2910‑S AMH      BUTT 77

SHB 2910 ‑ H AMDS TO H AMD (H-5246.1) 373 ADOPTED 2-27-96

By Representatives Quall and Brumsickle

     On page 2, beginning on line 19, after "or the" strike "state board for charter schools" and insert "superintendent of public instruction"

     On page 2, line 25, after "by the" strike  "state board for charter schools" and insert "superintendent of public instruction"

     On page 7, line 4, after "DISTRICTS--" strike "STATE BOARD FOR CHARTER SCHOOLS" and insert "SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION"

     On page 7, after line 19, strike all material through "schools." on line 31 and insert:

      "(2) If a charter application is rejected by a school district board of directors, it may be submitted by the applicant to the superintendent of public instruction for sponsorship after December 31, 1998. The superintendent of public instruction shall review the application and, within sixty days of receipt of the application, shall approve the application if it meets the requirements of this chapter. Upon approval of the charter application, the superintendent of public instruction shall appoint the members of the charter school's governing council, pursuant to the provisions of the charter application. A school district board of directors has no legal authority over or responsibility for a charter school sponsored by the superintendent of public instruction."

     On page 8, beginning on line 1, after "Sec. 9."  strike all material through "board."  on page 9, line 11 and insert the following:

     "SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION -- DUTIES. (1) The superintendent of public instruction shall:

     (a) Grant charter approval to qualified applicants for charter schools pursuant to section 7 of this act;

     (b) Disseminate information about procedures for the establishment, funding and operation of charter schools, in conformance with this chapter;

     (c) Provide technical assistance to charter school applicants in the preparation of applications, and to charter school governing boards in matters related to the educational program, management and financial operation of the charter school;

     (d) Monitor the performance and operation of charter schools; and

     (e) Annually report to the education and fiscal committees of the legislature the number of charter school applications received by school districts and by the superintendent of public instruction, the number approved by each, and such other information concerning charter schools as it deems appropriate.

     (2) Each school district board shall notify the superintendent of public instruction when it: receives a charter school application; approves or rejects a charter school application;  and renews, fails to renew, or revokes a charter, acting in conformance with this chapter."

     On page 11, beginning on line 28, after "FUNDING" strike all material through "1996." on line 35 and insert "SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION-SPONSORED CHARTER SCHOOLS.  The fiscal committees of the house of representatives and the senate shall jointly study alternative means of providing public funding for charter schools sponsored after December 31, 1998, by the superintendent of public instruction, with concern for sufficiency of financial support and equity in relation to other public schools. The committees shall report their findings and recommendations to the legislature before December 1, 1997."

EFFECT:  Eliminates the State Board for Charter Schools.  Appeals from local school board decisions may be made to the SPI after 12/31/98.  SPI also to provide technical assistance to charter schools and provide information to the Legislature on the status of charter schools.  The responsibility for conducting the study on the funding of SPI-sponsored schools changed from the Legislative Fiscal Study Committee on K-12 Finance to the Legislative fiscal committees.