This week the House Education committee will hear both HB 1355 and SB 165 on Monday. HB 1355, by Rep. Fairbanks, relates to waiver of educational laws. Rep. King is the House sponsor of SB 165, Timing Issues for Charter Schools. SB 165 has already cleared the Senate and is now being heard in the House.
Waivers are the technical means by which charter schools operate.
Charter schools are held accountable for results, not the process, when they seek and obtain waiver from state educational laws. Because charter schools have been afforded more flexibility through waivers, they have been viewed as more appealing to some school districts that wish to use waivers for increased flexibility. There are about 15 waivers that are routinely granted to charter schools by the State Board of Education. Those waivers include employment law, recognition the union, textbook selection, school calendar, teacher licensure, Principal licensure, and efficient administration. The provisions of HB 1355 would simplify the process used by school districts to request waivers.