Bill > H3804

This bill aims to improve and expand educational opportunities by allowing the state board to approve applications for Horace Mann or commonwealth charter schools to serve students in underperforming districts, and by considering the success of turnaround plans when reviewing such applications. It also modifies rules regarding the sale or lease of school facilities, requiring districts to submit facility use plans and potentially offering excess capacity to charter schools, with priority given to more successful ones. The bill allows existing Horace Mann charter schools to convert to commonwealth charter schools under certain conditions and revises the total number of charter schools allowed, including provisions for new Horace Mann charter schools serving underperforming schools and additional commonwealth charters in low-performing districts. It also introduces new criteria for admissions lotteries, allowing for weighted preferences for "high-need" students and establishing specific enrollment priorities for commonwealth and Horace Mann charter schools, especially those serving underperforming schools, while also allowing for geographical enrollment preferences under certain conditions. Finally, it adjusts the renewal process for Horace Mann charters and modifies funding for charter school capital needs.