Bill > S96

Introduced Session

This bill provides that a local board of education will have the authority to either accept or overturn the Commissioner of Education's determination to approve a charter application. Under current law, a board of education may review a charter application and submit a recommendation to the commissioner; however, the commissioner has the final authority to grant or reject a charter application. The bill stipulates that the board of education will vote to accept or reject the commissioner's determination to approve a charter application by a majority vote of the board within 60 days of the commissioner's action. However, the board of education cannot overturn the commissioner's determination to reject a charter school application. If the proposed charter school would serve a region of residence, and a subset of local boards of education vote to override the commissioner's determination to grant a charter, then the applicant may submit a revised application that omits the school districts in which the commissioner's determination to grant the charter was overridden. Under current law, a charter school applicant may appeal the decision of the commissioner to reject a charter application to the Appellate Division of the Superior Court. The bill would allow a similar appeal if the charter application is rejected by action of the local board of education.

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Nia Gill (D)*,  Loretta Weinberg (D)*, 

Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Education Committee (on 01/14/2020)

Official Document