HB 356

Abstract

Public schools; regional charter school divisions. Authorizes the Board of Education (the Board) to establish regional charter school divisions consisting of at least two but not more than three existing school divisions in any case in which (i) each such local school division is in close proximity and has an enrollment of more than 3,000 students and (ii) at least two such local school divisions have grades three through eight math and English reading Standards of Learning assessment performance in the bottom quartile of the Commonwealth. The bill requires such regional charter school divisions to be supervised by a school board that consists of eight members appointed by the Board and one member appointed by the localities of each of the underlying divisions. The bill authorizes the school board, after a review by the Board, to review and approve public charter school applications in the regional charter school divisions and to contract with the applicant. The bill requires that the state share of Standards of Quality per pupil funding of the underlying school district in which the student resides be transferred to such school.

Public schools; regional charter school divisions.Authorizes the Board of Education (the Board) to establish regionalcharter school divisions consisting of at least two but not more than three existing school divisions in regions in which each underlyingschool division has (i) an enrollment of more than 3,000 studentsand (ii) one or more schools that have accreditation denied statusfor two out of the past three years. The bill requires such regionalcharter school divisions to be supervised by a school board thatconsists of eight members appointed by the Board and one member appointedby the localities of each of the underlying divisions. The bill authorizesthe school board, after a review by the Board, to review and approve public charter school applications in the regional charter schooldivisions and to contract with the applicant. The bill requires thatthe state share of Standards of Quality per pupil funding of theunderlying school district in which the student resides be transferredto such school.