DAR File No. 43392
This rule was published in the December 1, 2018, issue (Vol. 2018, No. 23) of the Utah State Bulletin.
Education, Administration
Rule R277-482
Charter School Timelines and Approval Processes
Notice of Proposed Rule
(Repeal)
DAR File No.: 43392
Filed: 11/15/2018 10:24:55 AM
RULE ANALYSIS
Purpose of the rule or reason for the change:
In the 2018 Legislative Session, the Legislature passed H.B. 313. H.B. 313 (2018) made significant amendments to the process charter school authorizers should follow in approving and providing oversight to charter schools. H.B. 313 (2018) also directed the Utah State Board of Education (Board) to make rules to carry out the legislative changes in relation to the oversight of charter schools and their authorizers.
Summary of the rule or change:
H.B. 313 (2018) directed the Board to make rules to carry out the legislative changes in relation to oversight of charter schools and their authorizers.New Rule R277-552 governs charter school approval processes and timelines, and includes language from R277-482. Therefore, R277-482 is being repealed and new rule R277-552 implemented in it's place per legislative changes. (EDITOR'S NOTE: Rule R277-552 is being adopted in this December 1, 2018, Bulletin as DAR File No. 43394.)
Statutory or constitutional authorization for this rule:
- Section 53G-5-304
- Section 53E-3-401
- Section 53G-5-302
- Section 53G-5-306
- Section 53G-5-305
Anticipated cost or savings to:
the state budget:
This rule repeal is not expected to have any fiscal impact on state budget revenues or expenditures as this rule is being eliminated and moved to a new rule.
local governments:
This rule repeal is not expected to have any fiscal impact on local governments' revenues or expenditures as this rule is being eliminated and moved to a new rule.
small businesses:
This rule repeal is not expected to have any fiscal impact on small businesses' revenues or expenditures as this rule is being eliminated and moved to a new rule.
persons other than small businesses, businesses, or local governmental entities:
This rule repeal is not expected to have any fiscal impact on persons other than small businesses, businesses, or local government entities revenues or expenditures as this rule is being eliminated and moved to a new rule.
Compliance costs for affected persons:
There are no compliance costs for affected persons.
Comments by the department head on the fiscal impact the rule may have on businesses:
There are 1,241 entities with a NAICS code 611110 (Elementary and Secondary Schools) operating in Utah according to a "Firm Find Data" search through Utah's Department of Workforce Services. Most of the entities in the list are schools including public schools, charter schools, and private schools. Of the 1,241 entities, there are 15 private businesses, all of which are small businesses (there are no large businesses with a NAICS code 611110). This rule repeal has no fiscal impact on local education agencies and will not have a fiscal impact on large or small businesses. The Assistant Superintendent of Financial Operations at the Utah State Board of Education, Natalie Grange, has reviewed and approved this fiscal analysis.
Sydnee Dickson, State Superintendent
The full text of this rule may be inspected, during regular business hours, at the Office of Administrative Rules, or at:
EducationAdministration
250 E 500 S
SALT LAKE CITY, UT 84111-3272
Direct questions regarding this rule to:
- Angela Stallings at the above address, by phone at 801-538-7550, by FAX at 801-538-7768, or by Internet E-mail at angie.stallings@schools.utah.gov
Interested persons may present their views on this rule by submitting written comments to the address above no later than 5:00 p.m. on:
01/02/2019
This rule may become effective on:
01/09/2019
Authorized by:
Angela Stallings, Deputy Superintendent of Policy
RULE TEXT
Appendix 1: Regulatory Impact Summary Table*
Fiscal Costs |
FY 2019 |
FY 2020 |
FY 2021 |
State Government |
$0 |
$0 |
$0 |
Local Government |
$0 |
$0 |
$0 |
Small Businesses |
$0 |
$0 |
$0 |
Non-Small Businesses |
$0 |
$0 |
$0 |
Other Person |
$0 |
$0 |
$0 |
Total Fiscal Costs: |
$0 |
$0 |
$0 |
|
|
|
|
Fiscal Benefits |
|
|
|
State Government |
$0 |
$0 |
$0 |
Local Government |
$0 |
$0 |
$0 |
Small Businesses |
$0 |
$0 |
$0 |
Non-Small Businesses |
$0 |
$0 |
$0 |
Other Persons |
$0 |
$0 |
$0 |
Total Fiscal Benefits: |
$0 |
$0 |
$0 |
|
|
|
|
Net Fiscal Benefits: |
$0 |
$0 |
$0 |
*This table only includes fiscal impacts that could be measured. If there are inestimable fiscal impacts, they will not be included in this table. Inestimable impacts for State Government, Local Government, Small Businesses and Other Persons are described in the narrative. Inestimable impacts for Non - Small Businesses are described in Appendix 2.
Appendix 2: Regulatory Impact to Non - Small Businesses
There are 1,241 entities with a NAICS code 611110 (Elementary and Secondary Schools) operating in Utah according to a "Firm Find Data" search through Utah's Department of Workforce Services. Most of the entities in the list are schools including public schools, charter schools, and private schools. Of the 1,241 entities, there are 15 private businesses, all of which are small businesses (there are no large businesses with a NAICS code 611110). This rule repeal has no fiscal impact on local education agencies and will not have a fiscal impact on large or small businesses.
The Assistant Superintendent of Financial Operations at the Utah State Board of Education, Natalie Grange, has reviewed and approved this fiscal analysis.
[R277. Education, Administration.
R277-482. Charter School Timelines and Approval
Processes.
R277-482-1. Authority and Purpose.
(1) This rule is authorized by:
(a) Utah Constitution Article X, Section 3, which vests
general control and supervision over public education in the
Board;
(b) Subsection 53E-3-401(4), which allows the Board to
adopt rules in accordance with its responsibilities;
(c) Subsection 53G-6-504(5), which requires the Board to
make rules regarding a charter school expansion or satellite
campus;
(d) Sections 53G-5-304 through 53G-5-306, which require
the Board to make a rule providing a timeline for the opening of
a charter school;
(e) Section 53F-2-702, which directs the Board to
distribute funds for charter school students directly to the
charter school; and
(f) the Charter School Expansion Act of 1998, 20 U.S.C.
Sec. 8063, which directs the Board to submit specific information
prior to a charter school's receipt of federal
funds.
(2) The purpose of this rule is to establish procedures
for timelines and approval processes for charter
schools.
R277-482-2. Definitions.
(1) "Amendment" means a change or addition to a
charter agreement.
(2) "Authorizer" or "charter school
authorizer" means the following that authorize the
establishment of a charter school:
(a) the State Charter School Board;
(b) a local school board; or
(c) a higher education institution.
(2) "Charter agreement" means the same as that
term is defined in Section 53A-1a-501.3.
(3) "Charter school authorizer" means the same
as that term is defined in Section 53A-1a-501.3
(4) "Charter school governing board" means the
board designated in a charter agreement to make decisions for the
governance and operation of a charter school.
(5) "Expansion" means a proposed increase of
students or adding a grade level in an operating charter school
with the same school number.
(6) "Satellite charter school" means a charter
school affiliated with an operating charter school, which has the
same charter school governing board and a similar program of
instruction, but has a different school number than the
affiliated charter school.
(7) "School number" means a number that
identifies a school within an LEA that:
(a) receives money from the state;
(b) enrolls or prospectively enrolls a full-time
student;
(c) employs an educator as an instructor who provides
instruction consistent with Section R277-502-5;
(d) has one or more assigned administrators;
(e) is accredited consistent with Section R277-410-3;
and
(f) administers a required statewide assessment to a
student.
R277-482-3. State Charter School Board Applicant
Training.
(1) A charter school applicant that is seeking to have a
charter authorized by the State Charter School Board shall
attend:
(a) pre-application training;
(b) planning year training; and
(c) other training sessions designated by the State
Charter School Board.
(2) The State Charter School Board shall schedule
pre-application training sessions multiple times annually that
may be available electronically.
R277-482-4. Charter School Information for Students and
Parents.
(1) A charter school shall have a website that contains
the following information:
(a) the charter school's governance structure,
including the name, qualification, and contact information of all
charter school governing board members;
(b) the number of new students that will be admitted into
the school by grade;
(c) the school calendar, which shall include:
(i) the first and last days of school;
(ii) scheduled holidays;
(iii) scheduled professional development days;
and
(iv) scheduled non-school days;
(d) timelines for acceptance of new students consistent
with Section 53G-6-503;
(e) the requirement and availability of a charter school
student application;
(f) the application timeline to be considered for
enrollment in the charter school;
(g) procedures for transferring to or from a charter
school;
(h) timelines for a transfer;
(i) provisions for payment, if required, of a one-time
fee per secondary school enrollment, not to exceed $5.00,
consistent with Subsection 53G-6-503(9);
(j) the charter school governing board's policies;
and
(k) other items required by:
(i) the charter school's authorizer;
(ii) statute; and
(iii) Board rule.
(2) A new or expanding charter school shall have an
operative and readily accessible website containing the
information described in Subsection (1) at least 180 days before
the proposed opening day of school.
R277-482-5. Timelines - Charter School Starting Date and
Facilities.
(1) A charter school authorizer may:
(a) accept the proposed starting date from a charter
school applicant; or
(b) negotiate and recommend a different starting date to
the Board.
(2) A charter school may receive state funds if the
charter school is approved as a new charter school by October 1,
one fiscal year prior to the state fiscal year the charter school
intends to serve students.
(3) A State Charter School Board authorized school shall
begin construction on a new or existing facility requiring major
renovation, such as requiring a project number consistent with
Rule R277-471, no later than January 1 of the year the charter
school is scheduled to open.
(4) A State Charter School Board authorized charter
school that intends to occupy a facility requiring only minimal
renovation, such as renovation not requiring a project number
according to Rule R277-471, shall enter into a written agreement
no later than May 1 of the calendar year the charter school is
scheduled to open.
(5) A charter school shall comply with Rule R277-419
requirements of 180 days and 990 hours of instruction time,
unless otherwise exempted by the Board under 53G-7-202.
(6) The Board may, following review of information,
approve the recommended starting date or determine a different
charter school starting date after giving consideration to the
charter school authorizer's recommendation.
R277-482-6. Procedures and Timelines to Change Charter
School Authorizers.
(1) A charter school may transfer to another charter
school authorizer.
(2) A charter school shall submit an application to the
new charter school authorizer at least 90 days prior to the
proposed transfer.
(3) The charter school authorizer transfer application
shall include:
(a) current governing board members;
(b) financial records that demonstrate the charter
school's financial position, including the charter
school's:
(i) most recent annual financial report (AFR);
(ii) annual project report (APR); and
(iii) audited financial statement;
(c) test scores, including all state required
assessments;
(d) current employees and assignments;
(e) board minutes for the most recent 12 months;
and
(f) affidavits, signed by all board members
certifying:
(i) the charter school's compliance with all state
and federal laws and regulations;
(ii) all information on the transfer application is
complete and accurate;
(iii) the charter school is current with all charter
school governing board policies;
(iv) the charter school is operating consistent with the
charter school's charter agreement; and
(v) there are no outstanding lawsuits or judgments or
identifying outstanding lawsuits filed or judgments against the
charter school.
(4) A charter school seeking to transfer charter school
authorizers shall submit a position statement from the current
charter school authorizer about the charter school's status,
compliance with the charter school authorizer requirements, and
any unresolved concerns to the proposed new charter school
authorizer.
(5) A new charter school authorizer shall review an
application for transferring a charter school authorizer for
acceptance within 60 days of submission of a complete
application, including all required documentation.
(6) Final approval or denial of changing chartering
entities to the State Charter School Board is final
administrative action by the Board.
R277-482-7. Charter School Expansion Requests.
(1) A charter school authorizer shall maintain the final,
official, and complete charter agreement.
(2) A charter school may request approval for an
expansion if:
(a) the charter school satisfies the requirements of
federal and state law, regulations, rule, and the charter
agreement; and
(b)(i) the charter school's charter agreement
provides for an expansion consistent with the request;
or
(ii) the charter school governing board has submitted a
formal amendment request to the charter school authorizer
consistent with the charter school authorizer's
requirements.
(3) If the charter school authorizer approves a charter
school expansion, the expansion shall be submitted to the Board
for approval before October 1 of the state fiscal year prior to
the school's intended expansion date.
(4) For an expansion approved by an authorizer that is
not the State Charter School Board, the charter school authorizer
that authorizes an expansion of the authorizer's charter
school shall provide the total number of students by grade that
the charter school is authorized to enroll to the State Charter
School Board and to the Superintendent on or before October 1 of
the state fiscal year prior to the charter school's intended
expansion.
(5) When considering whether to approve a charter
school's request for an expansion, an authorizer shall
consider the following:
(a) the amount of time the charter school has operated
successfully meeting the terms of its charter agreement, giving
preference to schools that have been successfully operated for
three years or more;
(b) the academic performance data of students at the
charter school, giving preference to charter schools with
students who are performing on standardized assessments at or
above:
(i) the standard established in the charter school's
charter agreement; and
(Ii) the average academic performance of other district
and charter schools in the area;
(c) the financial position of the charter school, as
evidenced by the charter school's financial records,
including the charter school's:
(i) most recent annual financial report (AFR);
(ii) annual program report (APR); and
(iii) audited financial statement;
(d) whether the charter school has a waiting list for
enrollment;
(e) adequacy of the charter school's
facility;
(f) impact to local government entities, including the
information described in Section 53E-3-710;
(g) any student safety issues; and
(h) ability to meet state and federal reporting
requirements, including whether the charter school has regularly
met Board reporting deadlines.
(6) A charter school requesting an expansion shall
provide the information described in Subsection (5) to the
authorizer and the Board with the charter school's request
for expansion.
R277-482-8. Requests for a New Satellite School for an
Approved Charter School.
(1) A charter school and its satellite are a single LEA
for purposes of public school funding and reporting.
(2) An existing charter school may submit an amendment
request to the charter school's charter authorizer for a
satellite charter school if:
(a) the charter school satisfies requirements of federal
and state law, regulations, and rule;
(b) the charter school has operated successfully for at
least three years meeting the terms of its charter
agreement;
(c) the students at the charter school are performing on
standardized assessments at or above the standard in the charter
agreement;
(d) the proposed satellite charter school will provide
educational services, assessment, and curriculum consistent with
the services, assessment, and curriculum currently being offered
at the existing charter school;
(e) adequate qualified administrators, including at least
one onsite administrator, and staff are available to meet the
needs of the proposed student population at the satellite charter
school; and
(f) the charter school provides any additional
information or documentation requested by the charter school
authorizer or the Board.
(3) a satellite charter school that receives School LAND
Trust funds shall have a charter trust land council and satisfy
all requirements for charter trust land councils consistent with
Rule R277-477.
(4) A satellite charter school may receive state funding
if the Board approves the satellite charter school by October 1
of the state fiscal year prior to the year the school intends to
serve students.
(5) When considering whether to approve a charter
school's request for a satellite charter school, an
authorizer shall consider the following:
(a) the amount of time the charter school has operated
successfully meeting the terms of its charter agreement;
(b) the academic performance data of students at the
charter school, giving preference to charter schools with
students who are performing on standardized assessments at or
above:
(i) the standard established in the charter school's
charter agreement; and
(ii) the average academic performance of other district
and charter schools in the area;
(c) the financial position of the charter school, as
evidenced by the charter school's financial records,
including the charter school's:
(i) most recent annual financial report (AFR);
(ii) annual program report (APR); and
(iii) audited financial statement;
(d) any student safety issues;
(e) whether the charter school has a waiting list for
enrollment;
(f) the charter school's governing board performance
and capacity to open and operate a satellite campus;
(g) adequacy of the satellite charter school's
facility;
(h) impact to local government entities, including the
information described in Section 53E-3-710; and
(i) ability to meet state and federal reporting
requirements, including whether the charter school has regularly
met Board reporting deadlines.
(6) A charter school requesting a satellite charter
school shall provide the information described in Subsection (5)
to the authorizer and the Board with the charter school's
request for a satellite school.
(7) The approval of a satellite charter school by the
charter school authorizer requires ratification by the Board and
will expire 24 months following the ratification if a building
site is not secured for the satellite charter school.
KEY: training, timelines, expansion, satellite
Date of Enactment or Last Substantive Amendment: April 9,
2018
Notice of Continuation: March 30, 2016
Authorizing, and Implemented or Interpreted Law: Art X Sec 3;
53A-1-401; 53A-1a-502.5; 53A-1a-504; 53A-1a-505; 53A-1a-515;
53A-1a-513; 53A-1a-521
]
Additional Information
More information about a Notice of Proposed Rule is available online.
The Portable Document Format (PDF) version of the Bulletin is the official version. The PDF version of this issue is available at https://rules.utah.gov/publicat/bull_pdf/2018/b20181201.pdf. The HTML edition of the Bulletin is a convenience copy. Any discrepancy between the PDF version and HTML version is resolved in favor of the PDF version.
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For questions regarding the content or application of this rule, please contact Angela Stallings at the above address, by phone at 801-538-7550, by FAX at 801-538-7768, or by Internet E-mail at angie.stallings@schools.utah.gov. For questions about the rulemaking process, please contact the Office of Administrative Rules.