Governor Signs Comprehensive Education Bill – HB7029

Governor Scott signed a wide-sweeping education bill (HB 7029) on April 14, 2016. The bill adds charter school accountability measures, changes transfer rules for high school athletes, create choice options for more parents via school transfers, and forbids local government from imposing requirements on charters that aren’t imposed on traditional/district-run public schools.

Here are some highlights from HB7029:

Capital Outlay

In order to qualify for Public Education Capital Outlay (PECO) funds, a charter school must:

  • Be free of financial emergency conditions.
  • Have been in operation for 2 years. Previously, a charter school needed to be in operation for 3 years to qualify.

Public Education Capital Outlay (PECO) allocation formula:

There will be a base amount of PECO allocated to qualifying charter schools that shall be determined by the total weighted FTE. However, schools with large Title 1 or ESE populations get an added amount.

  • Charter schools whose Free and Reduced lunch/Title 1 population is 75% or greater of students served will receive an additional 25% of PECO. Charter schools whose ESE population is 25% or greater of the student served will receive an additional 25% of PECO dollars.
  • An eligible charter school that meets both the ESE and Title 1 criteria, will receive an additional 50% above the base funding and the FTE for that school shall be multiplied be a weight of 1.5.
  • Charter schools that do not meet the Title 1 or ESE criteria listed above will be funded according to their FTE and, according to statute, “shall be assigned a weight of 1.0.”

Application Process & Governing Board Requirements

  • A charter school application must disclose the name of each applicant, governing board member, and all proposed education services providers; the name and sponsor of any charter school operated by each applicant, each governing board member and each proposed education closure; and the academic and financial history of such charter schools, which the sponsor shall consider in deciding whether to approve or deny the application.
  • Upon contract approval, charter schools must provide their sponsor with monthly financial statements.
  • A school district may not charge for an application unless it’s a draft application for review.
  • A sponsor may not require governing board members to reside in the school district in which the charter school is located if the charter school complies with the above.
  • Each charter school’s governing board must hold at least two public meetings per school year in the school district where the charter school is located.
  • Members of the charter school governing board may attend in person or by means of communications media technology.
  • Each charter school’s governing board must appoint a representative to facilitate parental involvement, provide access to information, assist parents and others with questions and concerns, and resolve disputes. The representative must reside in the school district where the charter school is located and may be a governing board member, a charter school employee, or an individual contracted to represent the governing board. If the governing board oversees multiple charter schools in the same school district, the governing board must appoint a separate representative for each charter school in the district.
  • A charter school may defer the opening of the school’s operation for up to 2 years and must provide written notice of such intent to the sponsor and parents at least 30 calendar days before the first day of school.

Charter School

  • Admission and dismissal of a student may not be based on academic performance.
  • A charter school contract is automatically terminated if the school earns 2 consecutive “F” after all school grades appeals are final.
  • Adds enrollment preference to students who attended or are assigned to failing schools.

Municipal Charter School Enrollment

Provides enrollment preference to a resident or employee of a municipality that operates a charter school or allows a charter school to use a school facility or portion of land provided by the municipality for the operation of the charter school.

Facility

  • HB 7029 adds “site-planning” as part of equitable treatment by local governing authority to charter schools as with regards to similar requirements, restrictions, and processes imposed upon public schools that are not charter schools.
  • An aggrieved party that received injunctive relied may be awarded attorney fees and costs

To read HB7029, click here.

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