Bill > H0873

This bill revises provisions related to how charter schools receive capital outlay funding, which is money set aside for school construction and major renovations. It changes the calculation for how much funding charter schools are entitled to, ensuring they receive the remaining balance needed to reach a state-allocated amount after state appropriations are deducted, and requires school districts to make these payments by February 1st annually. The bill also modifies eligibility criteria for charter schools to receive this funding, including requiring them to have been in operation for at least two years, have a satisfactory academic performance unless serving a high percentage of low-income students, and have an audit that doesn't show financial emergencies. Additionally, it adjusts the maximum amount a charter school can receive per student station and clarifies how certain funds can be used for educational plant space construction, including updating the cost per student station limits and requiring the Department of Education to study and report on these costs. Finally, the bill revises eligibility criteria for the High Growth District Capital Outlay Assistance Grant Program, which helps districts with rapid student enrollment increases, by changing the required percentage of revenue derived from a specific millage levy and adding a new requirement for districts to have a significant portion of their student population enrolled in charter schools, virtual programs, or scholarship programs.