position absent of a reduction in workforce as a

23  result of lack of moneys or work; or other adverse significant

24  changes in duties or responsibilities that are inconsistent

25  with the employee's salary or employment classification. The

26  following procedures shall apply to an alleged unlawful

27  reprisal that occurs as a consequence of an employee's direct

28  or indirect involvement with an application to establish a

29  charter school:

30         1.  Within 60 days after the date upon which a reprisal

31  prohibited by this subsection is alleged to have occurred, an

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 1  employee may file a complaint with the Department of

 2  Education.

 3         2.  Within 3 working days after receiving a complaint

 4  under this section, the Department of Education shall

 5  acknowledge receipt of the complaint and provide copies of the

 6  complaint and any other relevant preliminary information

 7  available to each of the other parties named in the complaint,

 8  which parties shall each acknowledge receipt of such copies to

 9  the complainant.

10         3.  If the Department of Education determines that the

11  complaint demonstrates reasonable cause to suspect that an

12  unlawful reprisal has occurred, the Department of Education

13  shall conduct an investigation to produce a fact-finding

14  report.

15         4.  Within 90 days after receiving the complaint, the

16  Department of Education shall provide the district school

17  superintendent of the complainant's district and the

18  complainant with a fact-finding report that may include

19  recommendations to the parties or a proposed resolution of the

20  complaint. The fact-finding report shall be presumed

21  admissible in any subsequent or related administrative or

22  judicial review.

23         5.  If the Department of Education determines that

24  reasonable grounds exist to believe that an unlawful reprisal

25  has occurred, is occurring, or is to be taken, and is unable

26  to conciliate a complaint within 60 days after receipt of the

27  fact-finding report, the Department of Education shall

28  terminate the investigation. Upon termination of any

29  investigation, the Department of Education shall notify the

30  complainant and the district school superintendent of the

31  termination of the investigation, providing a summary of

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 1  relevant facts found during the investigation and the reasons

 2  for terminating the investigation. A written statement under

 3  this paragraph is presumed admissible as evidence in any

 4  judicial or administrative proceeding.

 5         6.  The Department of Education shall either contract

 6  with the Division of Administrative Hearings under s. 120.65,

 7  or otherwise provide for a complaint for which the Department

 8  of Education determines reasonable grounds exist to believe

 9  that an unlawful reprisal has occurred, is occurring, or is to

10  be taken, and is unable to conciliate, to be heard by a panel

11  of impartial persons. Upon hearing the complaint, the panel

12  shall make findings of fact and conclusions of law for a final

13  decision by the Department of Education.

14  

15  It shall be an affirmative defense to any action brought

16  pursuant to this section that the adverse action was

17  predicated upon grounds other than, and would have been taken

18  absent, the employee's exercise of rights protected by this

19  section.

20         (b)  In any action brought under this section for which

21  it is determined reasonable grounds exist to believe that an

22  unlawful reprisal has occurred, is occurring, or is to be

23  taken, the relief shall include the following:

24         1.  Reinstatement of the employee to the same position

25  held before the unlawful reprisal was commenced, or to an

26  equivalent position, or payment of reasonable front pay as

27  alternative relief.

28         2.  Reinstatement of the employee's full fringe

29  benefits and seniority rights, as appropriate.

30  

31  

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 1         3.  Compensation, if appropriate, for lost wages,

 2  benefits, or other lost remuneration caused by the unlawful

 3  reprisal.

 4         4.  Payment of reasonable costs, including attorney's

 5  fees, to a substantially prevailing employee, or to the

 6  prevailing employer if the employee filed a frivolous action

 7  in bad faith.

 8         5.  Issuance of an injunction, if appropriate, by a

 9  court of competent jurisdiction.

10         6.  Temporary reinstatement to the employee's former

11  position or to an equivalent position, pending the final

12  outcome of the complaint, if it is determined that the action

13  was not made in bad faith or for a wrongful purpose, and did

14  not occur after a district school board's initiation of a

15  personnel action against the employee that includes

16  documentation of the employee's violation of a disciplinary

17  standard or performance deficiency.

18         (5)  SPONSOR; DUTIES.--

19         (a)  Sponsoring entities.--

20         1.  A district school board may sponsor a charter

21  school in the county over which the district school board has

22  jurisdiction.

23         2.  A state university may grant a charter to a lab

24  school created under s. 1002.32 and shall be considered to be

25  the school's sponsor. Such school shall be considered a

26  charter lab school.

27         3.  Each sponsor, at a minimum, must have the following

28  quality policies and procedures for charter school sponsorship

29  in place by July 1, 2005:

30  

31  

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 1         a.  An organizational structure and committed human and

 2  financial resources necessary for conducting its sponsorship

 3  duties efficiently;

 4         b.  A comprehensive application process that follows

 5  fair procedures and rigorous criteria and grants a charter

 6  only to those developers who demonstrate a strong capacity for

 7  establishing and operating a quality charter school;

 8         c.  A process in place to negotiate contracts with

 9  charter schools which clearly articulates the rights and

10  responsibilities of each party regarding school autonomy,

11  expected outcomes, measures for evaluating success or failure,

12  performance consequences, and other material terms;

13         d.  A process for efficient and effective contract

14  oversight which evaluates performance, monitors compliance,

15  informs intervention and renewal decisions, and ensures that

16  autonomy is provided under applicable law;

17         e.  A transparent and rigorous process that uses

18  comprehensive data to make merit-based decisions; and

19         f.  A process to advocate for charter schools in

20  dealing with local fire marshals when facilities are being

21  reviewed for compliance with the fire code.

22         (b)  Sponsor duties.--

23         1.  It is the obligation of the sponsor to participate

24  in the application and review and approval process of a

25  charter contract with good faith effort, fairness, due

26  diligence, and quality in order to further the establishment

27  and future operations of quality charter schools. Quality

28  charter schools provide parents with another option for public

29  school choice which best meets the needs of their child; thus

30  there is the likelihood of increased student achievement. The

31  sponsor shall monitor and review the charter school in its

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 1  progress toward meeting the terms of its application and

 2  charter as defined in subsection (6) the goals established in

 3  the charter.

 4         2.  Beginning with the 2005-2006 school year, at a

 5  minimum, the sponsor shall conduct an annual review by July 1

 6  of each year to ascertain whether the terms of the contract

 7  are being met. The sponsor shall notify in writing, by July

 8  15, the charter school board of trustees and the director of

 9  the results of the review for each contract component. The

10  sponsor shall specifically notify the board and the director

11  of any potential issues that may jeopardize the future renewal

12  of the charter, specifically identify contract issues, and

13  recommend strategies for corrective action by the school to

14  resolve the issues. The sponsor shall also certify to the

15  State Board of Education annually whether the charter school

16  is meeting the performance expectations established in its

17  charter.

18         3.  The director and a representative of the governing

19  board of a charter school graded "D" or "F" shall appear

20  before the sponsor at a formal school board meeting or state

21  university trustee board meeting at least twice a year to

22  present information concerning each contract component having

23  noted deficiencies and to address corrective strategies that

24  are being implemented by the school. The sponsor shall

25  communicate at the meeting, and in writing to the director,

26  the services provided to the school to help the school address

27  its deficiencies.

28         4.  The chief executive officer of the sponsoring

29  entity must certify in writing to its governing board that a

30  quality, fair, and judicious review of the application or

31  charter was conducted. The sponsoring entity must consider the

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 1  certification of a quality review in its proceedings to

 2  approve, amend, or deny an application or charter. The chief

 3  executive officer must include the following components in the

 4  certification demonstrating that a quality, fair, and

 5  judicious review was completed regarding:

 6         a.  A 5-year financial plan that contains anticipated

 7  fund balances based on revenue projections and sources, a

 8  spending plan based on projected revenues and expenses, and a

 9  description of controls that will safeguard finances and

10  projected enrollment trends. The plan must be an accurate and

11  detailed description of the school's proposed budget and

12  fiscal plan.

13         b.  A detailed curriculum plan that illustrates how

14  students will be provided services to attain the Sunshine

15  State Standards. The plan must include the focus of the

16  curriculum, the instructional methods to be used, any

17  distinctive instructional techniques to be employed, and an

18  identification and acquisition of appropriate technologies

19  needed to improve educational and administrative performance,

20  including a means for promoting safe, ethical, and appropriate

21  uses of technology which comply with legal and professional

22  standards. The curriculum and instructional strategies for

23  reading must be consistent with the Sunshine State Standards

24  and grounded in scientifically based reading research.

25         c.  The inclusion of goals and objectives for improving

26  student learning and measuring that improvement. These goals

27  and objectives must indicate the degree of academic

28  improvement students are expected to show each year, how

29  success will be evaluated, and the specific results to be

30  attained through instruction.

31  

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 1         d.  A plan to ensure that reading is a primary focus of

 2  the curriculum and that resources are provided to identify and

 3  provide specialized instruction for students who are reading

 4  below grade level. The plan must describe the reading

 5  curriculum and differentiated strategies that will be used for

 6  students reading at grade level or higher and a separate

 7  curriculum and strategies for students who are reading below

 8  grade level. A sponsor shall deny a charter if the school does

 9  not propose a reading curriculum that is consistent with

10  effective teaching strategies that are grounded in

11  scientifically based reading research.

12         e.  The methods used to identify the educational

13  strengths and needs of students and how well educational goals

14  and performance standards are met by students attending the

15  charter school. The methods must include a means by which the

16  charter school can ensure accountability to its constituents

17  by analyzing student performance data and by evaluating the

18  effectiveness and efficiency of its major educational

19  programs. Students in charter schools shall, at a minimum,

20  participate in the statewide assessment program created under

21  s. 1008.22.

22         5.  After a newly opened charter school completes a

23  full school year of operation, it must review the projected

24  outcomes of achievement in its charter and propose revisions

25  if the student population is significantly different than

26  anticipated in its original charter. The district school board

27  must consider the school's proposal to revise the charter.

28         6.2.  The sponsor shall monitor at least on a quarterly

29  basis the revenues and expenditures of the charter school.

30         7.3.  The sponsor may approve a charter for a charter

31  school before the applicant has secured space, equipment, or

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 1  personnel, if the applicant indicates approval is necessary

 2  for it to raise working capital.

 3         8.4.  The sponsor's policies shall not apply to a

 4  charter school.

 5         9.5.  The sponsor shall ensure that the charter is

 6  innovative and consistent with the state education goals

 7  established by s. 1008.31(3)(c) s. 1000.03(5).

 8         10.6.  The sponsor shall ensure that the charter school

 9  participates in the state's education accountability system.

10  If a charter school falls short of performance measures

11  included in the approved charter, the sponsor shall report

12  such shortcomings to the Department of Education.

13  

14  A community college may work with the school district or

15  school districts in its designated service area to develop

16  charter schools that offer secondary education. These charter

17  schools must include an option for students to receive an

18  associate degree upon high school graduation. District school

19  boards shall cooperate with and assist the community college

20  on the charter application. Community college applications for

21  charter schools are not subject to the time deadlines outlined

22  in subsection (6) and may be approved by the district school

23  board at any time during the year. Community colleges shall

24  not report FTE for any students who receive FTE funding

25  through the Florida Education Finance Program.

26         (c)  Annual survey.--The Department of Education shall

27  conduct an annual survey of charter school governing boards to

28  determine the boards' satisfaction with the services received

29  from their sponsors and the Department of Education. The

30  survey results shall be reported to the State Board of

31  Education, which may recommend action for sponsors having an

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 1  inordinate number of complaints or sponsors that have been

 2  determined not to have fulfilled their responsibilities as

 3  described in this section.

 4         (6)  APPLICATION PROCESS AND REVIEW.--Beginning

 5  September 1, 2003, applications are subject to the following

 6  requirements:

 7         (a)  A person or entity wishing to open a charter

 8  school shall prepare an application that:

 9         1.  Demonstrates how the school will use the guiding

10  principles and meet the statutorily defined purpose of a

11  charter school.

12         2.  Provides a detailed curriculum plan that

13  illustrates how students will be provided services to attain

14  the Sunshine State Standards.

15         3.  Contains goals and objectives for improving student

16  learning and measuring that improvement. These goals and

17  objectives must indicate how much academic improvement

18  students are expected to show each year, how success will be

19  evaluated, and the specific results to be attained through

20  instruction.

21         4.  Describes the reading curriculum and differentiated

22  strategies that will be used for students reading at grade

23  level or higher and a separate curriculum and strategies for

24  students who are reading below grade level. A sponsor shall

25  deny a charter if the school does not propose a reading

26  curriculum that is consistent with effective teaching

27  strategies that are grounded in scientifically based reading

28  research.

29         5.  Contains an annual financial plan for each year

30  requested by the charter for operation of the school for up to

31  5 years. This plan must contain anticipated fund balances

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 1  based on revenue projections, a spending plan based on

 2  projected revenues and expenses, and a description of controls

 3  that will safeguard finances and projected enrollment trends.

 4         (a)(b)  A district school board shall receive and

 5  review all applications for a charter school. A district

 6  school board shall receive and consider charter school

 7  applications received on or before September 1 of each

 8  calendar year for charter schools to be opened at the

 9  beginning of the school district's next school year, or to be

10  opened at a time agreed to by the applicant and the district

11  school board. A district school board may receive applications

12  later than this date if it chooses. A sponsor may not charge

13  an applicant for a charter any fee for the processing or

14  consideration of an application, and a sponsor may not base

15  its consideration or approval of an application upon the

16  promise of future payment of any kind. A sponsor may not

17  approve an application unless the application meets the

18  specifications and criteria established by rule of the State

19  Board of Education.

20         1.  In order to facilitate an accurate budget

21  projection process, a district school board shall be held

22  harmless for FTE students who are not included in the FTE

23  projection due to approval of charter school applications

24  after the FTE projection deadline. In a further effort to

25  facilitate an accurate budget projection, within 15 calendar

26  days after receipt of a charter school application, a district

27  school board or other sponsor shall report to the Department

28  of Education the name of the applicant entity, the proposed

29  charter school location, and its projected FTE.

30         2.  In order to ensure fiscal responsibility, an

31  application for a charter school shall include a full

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 1  accounting of expected assets, a projection of expected

 2  sources and amounts of income, including income derived from

 3  projected student enrollments and from community support, and

 4  an expense projection that includes full accounting of the

 5  costs of operation, including start-up costs.

 6         2.3.  A district school board shall by a majority vote

 7  approve or deny an application no later than 60 calendar days

 8  after the application is received, unless the district school

 9  board and the applicant mutually agree to temporarily postpone

10  the vote to a specific date, at which time the district school

11  board shall by a majority vote approve or deny the

12  application. If the district school board fails to act on the

13  application, an applicant may appeal to the State Board of

14  Education as provided in paragraph (c). If an application is

15  denied, the district school board shall, within 10 calendar

16  days, articulate in writing the specific reasons based upon

17  good cause supporting its denial of the charter application

18  and shall by letter notify the applicant as well as the

19  Department of Education of the specific reasons.

20         3.4.  For budget projection purposes, the district

21  school board or other sponsor shall report to the Department

22  of Education the approval or denial of a charter application

23  within 10 calendar days after such approval or denial. In the

24  event of approval, the report to the Department of Education

25  shall include the final projected FTE for the approved charter

26  school.

27         4.5.  Upon approval of a charter application, the

28  initial startup shall commence with the beginning of the

29  public school calendar for the district in which the charter

30  is granted unless the district school board allows a waiver of

31  this provision for good cause.

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 1         (b)(c)  An applicant may appeal any denial of that

 2  applicant's application or failure to act on an application to

 3  the State Board of Education no later than 30 calendar days

 4  after receipt of the district school board's decision or

 5  failure to act and shall notify the district school board of

 6  its appeal. Any response of the district school board shall be

 7  submitted to the State Board of Education within 30 calendar

 8  days after notification of the appeal. Upon receipt of

 9  notification from the State Board of Education that a charter

10  school applicant is filing an appeal, the Commissioner of

11  Education shall convene a meeting of the Charter School Appeal

12  Commission to study and make recommendations to the State

13  Board of Education regarding its pending decision about the

14  appeal. The commission shall forward its recommendation to the

15  state board no later than 7 calendar days prior to the date on

16  which the appeal is to be heard. The State Board of Education

17  shall by majority vote accept or reject the decision of the

18  district school board no later than 90 calendar days after an

19  appeal is filed in accordance with State Board of Education

20  rule. The Charter School Appeal Commission may reject an

21  appeal submission for failure to comply with procedural rules

22  governing the appeals process. The rejection shall describe

23  the submission errors. The appellant may have up to 15

24  calendar days from notice of rejection to resubmit an appeal

25  that meets requirements of State Board of Education rule. An

26  application for appeal submitted subsequent to such rejection

27  shall be considered timely if the original appeal was filed

28  within 30 calendar days after receipt of notice of the

29  specific reasons for the district school board's denial of the

30  charter application. The State Board of Education shall remand

31  the application to the district school board with its written

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 1  decision that the district school board approve or deny the

 2  application. The district school board shall implement the

 3  decision of the State Board of Education. The decision of the

 4  State Board of Education is not subject to the provisions of

 5  the Administrative Procedure Act, chapter 120.

 6         (c)(d)  The district school board shall act upon the

 7  decision of the State Board of Education within 30 calendar

 8  days after it is received. The State Board of Education's

 9  decision is a final action subject to judicial review in the

10  district court of appeal.

11         (d)(e)1.  A Charter School Appeal Commission is

12  established to assist the commissioner and the State Board of

13  Education with a fair and impartial review of appeals by

14  applicants whose charter applications have been denied or,

15  whose charter contracts have not been renewed or have been

16  terminated by their sponsors, or whose disputes over contract

17  negotiations have not been resolved through mediation.

18         2.  The Charter School Appeal Commission may receive

19  copies of the appeal documents forwarded to the State Board of

20  Education, review the documents, gather other applicable

21  information regarding the appeal, and make a written

22  recommendation to the commissioner. The recommendation must

23  state whether the appeal should be upheld or denied and

24  include the reasons for the recommendation being offered. The

25  commissioner shall forward the recommendation to the State

26  Board of Education no later than 7 calendar days prior to the

27  date on which the appeal is to be heard. The state board must

28  consider the commission's recommendation in making its

29  decision, but is not bound by the recommendation. The decision

30  of the Charter School Appeal Commission is not subject to the

31  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

31  

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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         (e)(f)  The Department of Education must offer or

 4  arrange for training and technical assistance to charter

 5  school applicants in developing business plans and estimating

 6  costs and income. This assistance must address estimating

 7  start-up costs, projecting enrollment, and identifying the

 8  types and amounts of state and federal financial assistance

 9  the charter school will be eligible to receive. The Department

10  of Education may provide other technical assistance to an

11  applicant upon written request.

12         (f)(g)  In considering charter applications for a lab

13  school, a state university shall consult with the district

14  school board of the county in which the lab school is located.

15  The decision of a state university may be appealed pursuant to

16  the procedure established in this subsection.

17         (g)(h)  The terms and conditions for the operation of a

18  charter school shall be set forth by the sponsor and the

19  applicant in a written contractual agreement, called a

20  charter. The sponsor shall not impose unreasonable rules or

21  regulations that violate the intent of giving charter schools

22  greater flexibility to meet educational goals. The applicant

23  and sponsor shall have 90 days 6 months in which to mutually

24  agree to the provisions of the charter. The Department of

25  Education shall provide mediation services for any dispute

26  regarding this section subsequent to the approval of a charter

27  application and for any dispute relating to the approved

28  charter, except disputes regarding charter school application

29  denials. The department shall notify the parties that a

30  request for mediation has been received within 10 working

31  days, schedule and commence mediation within 60 days following

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 1  the date the request is submitted to the department, and

 2  establish whether mediation has been successful within 60 days

 3  following conclusion of the mediation. If the Commissioner of

 4  Education determines that the dispute cannot be settled

 5  through mediation, the dispute may be appealed to an

 6  administrative law judge appointed by the Division of

 7  Administrative Hearings. The administrative law judge may rule

 8  on issues of equitable treatment of the charter school as a

 9  public school, whether proposed provisions of the charter

10  violate the intended flexibility granted charter schools by

11  statute, or on any other matter regarding this section except

12  a charter school application denial, and shall award the

13  prevailing party reasonable attorney's fees and costs incurred

14  to be paid by the losing party. The costs of the

15  administrative hearing shall be paid by the party whom the

16  administrative law judge rules against.

17         (7)  CHARTER.--The major issues involving the operation

18  of a charter school shall be considered in advance and

19  included in the application for a charter school as required

20  by this section and written into the charter. The charter

21  shall be signed by the governing body of the charter school

22  and the sponsor, following a public hearing to ensure

23  community input.

24         (a)  In addition to the requirements of subparagraph

25  (5)(b)4., the charter shall address, and criteria for approval

26  of the charter must include shall be based on:

27         1.  The school's mission, the students to be served,

28  and the ages and grades to be included.

29         2.  The focus of the curriculum, the instructional

30  methods to be used, any distinctive instructional techniques

31  to be employed, and identification and acquisition of

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 1  appropriate technologies needed to improve educational and

 2  administrative performance which include a means for promoting

 3  safe, ethical, and appropriate uses of technology which comply

 4  with legal and professional standards. The charter shall

 5  ensure that reading is a primary focus of the curriculum and

 6  that resources are provided to identify and provide

 7  specialized instruction for students who are reading below

 8  grade level. The curriculum and instructional strategies for

 9  reading must be consistent with the Sunshine State Standards

10  and grounded in scientifically based reading research.

11         1.3.  The current incoming baseline standard of student

12  academic achievement, the outcomes to be achieved, and the

13  method of measurement that will be used. The criteria listed

14  in this subparagraph shall include a detailed description for

15  each of the following:

16         a.  How the baseline student academic achievement

17  levels and prior rates of academic progress will be

18  established.

19         b.  How these baseline rates will be compared to rates

20  of academic progress achieved by these same students while

21  attending the charter school.

22         c.  To the extent possible, how these rates of progress

23  will be evaluated and compared with rates of progress of other

24  closely comparable student populations.

25  

26  The district school board shall is required to provide

27  academic student performance data to charter schools for each

28  of their students coming from the district school system, as

29  well as rates of academic progress of comparable student

30  populations in the district school system.

31  

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 1         4.  The methods used to identify the educational

 2  strengths and needs of students and how well educational goals

 3  and performance standards are met by students attending the

 4  charter school. Included in the methods is a means for the

 5  charter school to ensure accountability to its constituents by

 6  analyzing student performance data and by evaluating the

 7  effectiveness and efficiency of its major educational

 8  programs. Students in charter schools shall, at a minimum,

 9  participate in the statewide assessment program created under

10  s. 1008.22.

11         2.5.  In secondary charter schools, a method for

12  determining that a student has satisfied the requirements for

13  graduation in s. 1003.43.

14         6.  A method for resolving conflicts between the

15  governing body of the charter school and the sponsor.

16         7.  The admissions procedures and dismissal procedures,

17  including the school's code of student conduct.

18         8.  The ways by which the school will achieve a

19  racial/ethnic balance reflective of the community it serves or

20  within the racial/ethnic range of other public schools in the

21  same school district.

22         9.  The financial and administrative management of the

23  school, including a reasonable demonstration of the

24  professional experience or competence of those individuals or

25  organizations applying to operate the charter school or those

26  hired or retained to perform such professional services and

27  the description of clearly delineated responsibilities and the

28  policies and practices needed to effectively manage the

29  charter school. A description of internal audit procedures and

30  establishment of controls to ensure that financial resources

31  are properly managed must be included. Both public sector and

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 1  private sector professional experience shall be equally valid

 2  in such a consideration.

 3         3.10.  The asset and liability projections required in

 4  the application which are incorporated into the charter and

 5  which shall be compared with information provided in the

 6  annual report of the charter school. The charter shall ensure

 7  that, if a charter school internal audit or annual financial

 8  audit reveals a state of financial emergency as defined in s.

 9  218.503 or deficit financial position, the auditors are

10  required to notify the charter school governing board, the

11  sponsor, and the Department of Education. The internal auditor

12  shall report such findings in the form of an exit interview to

13  the principal or the principal administrator of the charter

14  school and the chair of the governing board within 7 working

15  days after finding the state of financial emergency or deficit

16  position. A final report shall be provided to the entire

17  governing board, the sponsor, and the Department of Education

18  within 14 working days after the exit interview. When a

19  charter school is in a state of financial emergency, the

20  charter school shall file a detailed financial-recovery plan

21  with the sponsoring district school board. The Department of

22  Education must establish guidelines for developing such plans.

23         4.11.  A description of procedures that identify

24  various risks and provide for a comprehensive approach to

25  reduce the impact of losses; plans to ensure the safety and

26  security of students and staff; plans to identify, minimize,

27  and protect others from violent or disruptive student

28  behavior; and the manner in which the school will be insured,

29  including whether or not the school will be required to have

30  liability insurance, and, if so, the terms and conditions

31  thereof and the amounts of coverage.

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 1         5.12.  The term of the charter which shall provide for

 2  cancellation of the charter if insufficient progress has been

 3  made in attaining the student achievement objectives of the

 4  charter and if it is not likely that such objectives can be

 5  achieved before expiration of the charter. The initial term of

 6  a charter shall be for 3, 4, or 5 years. In order to

 7  facilitate access to long-term financial resources for charter

 8  school construction, charter schools that are operated by a

 9  municipality or other public entity as provided by law are

10  eligible for up to a 15-year charter, subject to approval by

11  the district school board. A charter lab school is eligible

12  for a charter for a term of up to 15 years. In addition, to

13  facilitate access to long-term financial resources for charter

14  school construction, charter schools that are operated by a

15  private, not-for-profit, s. 501(c)(3) status corporation are

16  eligible for up to a 10-year charter, subject to approval by

17  the district school board. Such long-term charters remain

18  subject to annual review and may be terminated during the term

19  of the charter, but only for specific good cause according to

20  the provisions set forth in subsection (8).

21         6.13.  The facilities to be used and their location.

22         14.  The qualifications to be required of the teachers

23  and the potential strategies used to recruit, hire, train, and

24  retain qualified staff to achieve best value.

25         7.15.  The governance structure of the school,

26  including the status of the charter school as a public or

27  private employer as required in paragraph (12)(i).

28         16.  A timetable for implementing the charter which

29  addresses the implementation of each element thereof and the

30  date by which the charter shall be awarded in order to meet

31  this timetable.

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 1         8.17.  In the case of an existing public school being

 2  converted to charter status, alternative arrangements for

 3  current students who choose not to attend the charter school

 4  and for current teachers who choose not to teach in the

 5  charter school after conversion in accordance with the

 6  existing collective bargaining agreement or district school

 7  board rule in the absence of a collective bargaining

 8  agreement. However, alternative arrangements shall not be

 9  required for current teachers who choose not to teach in a

10  charter lab school, except as authorized by the employment

11  policies of the state university which grants the charter to

12  the lab school.

13         (b)  A charter may be renewed every 5 school years,

14  provided that a program review demonstrates that the criteria

15  in paragraph (a) have been successfully accomplished and that

16  none of the grounds for nonrenewal established by paragraph

17  (8)(a) has been documented. In order to facilitate long-term

18  financing for charter school construction, charter schools

19  operating for a minimum of 2 years and demonstrating exemplary

20  academic programming and fiscal management are eligible for a

21  15-year charter renewal. Such long-term charter is subject to

22  annual review and may be terminated during the term of the

23  charter.

24         (c)  A charter may be modified during its initial term

25  or any renewal term upon the recommendation of the sponsor or

26  the charter school governing board and the approval of both

27  parties to the agreement.

28         (8)  CAUSES FOR NONRENEWAL OR TERMINATION OF CHARTER.--

29         (a)  At the end of the term of a charter, the sponsor

30  shall may choose not to renew or to terminate the charter for

31  any of the following grounds:

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 1         1.  Failure to participate in the state's education

 2  accountability system created in s. 1008.31, as required in

 3  this section, or failure to meet the requirements for student

 4  performance stated in the charter, or failure to meet the

 5  performance standards as authorized by s. 1008.32 and

 6  specified by rule of the State Board of Education.

 7         2.  Failure to comply with statutorily directed state

 8  reporting requirements, including the requirements identified

 9  in paragraph (9)(m) which pertain to components of the annual

10  charter school accountability report.

11         3.  Failure of the governing body of a charter school

12  to submit its annual performance accountability report to its

13  sponsors as prescribed in paragraph (9)(m).

14         4.  Failure of the director of a charter school having

15  a school performance grade of a "D" or "F" to appear before

16  the sponsoring body as required in subsection (5).

17         5.2.  Failure to meet generally accepted standards of

18  fiscal management.

19         6.3.  Violation of law.

20         7.4.  Other good cause shown.

21         (b)  During the term of a charter, the sponsor may

22  terminate the charter for any of the grounds listed in

23  paragraph (a).

24         (c)  At the end of the term of a charter or during the

25  term of a charter, the sponsor may not renew or shall

26  terminate the charter when the charter school receives a

27  school performance grade of "F" under s. 1008.34 for 2

28  consecutive years, unless the school has made adequate yearly

29  progress under the federal No Child Left Behind Act in at

30  least 1 of those 2 years.

31  

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 1         (d)  At the end of the term of a charter, the sponsor

 2  may not renew the charter if the school fails to meet the

 3  requirements for student performance set forth in rules of the

 4  State Board of Education.

 5         (e)(c)  At least 90 days prior to renewing or

 6  terminating a charter, the sponsor shall notify the governing

 7  body of the school of the proposed action in writing. The

 8  notice shall state in reasonable detail the grounds for the

 9  proposed action and stipulate that the school's governing body

10  may, within 14 calendar days after receiving the notice,

11  request an informal hearing before the sponsor. The sponsor

12  shall conduct the informal hearing within 30 calendar days

13  after receiving a written request. The charter school's

14  governing body may, within 14 calendar days after receiving

15  the sponsor's decision to terminate or refuse to renew the

16  charter, appeal the decision pursuant to the procedure

17  established in subsection (6).

18         (f)(d)  A charter may be terminated immediately if the

19  sponsor determines that good cause has been shown or if the

20  health, safety, or welfare of the students is threatened. The

21  charter sponsor must notify in writing the charter school's

22  governing body, the school principal, and the Department of

23  Education if a charter is immediately terminated. The sponsor

24  shall clearly identify the issues that resulted in the

25  immediate termination and provide evidence of prior

26  notification of issues resulting in the immediate termination

27  when appropriate. The school district in which the charter

28  school is located shall assume operation of the school under

29  these circumstances. The charter school's governing board may,

30  within 14 days after receiving the sponsor's decision to

31  

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 1  terminate the charter, appeal the decision pursuant to the

 2  procedure established in subsection (6).

 3         (g)(e)  When a charter is not renewed or is terminated,

 4  the school shall be dissolved under the provisions of law

 5  under which the school was organized, and any unencumbered

 6  public funds, except for capital outlay funds, from the

 7  charter school shall revert to the district school board.

 8  Capital outlay funds provided pursuant to s. 1013.62 that are

 9  unencumbered shall revert to the department to be

10  redistributed among eligible charter schools. In the event a

11  charter school is dissolved or is otherwise terminated, all

12  district school board property and improvements, furnishings,

13  and equipment purchased with public funds shall automatically

14  revert to full ownership by the district school board, subject

15  to complete satisfaction of any lawful liens or encumbrances.

16  Any unencumbered public funds from the charter school,

17  district school board property and improvements, furnishings,

18  and equipment purchased with public funds, or financial or

19  other records pertaining to the charter school, in the

20  possession of any person, entity, or holding company, other

21  than the charter school, shall be held in trust upon the

22  district school board's request, until any appeal status is

23  resolved.

24         (h)(f)  If a charter is not renewed or is terminated,

25  the charter school is responsible for all debts of the charter

26  school. The district may not assume the debt from any contract

27  for services made between the governing body of the school and

28  a third party, except for a debt that is previously detailed

29  and agreed upon in writing by both the district and the

30  governing body of the school and that may not reasonably be

31  assumed to have been satisfied by the district.

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 1         (i)(g)  If a charter is not renewed or is terminated, a

 2  student who attended the school may apply to, and shall be

 3  enrolled in, another public school. Normal application

 4  deadlines shall be disregarded under such circumstances.

 5         (9)  CHARTER SCHOOL REQUIREMENTS.--

 6         (a)  A charter school shall be nonsectarian in its

 7  programs, admission policies, employment practices, and

 8  operations.

 9         (b)  A charter school shall admit students as provided

10  in subsection (10).

11         (c)  A charter school shall be accountable to its

12  sponsor for performance as provided in subsection (7).

13         (d)  A charter school shall not charge tuition or

14  registration fees, except those fees normally charged by other

15  public schools. However, a charter lab school may charge a

16  student activity and service fee as authorized by s.

17  1002.32(5).

18         (e)  A charter school shall meet all applicable state

19  and local health, safety, and civil rights requirements.

20         (f)  A charter school shall not violate the

21  antidiscrimination provisions of s. 1000.05.

22         (g)  A charter school shall provide for an annual

23  financial audit in accordance with s. 218.39. Financial audits

24  that yield a state of financial emergency as defined in s.

25  218.503 and conducted by a certified public accountant or

26  auditor in accordance with s. 218.39 shall be provided to the

27  governing body of the charter school within 7 working days

28  after finding that a state of financial emergency exists. When

29  a charter school is found to be in a state of financial

30  emergency by a certified public accountant or auditor, the

31  charter school must file a detailed financial-recovery plan

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 1  with the sponsoring district school board within 30 days after

 2  receipt of the audit. The detailed financial-recovery plan

 3  must comply with the requirements set forth by the Department

 4  of Education.

 5         (h)  No organization shall hold more than 15 charters

 6  statewide.

 7         (i)  Any individual, group, organization, or private or

 8  nonprofit company that submits an application to operate a

 9  charter school in this state, or that is contracted with by

10  the governing board of a charter school to operate a charter

11  school in this state, must register with the Department of

12  Education upon submission of its application to the sponsor.

13  The Department of Education shall maintain a database that

14  contains the name of each organization or entity applying for

15  a charter or operating by contract a charter school in this

16  state, principal contact information, a description of the

17  organization or entity, an identification of the number of

18  charter applications or contracts in the state, and disclosure

19  of charters terminated or renewed in this state and other

20  states. A sponsor may not approve an application for a charter

21  unless the governing board and contract operator of the school

22  have submitted a complete, accurate, and timely registration

23  with the Department of Education.

24         (j)(i)  In order to provide financial information that

25  is comparable to that reported for other public schools,

26  charter schools are to maintain all financial records which

27  constitute their accounting system:

28         1.  In accordance with the accounts and codes

29  prescribed in the most recent issuance of the publication

30  titled "Financial and Program Cost Accounting and Reporting

31  for Florida Schools"; or

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 1         2.  At the discretion of the charter school governing

 2  board, a charter school may elect to follow generally accepted

 3  accounting standards for not-for-profit organizations, but

 4  must reformat this information for reporting according to this

 5  paragraph.

 6  

 7  Charter schools shall are to provide annual financial report

 8  and program cost report information in the state-required

 9  formats for inclusion in district reporting in compliance with

10  s. 1011.60(1). Charter schools that are operated by a

11  municipality or are a component unit of a parent nonprofit

12  organization may use the accounting system of the municipality

13  or the parent but must reformat this information for reporting

14  according to this paragraph. The Department of Education must

15  develop a modified annual financial report for use by charter

16  schools, which would allow districts and the state to include

17  charter school expenditures in their educational cost reports.

18  The department must develop guidelines that identify district

19  and department responsibilities for verifying the data in

20  these reports. These guidelines must require that each charter

21  school's annual financial report be signed by the school's

22  chief financial officer or the certified public accountant who

23  prepared the report.

24         (k)(j)  The governing board of the charter school shall

25  annually adopt and maintain an operating budget.

26         (l)(k)  The governing body of the charter school shall

27  exercise continuing oversight over charter school operations.

28         (m)(l)  The governing body of the charter school shall

29  report its performance progress annually to its sponsor, which

30  shall forward the report to the Commissioner of Education at

31  the same time as other annual school accountability reports.

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 1  The governing body shall monitor and review its school in

 2  adherence and compliance with components of its application

 3  and charter as defined in subsection (6). The Department of

 4  Education shall include in its compilation a notation if a

 5  school failed to file its report by the deadline established

 6  by the department. The report shall include at least the

 7  following components:

 8         1.  Student achievement performance data, including the

 9  information required for the annual school report and the

10  education accountability system governed by ss. 1008.31 and

11  1008.345. Charter schools are subject to the same

12  accountability requirements as other public schools, including

13  reports of student achievement information that links baseline

14  student data to the school's performance projections

15  identified in the charter. The charter school shall identify

16  reasons for any difference between projected and actual

17  student performance.

18         2.  Financial status of the charter school which must

19  include revenues and expenditures at a level of detail that

20  allows for analysis of the ability to meet financial

21  obligations and timely repayment of debt.

22         3.  Documentation of the facilities in current use and

23  any planned facilities for use by the charter school for

24  instruction of students, administrative functions, or

25  investment purposes.

26         4.  Descriptive information about the charter school's

27  personnel, including salary and benefit levels of charter

28  school employees, the proportion of instructional personnel

29  who hold professional or temporary certificates, and the

30  proportion of instructional personnel teaching in-field or

31  out-of-field.

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 1         (m)  A charter school shall not levy taxes or issue

 2  bonds secured by tax revenues.

 3         (n)  A charter school shall provide instruction for at

 4  least the number of days required by law for other public

 5  schools, and may provide instruction for additional days.

 6         (10)  ELIGIBLE STUDENTS.--

 7         (a)  A charter school shall be open to any student

 8  covered in an interdistrict agreement or residing in the

 9  school district in which the charter school is located;

10  however, in the case of a charter lab school, the charter lab

11  school shall be open to any student eligible to attend the lab

12  school as provided in s. 1002.32 or who resides in the school

13  district in which the charter lab school is located. Any

14  eligible student shall be allowed interdistrict transfer to

15  attend a charter school when based on good cause.

16         (b)  The charter school shall enroll an eligible

17  student who submits a timely application, unless the number of

18  applications exceeds the capacity of a program, class, grade

19  level, or building. In such case, all applicants shall have an

20  equal chance of being admitted through a random selection

21  process.

22         (c)  When a public school converts to charter status,

23  enrollment preference shall be given to students who would

24  have otherwise attended that public school.

25         (d)  A charter school may give enrollment preference to

26  the following student populations:

27         1.  Students who are siblings of a student enrolled in

28  the charter school.

29         2.  Students who are the children of a member of the

30  governing board of the charter school.

31  

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 1         3.  Students who are the children of an employee of the

 2  charter school.

 3         (e)  A charter school may limit the enrollment process

 4  only to target the following student populations:

 5         1.  Students within specific age groups or grade

 6  levels.

 7         2.  Students considered at risk of dropping out of

 8  school or academic failure. Such students shall include

 9  exceptional education students.

10         3.  Students enrolling in a charter

11  school-in-the-workplace or charter school-in-a-municipality

12  established pursuant to subsection (15).

13         4.  Students residing within a reasonable distance of

14  the charter school, as described in paragraph (20)(c). Such

15  students shall be subject to a random lottery and to the

16  racial/ethnic balance provisions described in rules of the

17  State Board of Education subparagraph (7)(a)8. or any federal

18  provisions that require a school to achieve a racial/ethnic

19  balance reflective of the community it serves or within the

20  racial/ethnic range of other public schools in the same school

21  district.

22         5.  Students who meet reasonable academic, artistic, or

23  other eligibility standards established by the charter school

24  and included in the charter school application and charter or,

25  in the case of existing charter schools, standards that are

26  consistent with the school's mission and purpose. Such

27  standards shall be in accordance with current state law and

28  practice in public schools and may not discriminate against

29  otherwise qualified individuals.

30  

31  

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 1         6.  Students articulating from one charter school to

 2  another pursuant to an articulation agreement between the

 3  charter schools that has been approved by the sponsor.

 4         (f)  Students with handicapping conditions and students

 5  served in English for Speakers of Other Languages programs

 6  shall have an equal opportunity of being selected for

 7  enrollment in a charter school.

 8         (g)  A student may withdraw from a charter school at

 9  any time and enroll in another public school as determined by

10  district school board rule.

11         (h)  The capacity of the charter school shall be

12  determined annually by the governing board, in conjunction

13  with the sponsor, of the charter school in consideration of

14  the factors identified in this subsection.

15         (11)  PARTICIPATION IN INTERSCHOLASTIC EXTRACURRICULAR

16  ACTIVITIES.--A charter school student is eligible to

17  participate in an interscholastic extracurricular activity at

18  the public school to which the student would be otherwise

19  assigned to attend pursuant to s. 1006.15(3)(d).

20         (12)  EMPLOYEES OF CHARTER SCHOOLS.--

21         (a)  A charter school shall select its own employees. A

22  charter school may contract with its sponsor for the services

23  of personnel employed by the sponsor.

24         (b)  Charter school employees shall have the option to

25  bargain collectively. Employees may collectively bargain as a

26  separate unit or as part of the existing district collective

27  bargaining unit as determined by the structure of the charter

28  school.

29         (c)  The employees of a conversion charter school shall

30  remain public employees for all purposes, unless such

31  employees choose not to do so.

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 1         (d)  The teachers at a charter school may choose to be

 2  part of a professional group that subcontracts with the

 3  charter school to operate the instructional program under the

 4  auspices of a partnership or cooperative that they

 5  collectively own. Under this arrangement, the teachers would

 6  not be public employees.

 7         (e)  Employees of a school district may take leave to

 8  accept employment in a charter school upon the approval of the

 9  district school board. While employed by the charter school

10  and on leave that is approved by the district school board,

11  the employee may retain seniority accrued in that school

12  district and may continue to be covered by the benefit

13  programs of that school district, if the charter school and

14  the district school board agree to this arrangement and its

15  financing. School districts shall not require resignations of

16  teachers desiring to teach in a charter school. This paragraph

17  shall not prohibit a district school board from approving

18  alternative leave arrangements consistent with chapter 1012.

19         (f)  Teachers employed by or under contract to a

20  charter school shall be certified as required by chapter 1012.

21  A charter school governing board may employ or contract with

22  skilled selected noncertified personnel to provide

23  instructional services or to assist instructional staff

24  members as education paraprofessionals in the same manner as

25  defined in chapter 1012, and as provided by State Board of

26  Education rule for charter school governing boards. A charter

27  school may not knowingly employ an individual to provide

28  instructional services or to serve as an education

29  paraprofessional if the individual's certification or

30  licensure as an educator is suspended or revoked by this or

31  any other state. A charter school may not knowingly employ an

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 1  individual who has resigned from a school district in lieu of

 2  disciplinary action with respect to child welfare or safety,

 3  or who has been dismissed for just cause by any school

 4  district with respect to child welfare or safety. The

 5  qualifications of teachers shall be disclosed to parents.

 6         (g)  A charter school shall employ or contract with

 7  employees who have undergone background screening as provided

 8  in s. 1012.32. Members of the governing board of the charter

 9  school shall also undergo background screening in a manner

10  similar to that provided in s. 1012.32.

11         (h)  For the purposes of tort liability, the governing

12  body and employees of a charter school shall be governed by s.

13  768.28.

14         (i)  A charter school shall organize as, or be operated

15  by, a nonprofit organization. A charter school may be operated

16  by a municipality or other public entity as provided for by

17  law. As such, the charter school may be either a private or a

18  public employer.  As a public employer, a charter school may

19  participate in the Florida Retirement System upon application

20  and approval as a "covered group" under s. 121.021(34). If a

21  charter school participates in the Florida Retirement System,

22  the charter school employees shall be compulsory members of

23  the Florida Retirement System. As either a private or a public

24  employer, a charter school may contract for services with an

25  individual or group of individuals who are organized as a

26  partnership or a cooperative. Individuals or groups of

27  individuals who contract their services to the charter school

28  are not public employees.

29         (13)  CHARTER SCHOOL COOPERATIVES.--Charter schools may

30  enter into cooperative agreements to form charter school

31  cooperative organizations that may provide the following

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 1  services: charter school planning and development, direct

 2  instructional services, and contracts with charter school

 3  governing boards to provide personnel administrative services,

 4  payroll services, human resource management, evaluation and

 5  assessment services, teacher preparation, and professional

 6  development.

 7         (14)  CHARTER SCHOOL FINANCIAL ARRANGEMENTS;

 8  INDEMNIFICATION OF THE STATE AND SCHOOL DISTRICT; CREDIT OR

 9  TAXING POWER NOT TO BE PLEDGED.--Any arrangement entered into

10  to borrow or otherwise secure funds for a charter school

11  authorized in this section from a source other than the state

12  or a school district shall indemnify the state and the school

13  district from any and all liability, including, but not

14  limited to, financial responsibility for the payment of the

15  principal or interest. Any loans, bonds, or other financial

16  agreements are not obligations of the state or the school

17  district but are obligations of the charter school authority

18  and are payable solely from the sources of funds pledged by

19  such agreement. The credit or taxing power of the state or the

20  school district shall not be pledged and no debts shall be

21  payable out of any moneys except those of the legal entity in

22  possession of a valid charter approved by a district school

23  board pursuant to this section.

24         (15)  CHARTER SCHOOLS-IN-THE-WORKPLACE; CHARTER

25  SCHOOLS-IN-A-MUNICIPALITY.--

26         (a)  In order to increase business partnerships in

27  education, to reduce school and classroom overcrowding

28  throughout the state, and to offset the high costs for

29  educational facilities construction, the Legislature intends

30  to encourage the formation of business partnership schools or

31  

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 1  satellite learning centers and municipal-operated schools

 2  through charter school status.

 3         (b)  A charter school-in-the-workplace may be

 4  established when a business partner provides the school

 5  facility to be used; enrolls students based upon a random

 6  lottery that involves all of the children of employees of that

 7  business or corporation who are seeking enrollment, as

 8  provided for in subsection (10); and enrolls students

 9  according to the racial/ethnic balance provisions described in

10  rules of the State Board of Education subparagraph (7)(a)8.

11  Any portion of a facility used for a public charter school

12  shall be exempt from ad valorem taxes, as provided for in s.

13  1013.54, for the duration of its use as a public school.

14         (c)  A charter school-in-a-municipality designation may

15  be granted to a municipality that possesses a charter; enrolls

16  students based upon a random lottery that involves all of the

17  children of the residents of that municipality who are seeking

18  enrollment, as provided for in subsection (10); and enrolls

19  students according to the racial/ethnic balance provisions

20  described in rules of the State Board of Education

21  subparagraph (7)(a)8. When a municipality has submitted

22  charter applications for the establishment of a charter school

23  feeder pattern, consisting of elementary, middle, and senior

24  high schools, and each individual charter application is

25  approved by the district school board, such schools shall then

26  be designated as one charter school for all purposes listed

27  pursuant to this section. Any portion of the land and facility

28  used for a public charter school shall be exempt from ad

29  valorem taxes, as provided for in s. 1013.54, for the duration

30  of its use as a public school.

31  

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 1         (d)  As used in this subsection, the terms "business

 2  partner" or "municipality" may include more than one business

 3  or municipality to form a charter school-in-the-workplace or

 4  charter school-in-a-municipality.

 5         (16)  EXEMPTION FROM STATUTES.--

 6         (a)  A charter school shall operate in accordance with

 7  its charter and shall be exempt from all statutes in chapters

 8  1000-1013. However, a charter school shall be in compliance

 9  with the following statutes in chapters 1000-1013:

10         1.  Those statutes specifically applying to charter

11  schools, including this section.

12         2.  Those statutes pertaining to the student assessment

13  program and school grading system.

14         3.  Those statutes pertaining to the provision of

15  services to students with disabilities.

16         4.  Those statutes pertaining to civil rights,

17  including s. 1000.05, relating to discrimination.

18         5.  Those statutes pertaining to student health,

19  safety, and welfare.

20         (b)  Additionally, a charter school shall be in

21  compliance with the following statutes:

22         1.  Section 286.011, relating to public meetings and

23  records, public inspection, and criminal and civil penalties.

24         2.  Chapter 119, relating to public records.

25         (17)  FUNDING.--Students enrolled in a charter school,

26  regardless of the sponsorship, shall be funded as if they are

27  in a basic program or a special program, the same as students

28  enrolled in other public schools in the school district.

29  Funding for a charter lab school shall be as provided in s.

30  1002.32.

31  

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 1         (a)  Each charter school shall report its student

 2  enrollment to the district school board as required in s.

 3  1011.62, and in accordance with the definitions in s. 1011.61.

 4  The district school board shall include each charter school's

 5  enrollment in the district's report of student enrollment. All

 6  charter schools submitting student record information required

 7  by the Department of Education shall comply with the

 8  Department of Education's guidelines for electronic data

 9  formats for such data, and all districts shall accept

10  electronic data that complies with the Department of

11  Education's electronic format.

12         (b)  The basis for the agreement for funding students

13  enrolled in a charter school shall be the sum of the school

14  district's operating funds from the Florida Education Finance

15  Program as provided in s. 1011.62 and the General

16  Appropriations Act, including gross state and local funds,

17  discretionary lottery funds, and funds from the school

18  district's current operating discretionary millage levy;

19  divided by total funded weighted full-time equivalent students

20  in the school district; multiplied by the weighted full-time

21  equivalent students for the charter school. Charter schools

22  whose students or programs meet the eligibility criteria in

23  law shall be entitled to their proportionate share of

24  categorical program funds included in the total funds

25  available in the Florida Education Finance Program by the

26  Legislature, including transportation. Total funding for each

27  charter school shall be recalculated during the year to

28  reflect the revised calculations under the Florida Education

29  Finance Program by the state and the actual weighted full-time

30  equivalent students reported by the charter school during the

31  

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 1  full-time equivalent student survey periods designated by the

 2  Commissioner of Education.

 3         (c)  If the district school board is providing programs

 4  or services to students funded by federal funds, any eligible

 5  students enrolled in charter schools in the school district

 6  shall be provided federal funds for the same level of service

 7  provided students in the schools operated by the district

 8  school board. Pursuant to provisions of 20 U.S.C. 8061 s.

 9  10306, all charter schools shall receive all federal funding

10  for which the school is otherwise eligible, including Title I

11  funding, not later than 5 months after the charter school

12  first opens and within 5 months after any subsequent expansion

13  of enrollment.

14         (d)  District school boards shall make every effort to

15  ensure that charter schools receive timely and efficient

16  reimbursement, including processing paperwork required to

17  access special state and federal funding for which they may be

18  eligible. The district school board may distribute funds to a

19  charter school for up to 3 months based on the projected

20  full-time equivalent student membership of the charter school.

21  Thereafter, the results of full-time equivalent student

22  membership surveys shall be used in adjusting the amount of

23  funds distributed monthly to the charter school for the

24  remainder of the fiscal year. The payment shall be issued no

25  later than 10 working days after the district school board

26  receives a distribution of state or federal funds. If a

27  warrant for payment is not issued within 30 working days after

28  receipt of funding by the district school board, the school

29  district shall pay to the charter school, in addition to the

30  amount of the scheduled disbursement, interest at a rate of 1

31  percent per month calculated on a daily basis on the unpaid

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 1  balance from the expiration of the 30-day period until such

 2  time as the warrant is issued.

 3         (18)  FACILITIES.--

 4         (a)  A charter school shall utilize facilities which

 5  comply with the Florida Building Code pursuant to chapter 553

 6  except for the State Requirements for Educational Facilities.

 7  Charter schools are not required to comply, but may choose to

 8  comply, with the State Requirements for Educational Facilities

 9  of the Florida Building Code adopted pursuant to s. 1013.37.

10  The local governing authority shall not adopt or impose local

11  building requirements or restrictions that are more stringent

12  than those found in the Florida Building Code. The agency

13  having jurisdiction for inspection of a facility and issuance

14  of a certificate of occupancy shall be the local municipality

15  or, if in an unincorporated area, the county governing

16  authority.

17         (b)  A charter school shall utilize facilities that

18  comply with the Florida Fire Prevention Code, pursuant to s.

19  633.025, as adopted by the authority in whose jurisdiction the

20  facility is located as provided in paragraph (a). The sponsor

21  of a charter school shall be an advocate for the charter

22  school in matters relating to interpretations of such fire

23  code.

24         (c)  Any facility, or portion thereof, used to house a

25  charter school whose charter has been approved by the sponsor

26  and the governing board, pursuant to subsection (7), shall be

27  exempt from ad valorem taxes pursuant to s. 196.1983.

28         (d)  Charter school facilities are exempt from

29  assessments of fees for building permits, except as provided

30  in s. 553.80, and for building licenses and from assessments

31  of impact fees or service availability fees.

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 1         (e)  If a district school board facility or property is

 2  available because it is surplus, marked for disposal, or

 3  otherwise unused, it shall be provided for a charter school's

 4  use on the same basis as it is made available to other public

 5  schools in the district. A charter school receiving property

 6  from the school district may not sell or dispose of such

 7  property without written permission of the school district.

 8  Similarly, for an existing public school converting to charter

 9  status, no rental or leasing fee for the existing facility or

10  for the property normally inventoried to the conversion school

11  may be charged by the district school board to the parents and

12  teachers organizing the charter school. The charter organizers

13  shall agree to reasonable maintenance provisions in order to

14  maintain the facility in a manner similar to district school

15  board standards. The Public Education Capital Outlay

16  maintenance funds or any other maintenance funds generated by

17  the facility operated as a conversion school shall remain with

18  the conversion school.

19         (f)  To the extent that charter school facilities are

20  specifically created to mitigate the educational impact

21  created by the development of new residential dwelling units,

22  pursuant to subparagraph (2)(c)4., some of or all of the

23  educational impact fees required to be paid in connection with

24  the new residential dwelling units may be designated instead

25  for the construction of the charter school facilities that

26  will mitigate the student station impact. Such facilities

27  shall be built to the State Requirements for Educational

28  Facilities and shall be owned by a public or nonprofit entity.

29  The local school district retains the right to monitor and

30  inspect such facilities to ensure compliance with the State

31  Requirements for Educational Facilities. If a facility ceases

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 1  to be used for public educational purposes, either the

 2  facility shall revert to the school district subject to any

 3  debt owed on the facility, or the owner of the facility shall

 4  have the option to refund all educational impact fees utilized

 5  for the facility to the school district. The district and the

 6  owner of the facility may contractually agree to another

 7  arrangement for the facilities if the facilities cease to be

 8  used for educational purposes. The owner of property planned

 9  or approved for new residential dwelling units and the entity

10  levying educational impact fees shall enter into an agreement

11  that designates the educational impact fees that will be

12  allocated for the charter school student stations and that

13  ensures the timely construction of the charter school student

14  stations concurrent with the expected occupancy of the

15  residential units. The application for use of educational

16  impact fees shall include an approved charter school

17  application. To assist the school district in forecasting

18  student station needs, the entity levying the impact fees

19  shall notify the affected district of any agreements it has

20  approved for the purpose of mitigating student station impact

21  from the new residential dwelling units.

22         (19)  CAPITAL OUTLAY FUNDING.--Charter schools are

23  eligible for capital outlay funds pursuant to s. 1013.62.

24         (20)  SERVICES.--

25         (a)  A sponsor shall provide certain administrative and

26  educational services to charter schools. These services shall

27  include contract management services; full-time equivalent and

28  data reporting services; exceptional student education

29  administration services; test administration services,

30  including payment of the costs of state-required or

31  district-required student assessments; processing of teacher

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 1  certificate data services; and information services, including

 2  equal access to student information systems that are used by

 3  public schools in the district in which the charter school is

 4  located. A total administrative fee for the provision of such

 5  services shall be calculated based upon 5 percent of the

 6  available funds defined in paragraph (17)(b) for all students.

 7  However, a sponsor may only withhold a 5-percent

 8  administrative fee for enrollment for up to and including 500

 9  students. For charter schools with a population of 501 or more

10  students, the difference between the total administrative fee

11  calculation and the amount of the administrative fee withheld

12  may only be used for capital outlay purposes specified in s.

13  1013.62(2). Sponsors shall not charge charter schools any

14  additional fees or surcharges for administrative and

15  educational services in addition to the 5-percent

16  administrative fee withheld pursuant to this paragraph.

17         (b)  If goods and services are made available to the

18  charter school through the contract with the school district,

19  they shall be provided to the charter school at a rate no

20  greater than the district's actual cost unless mutually agreed

21  upon by the charter school and the sponsor in a contract

22  negotiated separately from the charter. When mediation has

23  failed to resolve disputes over contracted services or

24  contractual matters not included in the charter, an appeal may

25  be made for a dispute resolution hearing before the Charter

26  School Appeal Commission. To maximize the use of state funds,

27  school districts shall allow charter schools to participate in

28  the sponsor's bulk purchasing program if applicable.

29         (c)  Transportation of charter school students shall be

30  provided by the charter school consistent with the

31  requirements of subpart I.E. of chapter 1006 and s. 1012.45.

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 1  The governing body of the charter school may provide

 2  transportation through an agreement or contract with the

 3  district school board, a private provider, or parents. The

 4  charter school and the sponsor shall cooperate in making

 5  arrangements that ensure that transportation is not a barrier

 6  to equal access for all students residing within a reasonable

 7  distance of the charter school as determined in its charter.

 8         (21)  PUBLIC INFORMATION ON CHARTER SCHOOLS.--The

 9  Department of Education shall provide information to the

10  public, directly and through sponsors, both on how to form and

11  operate a charter school and on how to enroll in charter

12  schools once they are created. This information shall include

13  a standard application format which shall include the

14  information specified in subsection (7). This application

15  format may be used by chartering entities.

16         (22)  STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION AUTHORITY.--

17         (a)  The State Board of Education may adopt rules

18  pursuant to ss. 120.536(1) and 120.54 to administer this

19  section.

20         (b)  The State Board of Education has authority

21  pursuant to s. 1008.32 to enforce the provisions of this

22  section.

23         (c)  The State Board of Education shall ensure that the

24  Department of Education provides or arranges for the provision

25  of the following services:

26         1.  Assistance to potential charter applicants in

27  identifying available resources and information that would

28  enable the applicant to submit a stronger charter application.

29         2.  Assistance to sponsors and charter schools in

30  developing a model charter contract that may be modified to

31  reflect local decisions. Such a model should not impede

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 1  creativity in delivering the educational program of the

 2  charter school. The model should assist charter schools in

 3  identifying the services a charter school receives for any

 4  administrative assessment and in determining the per-student

 5  cost of those services. The model should also address the

 6  provision of food service and transportation.

 7         3.  Assistance to sponsors and charter school in

 8  developing a model charter renewal evaluation process that may

 9  be modified to reflect individual contracts and local

10  decisions.

11         4.  Annual training opportunities for members of

12  charter school governing boards relating to current statutory

13  and financial requirements pertaining to charter schools.

14         5.  Annual joint training opportunities for school

15  district personnel whose responsibilities involve working with

16  charter applicants and charter schools and for personnel of

17  charter schools. Such training should include current

18  statutory and financial requirements pertaining to charter

19  schools and other appropriate matters.

20         (22)  CHARTER SCHOOL REVIEW PANEL AND LEGISLATIVE

21  REVIEW.--

22         (a)  The Department of Education shall regularly

23  convene a Charter School Review Panel in order to review

24  issues, practices, and policies regarding charter schools. The

25  composition of the review panel shall include individuals with

26  experience in finance, administration, law, education, and

27  school governance, and individuals familiar with charter

28  school construction and operation. The panel shall include two

29  appointees each from the Commissioner of Education, the

30  President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of

31  Representatives. The Governor shall appoint three members of

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    Florida Senate - 2005                                  SB 1710
    581-359C-05




 1  the panel and shall designate the chair. Each member of the

 2  panel shall serve a 1-year term, unless renewed by the office

 3  making the appointment. The panel shall make recommendations

 4  to the Legislature, to the Department of Education, to charter

 5  schools, and to school districts for improving charter school

 6  operations and oversight and for ensuring best business

 7  practices at and fair business relationships with charter

 8  schools.

 9         (b)  The Legislature shall review the operation of

10  charter schools during the 2005 Regular Session of the

11  Legislature.

12         (23)  ANALYSIS OF CHARTER SCHOOL PERFORMANCE.--Upon

13  receipt of the annual report required by paragraph (9)(l), the

14  Department of Education shall provide to the State Board of

15  Education, the Commissioner of Education, the Governor, the

16  President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of

17  Representatives an analysis and comparison of the overall

18  performance of charter school students, to include all

19  students whose scores are counted as part of the statewide

20  assessment program, versus comparable public school students

21  in the district as determined by the statewide assessment

22  program currently administered in the school district, and

23  other assessments administered pursuant to s. 1008.22(3).

24         (24)  FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT.--The Department of

25  Education must develop a system that includes a comprehensive

26  list of financial-management indicators to be used by sponsors

27  for the early identification of charter schools at greatest

28  risk for financial difficulty. The Department of Education

29  must provide training and technical assistance to charter

30  schools at greatest risk for financial difficulty. The

31  Department of Education must report information on schools

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    Florida Senate - 2005                                  SB 1710
    581-359C-05




 1  identified as at risk for financial difficulty in the past

 2  year and the actions that the department and local school

 3  district have taken to assist each school in the annual report

 4  required by paragraph (9)(m).

 5         (25)(24)  RULEMAKING.--The Department of Education,

 6  after consultation with school districts and charter school

 7  directors, shall recommend that the State Board of Education

 8  adopt rules to implement specific subsections of this section.

 9  Such rules shall require minimum paperwork and shall not limit

10  charter school flexibility authorized by statute.

11         Section 4.  This act shall take effect July 1, 2005.

12  

13            *****************************************

14                          SENATE SUMMARY

15    Revises various provisions governing charter schools.
      Requires that the sponsor of a charter school implement
16    certain policies and procedures. Provides requirements
      for monitoring charter schools and for annual reviews.
17    Requires that the Department of Education conduct an
      annual survey of the governing boards of charter schools
18    and report the results to the State Board of Education.
      Requires that the district school board notify the
19    Department of Education of denial of a charter
      application. Provides requirements for mediation.
20    Specifies circumstances under which the sponsor is
      required to not renew or to terminate the charter.
21    Requires that applicants for a charter school register
      with the Department of Education and that the department
22    maintain certain information concerning applicants and
      charter schools. (See bill for details.)
23  

24  

25  

26  

27  

28  

29  

30  

31  

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