HB59

What it does

• Authorizes the commissioner of education and early development to sign demonstration compacts with participating tribes.
• Requires these compacts to include terms on funding, auditing, liability, insurance, and mandatory participation in teacher or public employee retirement systems.
• Exempts compact schools from most state statutes and regulations that apply to school districts, while requiring them to follow specific laws on attendance, safety, transportation, audits, non-discrimination, student services, health education, and bilingual-bicultural programs.
• Allows the State Board of Education and Early Development to waive certain teacher certification requirements for individuals with specialized knowledge relevant to a tribe upon request from the school.
• Prohibits these schools from engaging in religious practices (sectarian activities), charging tuition, or restricting student enrollment choices available under state law.
• Requires that compact schools be located within the boundary of an existing school district unless they are correspondence schools.
• Mandates a legislative review and reevaluation of this program five years after it begins.