Bill > S1036

This bill makes several changes to Florida's charter school laws, primarily focusing on accountability, governance, and student enrollment. It requires charter school applications and charters to clearly document that the governing board is independent of any management company and can terminate their contract at any time. The bill also specifies circumstances under which a student is considered to have voluntarily withdrawn from a charter school, including requirements for parents and school personnel to sign documentation confirming the voluntary nature of the withdrawal and that the school did not discourage continued enrollment. Furthermore, it establishes new procedures and requirements for audits and investigations of charter schools, allowing for greater access to financial and educational records by sponsors and state officials, and introduces a process for filing complaints with the Department of Education's Office of Inspector General if a charter school's governing board or district school board does not adequately address them. Finally, the bill removes provisions related to performance contracts for innovation schools of technology, streamlining their operation and oversight.