SB 501, Thompson – 5
Repeals the charter school commission language. Creates a charter school advisory commission. Charter school applicants would apply to local boards of education and the advisory commission. The advisory commission would provide assistance to the local school board and the charter applicant to resolve issues that might be impediments to charter approval. The local board votes to either approve or not. If the charter is denied, then the state board of education may consider withholding of state funds to the school system. Bill is heralded as being an alternative to a constitutional amendment to respond to the Supreme Court decision of May 2011 that made commission charter schools unconstitutional. All charters approved would be local. The threat of state fund withholding to local systems is an incentive to those local boards which refuse to consider any application of a charter. Denial of a charter for good reasons would not result in a financial penalty. PTA thinks this could be a viable alternative to HR 1162. Bill has bipartisan sponsors.