This bill revises the laws governing charter schools in Iowa, primarily by eliminating references to innovation zone schools, thereby designating charter schools as the sole type of school under specific educational provisions. It mandates that the state board of education will be the exclusive authorizer of charter schools, outlining its responsibilities for monitoring performance and compliance. The bill also modifies the application process, allowing charter school applications to be submitted at the discretion of the school board rather than by a fixed deadline, and extends the contract term for approved charter schools from four to five years.

Additionally, the bill introduces new requirements for charter schools, including the incorporation of a performance framework into their contracts, which will be used for evaluations by the state board. It ensures that charter schools comply with federal and state laws regarding health, safety, and educational standards, while also allowing students in charter schools to participate in extracurricular activities at public schools. The overall aim of the bill is to streamline the governance and oversight of charter schools, enhance accountability, and integrate them more effectively into the broader educational system in Iowa.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 29E.1, 232E.1, 256.7, 139A.8, 256E.1, 256E.2, 256E.4, 256E.5, 256E.6, 256E.7, 256E.8, 257.6, 256E.10, 256E.11, 256E.12, 256F.1, 256F.2, 256F.4, 256E.9, 256F.5, 256.145, 282.18, 280.36, 282.9, 257.9, 273.2, 273.1, 280.13A, 299A.1