Bill Summary – FastDemocracy

                                                                23LSO-0246
                               STATE OF WYOMING
                              SENATE FILE NO. SF0050
     Charter school amendments.
     Sponsored by: Joint Education Interim Committee
                                        A BILL
                                          for
 AN    ACT   relating to   charter schools;    authorizing charter
 schools as local education agencies to receive and apply
 for federal and state grants;       modifying charter school
 application requirements; modifying charter school funding;
 modifying reporting requirements;           making conforming
 amendments;      repealing provisions;       and providing for an
 effective date.
 8
 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Wyoming:
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        Section 1.       W.S. 21-3-315 is created to read:
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        21-3-315.    Authority to       act as    a local education
 agency.
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                        STATE OF WYOMING                  23LSO-0246
        (a)    Any charter school authorized to               operate under
 this article may act as a local education agency to apply
 for, receive or administer a grant through a grant program
 created by a federal or state statute or program.
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        (b)    For charter schools electing to    operate as    a
 local education agency as authorized under subsection (a)
 of this section:
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               (i)    The department of education shall treat the
 charter school as a local education agency and allow it to
 apply for all federal and state grant moneys for which it
 may be eligible;
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               (ii)       The charter school shall be responsible for
 identifying, evaluating and offering programs and services
 for students with disabilities,   as identified under the
 federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act,    20
 U.S.C. § 1400 et. seq., enrolled in the charter school.
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        Section      2.    W.S.   21-3-307(a)(xix)     and    (d),    21-3-312
 and 21-3-314(c)(i)(intro), by creating a new paragraph (iv)
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                        STATE OF WYOMING                     23LSO-0246
 and (f) by creating a new paragraph (iv) are amended to
 read:
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         21-3-307.      Charter application;         contents;    phased-in
 application process.
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         (a)    The charter school application shall be on a form
 prescribed by     the state superintendent pursuant to
 subsection (d) of this section, and shall include:
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                (xix)   An A proposed agreement or summary of a
 proposed agreement between the parties authorizer and the
 charter school governing board and,    if applicable,     the
 district regarding their respective legal liability and
 applicable insurance coverage;
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        (d)     The state superintendent shall through rule and
 regulation prescribe a uniform charter school application
 and renewal application form to be used by each authorizer
 and charter school applicant for purposes of this article,
 and shall establish charter school application review
 procedures, including timelines for application components
 specified under subsection (a) of this section. The phased
                                           3                SF0050
                       STATE OF WYOMING                             23LSO-0246
 application process prescribed by state superintendent rule
 and regulation may provide        a process for mediation of
 disputes concerning completeness of an application between
 the applicant and authorizer, which would be subject to
 W.S. 1-43-101 through 1-43-104, would allow either party to
 initiate mediation and would impose costs of    mediation
 equally upon both parties.            Any mediation process
 prescribed by rule shall specify professional requirements
 for the impartial third party facilitating mediation. If
 either party refuses to   mediate,         the dispute may be
 appealed to the state board. as provided in W.S. 21-3-310.
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        21-3-312.     Charter schools to report to state board.
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 Each authorizer granting         a charter school operating in
 Wyoming pursuant to this article shall annually report to
 the state board on each charter school operating under its
 authorization and compliance with the provisions the
 progress of the charter school in advancing the purposes
 specified in W.S. 21-3-301. The report required under this
 section shall include the charter school's mission, model,
 curriculum,        student learning results and any waivers
 granted from school district requirements or     state
                                             4                 SF0050
                           STATE OF WYOMING                               23LSO-0246
 statutory requirements or    rules under     W.S.       21-3-304(g),
 together with the impact of those waivers.
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        21-3-314.      Students counted among district ADM;
 determination of charter school funding.
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        (c)    As part of    the charter school contract,          the
 charter school and the school district shall agree on
 funding and any services to    be provided by    the school
 district to the charter school. The charter school and the
 school district shall begin discussions on    the contract
 using the following revenue assumptions:
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               (i)     The charter school shall be entitled to the
 benefit of one hundred percent (100%) of the foundation
 program amount computed under W.S. 21-13-309(m) based upon
 the average daily membership of the charter school, less
 any district level amounts generated by        the charter
 school's membership under        W.S.     21-13-309(m)         and less
 amounts specified under          W.S.        21-13-309(m)(v)(E)
 21-13-309(m)(v)(E)(III) through (V).
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                                                  5                SF0050
                        STATE OF WYOMING                           23LSO-0246
               (iv)     The charter school shall be entitled to one
 hundred percent    (100%)       of the amount expended by     the
 charter school that is    eligible for reimbursement under
 W.S.    21-13-320       and    21-13-321          as computed under     W.S.
 21-13-309(m).
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        (f)    If a charter school or full-time virtual charter
 school authorized by the state loan and investment board
 and the school district where the charter school is located
 do not agree on funding pursuant to subsections (a) through
 (e) of this section then, notwithstanding subsection (c) of
 this section or any other provision of law, funding for the
 charter school shall be    calculated as    provided in   this
 subsection. Nothing in this subsection shall be deemed to
 prohibit      a charter school and the school district from
 negotiating an   agreement for charter school students to
 receive services from the district. Funding for the charter
 school shall be calculated as follows:
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               (iv)     The charter school or    full-time virtual
 charter school shall be entitled to one hundred percent
 (100%) of the amount expended by the charter school that is
                                            6                     SF0050
                       STATE OF WYOMING                          23LSO-0246
 eligible for reimbursement under     W.S.     21-13-320      and
 21-13-321 as computed under W.S. 21-13-309(m).
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        Section     3.     W.S.    21-3-314(a)(i)(C)            and    (iii)    and
 (c)(iii) is repealed.
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        Section     4.    This act is   effective immediately upon
 completion of all acts necessary for a bill to become law
 as provided by     Article      4,    Section    8     of the Wyoming
 Constitution.
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                                        (END)
                                            7                SF0050
Statutes affected: 
Introduced: 21-3-307, 21-3-312, 21-3-314