§ 53A-1a-504. Charter school application -- Applicants -- Contents -- Expansion. (Effective 5/13/2014)

(1)

(a) An application to establish a charter school may be submitted by:

(i) an individual;

(ii) a group of individuals; or

(iii) a nonprofit legal entity organized under Utah law.

(b) An authorized charter school may apply under this chapter for a charter from another charter school authorizer.

(2) A charter school application shall include:

(a) the purpose and mission of the school;

(b) except for a charter school authorized by a local school board, a statement that, after entering into a charter agreement, the charter school will be organized and managed under Title 16, Chapter 6a, Utah Revised Nonprofit Corporation Act;

(c) a description of the governance structure of the school, including:

(i) a list of the governing board members that describes the qualifications of each member; and

(ii) an assurance that the applicant shall, within 30 days of authorization, provide the authorizer with the results of a background check for each member;

(d) a description of the target population of the school that includes:

(i) the projected maximum number of students the school proposes to enroll;

(ii) the projected school enrollment for each of the first three years of school operation; and

(iii) the ages or grade levels the school proposes to serve;

(e) academic goals;

(f) qualifications and policies for school employees, including policies that:

(i) require completion of a criminal background check for teachers;

(ii) require employee evaluations; and

(iii) address employment of relatives within the charter school;

(g) a description of how the charter school will provide, as required by state and federal law, special education and related services;

(h) for a public school converting to charter status, arrangements for:

(i) students who choose not to continue attending the charter school; and

(ii) teachers who choose not to continue teaching at the charter school;

(i) a statement that describes the charter school's plan for establishing the charter school's facilities, including:

(i) whether the charter school intends to lease or purchase the charter school's facilities; and

(ii) financing arrangements;

(j) a market analysis of the community the school plans to serve;

(k) a capital facility plan;

(l) a business plan;

(m) other major issues involving the establishment and operation of the charter school; and

(n) the signatures of the governing board members of the charter school.

(3) A charter school authorizer may require a charter school application to include:

(a) the charter school's proposed:

(i) curriculum;

(ii) instructional program; or

(iii) delivery methods;

(b) a method for assessing whether students are reaching academic goals, including, at a minimum, participation in the Utah Performance Assessment System for Students under Chapter 1, Part 6, Achievement Tests;

(c) a proposed calendar;

(d) sample policies;

(e) a description of opportunities for parental involvement;

(f) a description of the school's administrative, supervisory, or other proposed services that may be obtained through service providers; or

(g) other information that demonstrates an applicant's ability to establish and operate a charter school.

(4) In accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act, the State Board of Education shall make rules regarding the expansion of a charter school, including establishing a satellite campus, that provide:

(a) requirements for a charter school to apply and qualify for expansion; and

(b) procedures and deadlines for the application process.

Repealed and Re-enacted by Chapter 363, 2014 General Session