Report Title:

Charter Schools; Special Needs Students

 

Description:

Permits establishment of charter schools for any students with mental or physical handicaps. Attendance to be strictly voluntary and subject to approval by DOE.

 

THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

51

TWENTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2001

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 


 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

relating to charter schools.

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. Section 302A-1182, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (c) to read as follows:

"(c) The local school board shall formulate and develop a detailed implementation plan, which shall include but not be limited to the following:

(1) A description of the administrative and educational framework, and which provides for the basic protection of employees and their reasonable academic freedoms;

(2) A plan for identifying, recruiting, and selecting students to make certain that student participation is not exclusive, elitist, or segregationalist; provided that the plan may call for the identification, recruitment, and selection of exceptional students, as defined in chapter 302A-101; provided further that attendance of exceptional students is strictly voluntary and subject to the approval of the department of education;

(3) A plan for a comprehensive assessment and accountability system that meets or exceeds the established state educational content and performance standards as well as any other specific student outcomes to be achieved, and making this plan accountable to the general public;

(4) The curriculum, instructional framework, and assessment mechanisms to be used to achieve student outcomes;

(5) A plan to hold the school, its faculty, and staff (collectively and individually) accountable in at least an equivalent manner as are other public schools throughout the State;

(6) A governance structure of the school;

(7) A facilities management plan that is consistent with the state facilities plan; provided that if the facilities management plan includes use of existing school facilities, the new century charter school shall receive authorization from the administrator responsible for the facilities; provided further that the final determination of use shall be under the discretion of the board; and

(8) A system of financial accountability that includes annual financial and program audits.

The detailed implementation plan shall be approved by sixty per cent of the school's existing administrative, support, and teaching personnel, and parents; provided that the school personnel may request their bargaining unit representative to certify and conduct the elections for their respective bargaining units. Once approved, the detailed implementation plan shall be submitted to the board for review."

SECTION 2. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:

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