ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Fifty-fifth Legislature

Second Regular Session

House: ED DP 10-0-0-1 | 3rd Read 59-0-1-0

Senate: ED DPA 7-0-1-0 | 3rd Read 27-0-3-0

HB 2177: charter schools; fingerprinting; renewal; revocation

Sponsor: Representative Udall, LD 25

Senate Engrossed

Overview

Alters the procedures a sponsor must follow before adopting a determination of intent to revoke a charter and requires additional charter-related individuals to obtain a valid fingerprint clearance card.

History

Currently, a sponsor must provide written notice to a charter school operator of the sponsor's intent to revoke the charter at least 60 days prior to the effective date of the proposed revocation. This notice must be delivered personally to the charter school operator or sent by certified mail and must include a statement of reasons for the proposed revocation of the charter. Statute mandates that the charter school be given at least 60 days to correct the problems associated with the reasons for the proposed revocation of the charter. A public hearing must be called for the final determination of whether to revoke the charter.

To apply for early renewal, a charter school operator must submit a letter of intent to the sponsor at least nine months before the charter school's intended renewal consideration. The sponsor is required to review fiscal audits and academic performance data for the charter school, as well as review the current contract between the sponsor and the charter school.

Individuals who are engaged in instructional work directly as a teacher or indirectly as a supervisory teacher, speech therapist or principal at a charter school must have a valid fingerprint clearance card (A.R.S. § 15-183). 

Provisions

Determination of Intent to Revoke

1.   Stipulates that before a sponsor adopts a determination of intent to revoke a charter, the charter holder must have at least 30 days to address the problems associated with the reasons for the determination of intent to revoke. (Sec. 1)

2.   States that the sponsor is not required to provide the charter holder with 30 days to correct the problems associated with the reasons for adopting a determination of intent to revoke if the reasons cannot be remedied. (Sec. 1)

3.   Instructs a sponsor, before adopting a determination of intent to revoke a charter, to provide the charter holder written notice that includes the reasons for the charter sponsor's consideration to revoke the charter. (Sec. 1)

4.   Specifies that notice may be provided by electronic means or by United States mail and the effective date of the notice. (Sec. 1)

5.   Mandates the determination of whether to proceed to revocation be made at a public meeting. (Sec. 1)

 

Miscellaneous

6.   ☐ Prop 105 (45 votes) ☐ Prop 108 (40 votes) ☐ Emergency (40 votes) ☐ Fiscal NoteAdds all charter representatives, charter school governing body members and officers, directors, members and partners of a charter holder to those who must have a valid fingerprint clearance card. (Sec. 1)

7.   Eliminates the ability for a charter operator to apply for early renewal. (Sec. 1)

8.   Makes technical and conforming changes. (Sec. 1)

Senate Amendments

1.   Reinstates the ability for a charter operator to apply for early renewal.

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5.                     HB 2177

6.   Initials CH Page 0 Senate Engrossed

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