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SPONSOR: |
Zanetti |
DATE TYPED: |
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HB |
908 |
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SHORT TITLE: |
Shorten |
SB |
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ANALYST: |
L. Baca |
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APPROPRIATION
Appropriation
Contained |
Estimated
Additional Impact |
Recurring or
Non-Rec |
Fund Affected |
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FY03 |
FY04 |
FY03 |
FY04 |
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NFI |
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(Parenthesis
( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)
Relates to: SB
696,
SB 224,
Conflicts with HB 375, Amend
Responses
Received From
State
Department of Education (SDE)
SUMMARY
Synopsis
of Bill
House Bill 908 amends
the Charter Schools Act to provide a shorter time frame for the approval or
denial of charter school applications and appeals; provides specific time frame
and criteria for revoking or failing to renew a charter school; authorizes a
larger number of charter schools; and stipulates that charter schools are to
receive that portion of the Capital Improvements Act (SB 9) generated by the
program units attributable to students attending a charter school.
Significant
Issues
HB 908 addresses the following issues:
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS
Charter schools will
be able to receive a portion of funds generated from the Capital Improvements
Act. Revenues received pursuant to the
provisions of the Capital Improvements Act may be expended for maintenance of
facilities.
OTHER SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES
The shortened
timelines will in all likelihood require that a local school board and the SBE
hold special meetings to carry out the provisions of the amendments. SDE and local school board staffs will also
be affected by the shortened timeframes for decisions to be rendered.
The SDE observes that
the amendments proposed in this bill have not been reviewed by charter school
work group appointed by the Legislative Education Study Committee.
1.
Did any charter school or group of
charter schools assist in preparing this bill?
2.
Have any “organized group” of charter
schools or charter school representatives expressed support or
opposition to the changes proposed in this bill?
3.
Do the shortened timelines allow school
district and SDE staffs to adequately prepare their respective boards to review
the evidence and make an informed decision?
4.
The bill increases the number of charter
schools allowed. Has there been a great
deal of interest in starting new charter schools?
5.
Have representative from the SBE/SDE
and\or local school boards expressed an opinion on this bill?