Bill > A3925

Introduced Session

This bill makes several modifications to the charter school program. Under current law, a board of education may review a charter application and submit a recommendation to the Commissioner of Education, but the commissioner has final authority to grant or reject a charter application. Under this bill, a local board of education will have the authority to either accept or overturn the commissioner's determination to grant a charter application. The commissioner will retain final authority to reject a charter application. The bill would allow a charter school applicant to appeal the decision of the commissioner, or to appeal the decision of the local board of education if the board acts to reject the charter application. In addition, the bill limits the population of students who are eligible for admission to a charter school. Under the bill, a charter school will be open to all students who reside in the charter school district of residence on a space available basis. If spaces remain available, a charter school may enroll non-resident students from two additional school districts which are located in municipalities that border the charter school district of residence. The application for a charter school must include the names of the school districts and municipalities in which there are students who will be eligible for enrollment. Under current law, if space permits the school may enroll non-resident students without geographic limit. The bill also modifies charter school enrollment procedures. Under the bill, students will be selected for enrollment through a lottery, and the name of each student who is enrolled in the charter school's district of residence will be placed in the lottery. If the parent or guardian of a student who is selected through the lottery decides not to enroll the student, the charter school will fill that enrollment space with a student from the school's waiting list. The bill provides that each charter school will maintain a waiting list of grade-eligible students and will use the list to fill enrollment spaces that become available after the lottery. Under current law, a random selection process for charter school enrollment is only used if there are more applicants than there are openings in the charter school. In addition, the bill requires that the board of trustees of a charter school include at least two members who are members of the local board of education of the charter school district of residence, and at least two members of the community who are chosen by the local board of education. The bill also amends current law to provide that a charter school may not expel a student.

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Joe Danielsen (D)*, 

Introduced, Referred to Assembly Education Committee (on 06/20/2016)