Bill > S2210

This bill, titled "Charter School Reform," aims to enhance education reform, innovation, and success by introducing several key provisions. It mandates that when evaluating public schools, districts, teachers, or administrators, student performance data from students who have withdrawn from formal education within the last three years will not be considered. The bill also requires the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to annually review and report on the percentage of administrative costs within each school district's total budget, and to develop target percentages and standards for these costs. Furthermore, it establishes a framework for identifying and designating schools as "priority," "underperforming," or "chronically underperforming" based on student performance data and school reviews, with specific procedures for developing and implementing "turnaround plans" for these schools, which may involve waivers of collective bargaining agreements and the creation of local stakeholder groups to guide improvement efforts. The bill also introduces new regulations for charter schools, including requirements for disciplinary appeal panels, limitations on suspending or expelling students based on academic performance, and changes to board of trustee composition and application processes, with a focus on ensuring charter schools serve at-risk students and complement existing district offerings. Additionally, it addresses transportation for charter school students, sets new criteria for charter school renewal based on student attrition and suspension rates, and mandates public availability of charter school policies and financial information. Finally, the bill establishes a commission to review charter school funding and requires updates to definitions of "low-income enrollment" and early literacy grant programs.