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23LSO-0246
2023
STATE OF WYOMING
23LSO-0246
Introduced
2.0
SENATE FILE NO. SF0050
Charter school amendments.
Sponsored by: Joint Education Interim Committee
A BILL
for
AN ACT relating to charter schools; authorizing charter schools as local education agencies to receive and apply for federal and state grants; modifying charter school application requirements; modifying charter school funding; modifying reporting requirements; making conforming amendments; repealing provisions; and providing for an effective date.
Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Wyoming:
Section 1.
W.S. 21
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3
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315 is created to read:
21
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3
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315.
Authority to act as a local education agency.
(a)
Any charter school authorized to operate under this article may act as a local education agency to apply for, receive or administer a grant through a grant program created by a federal or state statute or program.
(b)
For charter schools electing to operate as a local education agency as authorized under subsection (a) of this section:
(i)
The department of education shall treat the charter school as a local education agency and allow it to apply for all federal and state grant moneys for which it may be eligible;
(ii)
The charter school shall be responsible for identifying, evaluating and offering programs and services for students with disabilities, as identified under the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, 20 U.S.C. § 1400 et. seq., enrolled in the charter school.
Section 2
.
W.S. 21
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3
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307(a)(xix) and (d), 21
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3
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312 and 21
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3
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314(c)(i)(intro), by creating a new paragraph (iv) and (f) by creating a new paragraph (iv) are amended to read:
21
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3
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307.
Charter application; contents; phased
‑
in application process.
(a)
The charter school application shall be on a form prescribed by the state superintendent pursuant to subsection (d) of this section, and shall include:
(xix)
An
A proposed agreement or summary of a proposed
agreement between the
parties
authorizer and the charter school governing board and, if applicable, the district
regarding their respective legal liability and applicable insurance coverage;
(d)
The state superintendent shall through rule and regulation prescribe a uniform charter school application and renewal application form to be used by each authorizer and charter school applicant for purposes of this article, and shall establish charter school application review procedures, including timelines for application components specified under subsection (a) of this section. The phased application process prescribed by state superintendent rule and regulation may provide a process for mediation of disputes concerning completeness of an application between the applicant and authorizer, which would be subject to W.S. 1
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43
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101 through 1
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43
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104, would allow either party to initiate mediation and would impose costs of mediation equally upon both parties.
Any mediation process prescribed by rule shall specify professional requirements for the impartial third party facilitating mediation. If either party refuses to mediate, the dispute may be appealed to the state board
.
as provided in W.S. 21
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3
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310.
21
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3
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312.
Charter schools to report to state board.
Each
authorizer granting a
charter
school operating in Wyoming
pursuant to this article shall annually report to the state board on
each charter school operating under its authorization and compliance with the provisions
the progress
of the charter
school in advancing the purposes specified in W.S. 21
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3
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301
.
The report required under this section shall include the charter school's mission, model, curriculum, student learning results and any waivers granted from school district requirements or state statutory requirements or rules under W.S. 21
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3
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304(g), together with the impact of those waivers.
21
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3
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314.
Students counted among district ADM; determination of charter school funding.
(c)
As part of the charter school contract, the charter school and the school district shall agree on funding and any services to be provided by the school district to the charter school. The charter school and the school district shall begin discussions on the contract using the following revenue assumptions:
(i)
The charter school shall be entitled to the benefit of one hundred percent (100%) of the foundation program amount computed under W.S. 21
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13
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309(m) based upon the average daily membership of the charter school, less any district level amounts generated by the charter school's membership under W.S. 21
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13
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309(m) and less amounts specified under W.S.
21
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13
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309(m)(v)(E)
21
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13
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309(m)(v)(E)(III) through (V)
.
(iv)
The charter school shall be entitled to one hundred percent (100%) of the amount expended by the charter school that is eligible for reimbursement under W.S. 21
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13
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320 and 21
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13
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321 as computed under W.S. 21
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13
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309(m).
(f)
If a charter school or full
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time virtual charter school authorized by the state loan and investment board and the school district where the charter school is located do not agree on funding pursuant to subsections (a) through (e) of this section then, notwithstanding subsection (c) of this section or any other provision of law
,
funding for the charter school shall be calculated as provided in this subsection. Nothing in this subsection shall be deemed to prohibit a charter school and the school district from negotiating an agreement for charter school students to receive services from the district. Funding for the charter school shall be calculated as follows:
(iv)
The charter school or full
‑
time virtual charter school shall be entitled to one hundred percent (100%) of the amount expended by the charter school that is eligible for reimbursement under W.S. 21
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13
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320 and 21
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13
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321 as computed under W.S. 21
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13
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309(m).
Section 3.
W.S. 21
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3
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314(a)(i)(C) and (iii) and (c)(iii) is repealed.
Section 4
.
This act is effective immediately upon completion of all acts necessary for a bill to become law as provided by Article 4, Section 8 of the Wyoming Constitution.
(END)
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SF0050