The bill amends existing laws regarding charter schools in Louisiana, specifically focusing on the duration and renewal processes of charters. It changes the initial validity period of an approved school charter from four years to five years and establishes that charters may be renewed for periods ranging from three to ten years, contingent upon a thorough review of the school's operations and compliance. The chartering authority is required to notify the chartering group of renewal decisions by January 31 of the year the charter is set to expire, and any non-renewal must include a written explanation. Additionally, the bill introduces criteria for charter renewal that includes academic performance and distinguishes between different types of charter schools.

Furthermore, the bill provides an alternative to revocation of a charter by allowing the chartering authority to reconstitute the governing body of the charter holder under certain conditions, such as material violations of law or failure to meet accountability standards. It also allows for the extension of a charter contract term in cases where a school does not receive a performance score or faces extraordinary circumstances. Lastly, charter operators who achieve a letter grade of "A" or "B" are eligible to open two additional schools without a formal application, provided they notify the chartering authority in advance.

Statutes affected:
SB316 Original: 17:3992(A)(1), 17:3998(B)
SB316 Engrossed: 17:3992(A)(1), 17:3998(B)
SB316 Reengrossed: 17:3992(A)(1), 17:3998(B)
SB316 Enrolled: 17:3992(A)(1), 17:3998(B)
SB316 Act : 17:3992(A)(1), 17:3998(B)