(a)An approved charter application shall serve as the
basis for a contract between the charter school and the
authorizer. Within seventy-five (75) days of the final approval
of a charter application, the governing board and the authorizer
shall execute the charter contract. The charter contract shall:
(i)Be a written instrument which is a separate
document from the charter application and shall be the final
authorizing document for the charter school;
(ii)Be executed by an authorizer and a charter
school, with a copy submitted to the state superintendent of
public instruction within five (5) days after the signature of
both parties;
(iii)Confer certain rights, privileges and
obligations on the charter school pursuant to this article;
(iv)Confirm the status of the charter school as a
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(a) An approved charter application shall serve as the
basis for a contract between the charter school and the
authorizer. Within seventy-five (75) days of the final approval
of a charter application, the governing board and the authorizer
shall execute the charter contract. The charter contract shall:
(i) Be a written instrument which is a separate
document from the charter application and shall be the final
authorizing document for the charter school;
(ii) Be executed by an authorizer and a charter
school, with a copy submitted to the state superintendent of
public instruction within five (5) days after the signature of
both parties;
(iii) Confer certain rights, privileges and
obligations on the charter school pursuant to this article;
(iv) Confirm the status of the charter school as a
public school;
(v) Be granted for five (5) years;
(vi) Provide for a review by the authorizer of the
charter school's performance, including the progress of the
charter school in achieving the academic goals set forth in the
charter, at least one (1) time in the first year of operation
and one (1) time in each five (5) year period that the charter
is in effect thereafter;
(vii) Provide for renewal of the charter if the
authorizer and the charter school agree to renew the charter
pursuant to a renewal application. The renewal application shall
meet the requirements of subsection (b) of this section;
(viii) Specify the grounds for the authorizer to:
(A) Revoke the charter before the term for which
the charter is granted;
(B) Not renew a charter.
(ix) Set forth the methods by which the charter
school will be held accountable for achieving the educational
mission and goals of the charter school, including the
following:
(A) Evidence of adequate performance or
improvement in:
(I) Assessment measures, including the
statewide assessment system measures;
(II) Attendance rates;
(III) Graduation rates, if applicable;
(IV) Statewide education accountability
system measures;
(V) Financial performance and stability;
and
(VI) Governing board performance and
stewardship, including compliance with applicable laws, rules
and regulations, and charter terms.
(B) Evidence of progress toward reaching the
educational goals set by the charter school.
(x) Describe the method to be used to monitor the
charter school's:
(A) Compliance with applicable law; and
(B) Progress in meeting targeted educational
performance.
(xi) Specify that the authorizer and the charter
school may amend the charter during the term of the charter by
mutual consent and describe the process for amending the
charter;
(xii) Describe specific operating requirements,
including all the matters set forth in the application for the
charter;
(xiii) Specify dates for the charter school to:
(A) Begin school operations; and
(B) Have students attending the charter school.
(xiv) Specify that records of a charter school
relating to the school's operation and the school's charter are
subject to inspection and copying to the same extent that
records of a public school are subject to inspection and
copying;
(xv) Specify that records provided by the charter
school to the department or authorizer that relate to compliance
by the charter school with the terms of the charter or
applicable state or federal laws are subject to inspection and
copying;
(xvi) Require a charter school to set annual
performance targets in conjunction with the charter school's
authorizer. The annual performance targets shall be designed to
help each school meet applicable federal, state and authorizer
requirements;
(xvii) Specify closure protocols to ensure students
receive educational services without interruption to the
greatest extent reasonably possible in the event the charter
school closes for any reason.
(b) The contract between the charter school and the
authorizer may be renewed pursuant to a renewal application. The
renewal application shall:
(i) Include any guidance provided by the authorizer
specifying performance criteria that will guide the authorizer's
renewal decisions;
(ii) At a minimum, provide an opportunity for the
charter school to:
(A) Present evidence, beyond the data contained
in the performance report, supporting charter renewal;
(B) Describe improvements undertaken or planned
for the charter school; and
(C) Detail the charter school's plans for the
next charter term.
(iii) Be submitted by the governing board of a
charter school seeking renewal not later than December 31 of the
year preceding the start of the school year that the charter
expires, under the renewal application guidance issued by the
authorizer.
(c) Repealed by Laws 2021, ch. 169, § 4.
(d) Repealed by Laws 2021, ch. 169, § 4.
(e) Repealed by Laws 2021, ch. 169, § 4.
(f) The authorizer shall make a final decision on the
renewal application not later than thirty (30) days after the
filing of the renewal application under this subsection.
(g) Repealed by Laws 2023, ch. 179, § 3.