PRINTER'S NO. 3300
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No.
2044
Session of
2015
INTRODUCED BY CRUZ, BULLOCK, MCCLINTON AND SAVAGE, MAY 9, 2016
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, MAY 9, 2016
AN ACT
Amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), entitled "An
act relating to the public school system, including certain
provisions applicable as well to private and parochial
schools; amending, revising, consolidating and changing the
laws relating thereto," in charter schools, further providing
for definitions and providing for Pennsylvania Charter School
Oversight Board.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Section 1703-A of the act of March 10, 1949
(P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, is
amended by adding a definition to read:
Section 1703-A. Definitions.--As used in this article,
* * *
"Oversight Board" shall mean the Pennsylvania Charter School
Oversight Board established under section 1733-A.
* * *
Section 2. The act is amended by adding a section to read:
Section 1733-A. Pennsylvania Charter School Oversight
Board.--(a) The Pennsylvania Charter School Oversight Board is
established. The Oversight Board shall consist of the following
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members:
(1) The chairperson of the Education Committee of the
Senate.
(2) The minority chairperson of the Education Committee of
the Senate.
(3) The chairperson of the Education Committee of the House
of Representatives.
(4) The minority chairperson of the Education Committee of
the House of Representatives.
(5) The secretary or a designee.
(6) A member of the State Board of Education.
(b) The Oversight Board shall elect one of its members to
serve as the chair.
(c) The Oversight Board shall hold meetings at the call of
the chair. A majority of the members of the Oversight Board
shall constitute a quorum. Each member may designate another
person to represent that member at meetings of the Oversight
Board. Meetings shall be conducted under 65 Pa.C.S. Ch. 7
(relating to open meetings). Documents of the Oversight Board
shall be subject to the act of February 14, 2008 (P.L.6, No.3),
known as the "Right-to-Know Law."
(d) Members of the Oversight Board shall receive no
compensation for their services.
(e) The Oversight Board shall have the following powers and
duties:
(1) Review applications submitted to a local board of school
directors for new charter schools located in a city of the first
class.
(2) Review denial of applications submitted to a local board
of school directors for new charter schools located in a city of
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the first class.
(3) Review revocation or renewal by a local board of school
directors of charters located in a city of the first class.
(4) Review applications submitted by the State Charter
Appeal Board for new charter schools located in a city of the
first class.
(5) Review denials made by the State Charter School Appeal
Board for new charter schools located in a city of the first
class.
(6) Authorize charter schools located in a city of the first
class and support charter school quality and accountability
through performance monitoring and technical assistance.
(f) In order to carry out its powers and duties, the
Oversight Board shall:
(1) develop principles and standards or adopt the National
Association of Charter School Authorizers Principles and
Standards; and
(2) develop a method to ensure that charter schools are
sufficiently distributed throughout a school district while also
ensuring that a charter application is not denied solely on the
basis of geographic location.
Section 3. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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