2910-S AMH CARL BUTT 76

SHB 2910 ‑ H AMD TO H AMD (H-5246.1) 372 ADOPTED 2-27-96

By Representative Carlson

On page 12, after line 23 of the amendment, insert the following:

"NEW SECTION. Sec. 14. CHARTER SCHOOL DISTRICTS. (1) In addition to the process prescribed in this act for establishing charter schools, a school district board of directors may apply to an educational service district board to receive approval for the school district to be designated a charter school district. Charter school districts are exempt from all state education statutes and rules relating to school districts except as provided in this section and in the charter school district's approved charter.

(2) A school district board of directors that is interested in having its school district be designated a charter school district shall submit a written application to the educational service district in which the school district is located. The application shall include:

(a) A statement of the goals and mission of the school district;

(b) A statement affirming that the school district has met or is prepared to meet the requirements of subsection 3 of this section;

(c) Evidence of community support for being designated a charter school district, and the steps taken to solicit public input on the application;

(d) A description of the academic performance standards that will be expected of students;

(e) A description of the school district's educational program and curriculum, which must be designed to enable each student to achieve the academic performance standards;

(f) A description of the assessment methods that will be used to measure student academic performance, and the corrective actions that will be taken in the event that student performance falls short of such standards;

(g) A listing of state statutes and regulations with which the school district will comply; and

(h) Other information as determined by the superintendent of the educational service district.

(3) A charter school district shall:

(a) Be free from sectarian and religious influence or control in its programs, admission policies, employment practices, and all other operations, in accordance with Article IX, section 4 of the state Constitution;

(b) Comply with state and federal statutes and rules applicable to school districts pertaining to health, safety, civil rights, school board membership and selection, maintenance and operation levy limitations, and employee compensation limitations;

(d) Meet student performance and assessment standards at least as rigorous as those established for students in other public school districts;

(e) Participate in nationally normed standardized achievement tests as required in RCW 28A.230.190, 28A.230.230, and 28A.230.240;

(f) Comply with state and federal laws relating to the education of children with disabilities;

(g) Employ certificated instructional staff in accordance with chapter 28A.410 RCW;

(h) Comply with the employee record check requirements in RCW 28A.400.303;

(i) Be subject to the same financial and audit requirements as other school districts. The superintendent of public instruction, the state auditor, and the legislative budget committee may conduct financial, program, performance, or compliance audits, as authorized by law;

(j) Comply with the annual school performance report requirement in RCW 28A.320.205;

(k) Report at least annually to its sponsor and to parents of children enrolled in the school district on progress toward the student performance standards;

(l) Maintain adequate insurance; and

(m) Comply with the open public meetings act in chapter 42.30 RCW and with public disclosure requirements in chapter 42.17 RCW.

(4) The educational service district board shall approve or deny an application under this section based on a determination that the school district has met the requirements of this section. However, an educational service district shall not approve more than one charter school district. If multiple applications are submitted, the educational service district board of directors shall be given discretion in deciding which application to approve.

(5) The length, renewal, amendment, and revocation of school district charters shall be in accordance with the requirements and criteria in sections 8 and 10 of this act. For purposes of these sections, the educational service district board shall be considered the sponsor.

(6) State funding for charter school districts shall be the same as with other school districts. However, except as required in this section, charter school districts shall not be required to comply with state statutory and regulatory funding requirements and restrictions unless the superintendent of public instruction finds that non-compliance with the requirements and restrictions would likely lead to unacceptable reductions in fiscal and financial accountability."

Renumber remaining sections and correct internal references accordingly.