Source: https://www.basd.net/Page/14467
Timestamp: 2019-12-06 09:08:50
Document Index: 508691292

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 17', '§ 17', '§ 349', '§ 3', '§ 11', '§ 13', '§ 13', '§ 13', '§ 13', '§ 15', '§ 17', '§ 17', '§ 25', '§ 8327', '§ 1101', '§ 67', '§ 701']

School News / Charter School Law
See below for the full Charter School Law, or click here to review Charter School Law uploaded on the state Department of Education website: Charter School Law. You can also review cyber charter school policy, here: Cyber Charter Schools
DATE OF ISSUE: May 22, 2019
REPLACES: 24 P.S. § 17-1701-A, Charter Schools, issued October 1, 2004
This Basic Education Circular (BEC) provides a general overview of Pennsylvania’s Charter School Law (CSL), 24 P.S. §§ 17-1701-A – 17-1751-A, and serves as a guide for school districts, charter schools, parents, students, and other interested individuals on the authorization and establishment, operation, oversight, and closure of a charter school. While this BEC includes information applicable to all charter schools, it is geared specifically to brick-and-mortar charter schools authorized by local boards of school directors.
1. Charter Application Process
Additionally, a charter applicant must demonstrate that it has sustainable support from teachers, parents, other community members, and students to be granted a charter; further, a charter applicant must detail strategies for meaningful parent and community involvement. The State Charter Appeal Board (CAB) has defined sustainable support as “support sufficient to sustain and maintain the proposed charter school as an on-goingentity.” Brackbill v. Ron Brown Charter School, 777 A.2d 131 (Pa. Cmwlth. 2001). Sustainable support is measured in the aggregate and not by individual categories. Carbondale Area School District v. Fell Charter School, 829 A.2d 400, (Pa.Cmwlth. 2003).
A charter school must be operated by a non-profit entity governed by a board of trustees, and a charter applicant must provide a clear description of the method of appointment or election of members of the board of trustees. In the event that a for- profit entity plays a role in the establishment of a charter school, a charter applicant must further demonstrate that the charter school’s board of trustees will retain real and substantial authority over the operation of the school, educational decisions, and staff. Carbondale Area School District v. Fell Charter School, 829 A.2d 400 (Pa. Cmwlth. 2003); School District of York v. Lincoln-Edison Charter School, 798 A.2d 295 (Pa. Cmwlth. 2002); Brackbill v. Ron Brown Charter Sch., 777 A.2d 131 (Pa. Cmwlth. 2001); and West Chester Area School District v. Collegium Charter School, 760 A.2d 452 (Pa. Cmwlth. 2000), aff’d 812 A.2d 1172 (Pa. 2002). Whether a board of trustees has real and substantial authority is a factual analysis that must be determined on a case-by- case basis through a thorough review of each application.
2.The State Charter Appeal Board (CAB)
3. Notification of Charter to PDE
4.Terms and Conditions of a Charter
5.Amendments to Charters
6.Charter School Boards of Trustees
Additionally, effective with the 2018-2019 school year and each school year thereafter, each newly appointed trustee of a charter school’s Board of Trustees is required to complete a minimum of four hours of PDE-developed or approved training in the skills and knowledge necessary to serve as a member of the Board of Trustees. This training must be completed within the individual’s first year of service on the Board of Trustees. If applicable, during the fifth year of an individual’s service on a Board of Trustees, and every four years thereafter, the trustee must complete a minimum of two hours of PDE- developed or approved advanced training.
7.Applicability of the School Code and School Laws to Charter Schools
With important exceptions, charter schools are generally exempt from the requirements of the School Code and other laws that apply to school districts. However, sections 1715- A and 1732-A(a) of the CSL explicitly make charter schools subject to specifically enumerated provisions of the School Code and other provisions of law.
8.Oversight
9. Renewal or Closure of Charter Schools
Upon notification that a charter school’s charter has been revoked or nonrenewed or that a charter school has closed, PDE’s Bureau of Special Education will conduct on-site visits to review student files. Additionally, the chartering school district(s) shall conduct on-sitevisits to review student files and obtain copies of student records as necessary to ensure student records are retained and protected. All student records maintained by the charter school must be forwarded to the student’s district of residence. Students attending the charter school shall apply to another school in the student’s district of residence; normal application deadlines will be disregarded under these circumstances.
10.Enrollment and Attendance Issues
11.Discipline Policies and Weapons Possession
13.Extracurricular Activities
The school district of residence may charge the charter school for charter student participation in extracurricular activities, since these costs were part of the per-pupilpayment that is paid to charter schools. This fee is on a cost basis and the school district of residence should neither lose nor make money.
15.Major Grant Programs
Charter schools are, in most instances, eligible to receive state and federal grants administered by PDE. In order to receive any grant, state or federal, a charter school must be party to a Master Agreement, a non-financial, binding agreement, with PDE. Upon notification of a newly executed charter to PDE, PDE’s Division of Charter Schools will work with the charter school to obtain the necessary documentation to initiate a Master Agreement.
16.Charter School Facilities
22 Pa. Code § 349.30 provides for the continuation of reimbursement for buildings closed to use, but leased for public school programs or other purposes, see BEC 22 Pa. Code Section 349.28, Closing of School Buildings for further guidance on the continuation or cessation of subsidy payments to school districts when a school building is closed to classroom use. The lease of a school district building to a charter school would justify continuation of school construction reimbursement, if PDE has approved the lease. Proceeds from the lease must be used by a school district to reduce the reimbursable amortization of the building. Reimbursement by the Commonwealth ceases if a district sells a school building that has been converted to a charter school. Therefore, in developing guidelines for the conversion of a public school to a charter school, a school district needs to consider the financial impact of leasing versus selling a building where a previously approved school construction project is being reimbursed, see BEC 24 P.S. Section 7-707,Sale or Lease of Unused and Unnecessary Lands and Buildings, for further guidance.
17.Employment and Certification of Charter School Teachers and Administrators
18.Healthcare and Retirement Benefits
19.Special Education
20.Career and Technical Education
24P.S. § 3-328
24P.S. § 11-1123
24P.S. § 13-1306
24P.S. § 13-1308
24P.S. § 13-1317.2
24P.S. § 13-1318
24P.S. § 15-1525
24P.S. § 17-1701-A to § 17-1732-A
24P.S. § 25-2574.3
24P.S. § 8327(b)(2)
65Pa.C.S. §§ 1101-1113
65P.S. §§ 67.101 – 67.3104
65Pa.C.S. §§ 701-716
333Market Street | Harrisburg, PA 17126-0333Phone: 717.787.9744 RA-charterschools@pa.gov | www.education.pa.gov