(a) If a governing council of a state or local charter school plans to make a material change in the school's operations, such governing council of such charter school shall submit, in writing, a request to amend the school's charter to the State Board of Education. For purposes of this section, “material change” means a change that fundamentally alters a charter school's mission, organizational structure or educational program, including, but not limited to, (1) altering the educational model in a fundamental way, (2) opening an additional school building, (3) contracting for or discontinuing a contract for whole school management services with a charter management organization, (4) renaming the charter school, (5) changing the grade configurations of the charter school, or (6) increasing or decreasing the total student enrollment capacity of the charter school by twenty per cent or more.
(b) In determining whether to grant a request by a state or local charter school to amend its charter to make a material change in the school's operations, the Department of Education shall review the written request of the charter school, and solicit and review comments on such request from the local or regional board of education of the town in which such charter school is located. Upon a recommendation by the department to approve such request, the State Board of Education shall vote on such request not later than sixty days after the date of receipt of such request or as part of the charter renewal process for such charter school. The state board may approve such request by a majority vote of the members of the state board present and voting at a regular or special meeting of the state board called for such purpose, or for the purpose of considering whether to renew the charter of the charter school, pursuant to subsection (g) of section 10-66bb.
(c) If the material change requested by a state or local charter school is to increase the total student enrollment capacity of the charter school by twenty per cent or more, such charter school shall submit the request for such material change to the department not later than April first of the fiscal year two years prior to the fiscal year in which such material change would take effect. In determining whether to recommend approval of such request, the department shall consider (1) the financial feasibility of such increased enrollment, (2) such charter school's performance, stewardship, governance and management, student population and legal compliance, and (3) any other factors the department deems relevant to such request.
(P.A. 15-239, S. 9; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 21-2, S. 353.)
History: P.A. 15-239 effective July 1, 2015; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 21-2 amended Subsec. (b) by adding “to make a material change in the school's operations”, replacing “State Board of Education” with “Department of Education”, deleting Subdiv. designators (1) to (3), adding “Upon a recommendation by the department to approve such request, the State Board of Education shall”, replacing “the material change” with “such request”, and making technical and conforming changes, and added Subsec. (c) re material change requested to increase student enrollment capacity by 20 per cent or more, effective July 1, 2021.
Structure Connecticut General Statutes
Title 10 - Education and Culture
Chapter 164 - Educational Opportunities
Section 10-15c. - Discrimination in public schools prohibited. School attendance by five-year-olds.
Section 10-15j. - Connecticut Remote Learning Commission.
Section 10-15l. - Comprehensive audit re provision of remote learning during COVID-19 pandemic.
Section 10-15m. - Purple Star School Program.
Section 10-16. - Length of school year.
Section 10-16o. - Development of network of school readiness programs.
Section 10-16r. - Local school readiness councils; duties. Regional school readiness councils.
Section 10-16uu. - Black and Latino studies course to be offered in grades nine to twelve.
Section 10-16vv. - Native American studies instruction.
Section 10-19o. (Formerly Sec. 17a-40a). - Youth service bureau grant program.
Section 10-21j. - Connecticut Apprenticeship and Education Committee.
Section 10-25b. - Model curriculum for grades kindergarten to eight.
Section 10-66ss. - Amendment to charter.
Section 10-71. - State grants for adult education programs.
Section 10-76g. - State aid for special education.
Section 10-76q. - Special education at technical education and career schools.
Section 10-91g. - Audits of private providers of special education services.