Opinion ID: 1598612
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: charter school termination procedures

Text: Central to our decision in this case are the special termination procedures for charter school charters, including when a charter is not renewed or is to be terminated under nonemergency circumstances, as well as procedures for immediate termination of charters for good cause or where the health, safety or welfare of the students is threatened. These two types of terminations are treated in different subsections of 1002.33(8). Section 1002.33(8)(c), Florida Statutes (2005), pertains to all terminations other than those requiring immediate action and provides: (c) At least 90 days prior to renewing or terminating a charter, the sponsor shall notify the governing body of the school of the proposed action in writing. The notice shall state in reasonable detail the ground for the proposed action and stipulate that the school's governing body may, within 14 calendar days after receiving the notice, request an informal hearing before the sponsor. The sponsor shall conduct the informal hearing within 30 calendar days after receiving a written request. The charter school's governing body may, within 14 calendar days after receiving the sponsor's decision to terminate or refuse to renew the charter, appeal the decision pursuant to the procedure established in subsection (6). Section 1002.33(8)(d), Florida Statutes (2005), governing immediate terminations of charters, which was in effect when the School Board terminated Survivors' charters, provides: (d) A charter may be terminated immediately if the sponsor determines that good cause has been shown or if the health, safety, or welfare of the students is threatened. The school district in which the charter school is located shall assume operation of the school under these circumstances. The charter schools governing board may, within 14 days after receiving the sponsors decision to terminate the charter, appeal the decision pursuant to the procedure established in subsection (6). § 1002.33(8)(d), Fla. Stat. (2005). [10] Both termination provisions make reference to an appeal pursuant to subsection (6) of section 1002.33. Section 1002.33(6)(c) provides that an appeal of the determination of a charter school sponsor, such as the School Board, may be taken to the State Board of Education. See § 1002.33(6)(c), Fla. Stat. (2005). Under the statute, when an appeal is filed, the State Board of Education must convene a meeting of the Charter School Appeal Commission (CSAC), which will study and make a recommendation to the State Board of Education regarding its decision about the pending appeal. § 1002.33(6)(c), Fla. Stat. (2005). The stated purpose of the CSAC is to assist the commissioner and the State Board of Education with a fair and impartial review of appeals by applicants whose charter applications have been denied, [or] whose charter contracts have not been renewed or have been terminated by their sponsors. § 1002.33(6)(e)(1), Fla. Stat. (2005). The CSAC members shall thoroughly review the materials presented to them from the appellant and the sponsor and may request information to clarify the documentation presented to it. § 1002.33(6)(e)5, Fla. Stat. (2005). The CSAC must provide its recommendation to the State Board of Education and must include a fact-based justification for the recommendation. Id. The statute expressly provides that [t]he decision of the Charter School Appeal Commission is not subject to the provisions of the Administrative Procedure Act. § 1002.33(6)(e)2, Fla. Stat. (2005). Once the recommendation of the CSAC is provided to the State Board of Education, the Board must either accept or reject the decision of the district school board no later than ninety days after the appeal is filed. The district school board is mandated to implement the decision of the State Board of Education. § 1002.33(6)(c), Fla. Stat. (2005). While [t]he decision of the State Board of Education is not subject to the provisions of the Administrative Procedure Act, § 1002.33(6)(c), Fla. Stat. (2005), it is final action subject to judicial review. § 1002.33(6)(d), Fla. Stat. (2005). Because the resolution of this case requires us to determine whether the Legislature intended that the chapter 120 APA procedures apply to immediate termination decisions of the charter school sponsor, we proceed to a brief examination of the APA.