This bill aims to enhance public school enrollment processes, authorize charter schools, establish an after-school literacy grant program, and provide lump sum payments to certain teachers as retention and recruitment incentives. Key amendments include the entitlement of school-age children to attend public school without tuition, with provisions for application to schools outside their resident district, subject to capacity and lottery policies. The bill also mandates the Department of Education to adopt regulations for accepting students throughout the year, reporting enrollment data, and establishing an appeals process for denied applications. Additionally, it introduces a new section for the establishment of charter schools, requiring the state Board of Education to issue decisions on applications within 45 days.

Furthermore, the bill establishes an after-school literacy grant program to support literacy tutoring services for students outside regular instructional hours, with a total grant cap of $10 million per fiscal year. It outlines the application process for school districts and the reporting requirements for grant recipients. Additionally, the bill provides for lump sum payments to full-time teachers in various school districts as incentives for retention and recruitment, with specific amounts based on the district's classification. Teachers must apply for these payments, which are considered compensation for retirement purposes. The Department of Education is also empowered to adopt necessary regulations to implement these provisions.

Statutes affected:
HB1001A, AM HB 1001, introduced 08/02/2025: 14.03.080, 14.14.110, 14.14.120, 14.17.600, 14.03.300, 14.03.255, 14.03.290, 14.07.020, 14.03.125, 47.12.990, 14.07.165, 14.33.120, 14.07.030, 14.03.123, 14.30.765, 14.30.770, 14.03.410, 14.03.420, 14.30.760, 14.30.800, 14.14.116, 14.07.170, 14.03.250, 14.03.253