DAR File No. 43400

Education, Administration

Rule R277-550

Charter Schools - Definitions

Notice of Proposed Rule

(New Rule)

DAR File No.: 43400
Filed: 11/15/2018 03:29:46 PM

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 the oversight of charter schools and their authorizers. This new rule, R277-550, establishes definitions specific to the new charter school rules.

Statutory or constitutional authorization for this rule:

• Subsection 53E-3-401(4)
• Article X, Section 3

Anticipated cost or savings to:

the state budget:

This new rule is not expected to have any fiscal impact on state government revenues or expenditures because it provides technical, conforming, and stylistic changes in accordance with the Rulewriting Manual for Utah and Board policies. The provisions of this rule draw heavily from rules R277-480 through R277-482, which are being recommended for elimination with the "reorganization" of charter specific Board rules.

local governments:

This new rule is not expected to have any fiscal impact on local governments' revenues or expenditures because it provides technical, conforming, and stylistic changes in accordance with the Rulewriting Manual for Utah and Board policies. The provisions of this rule draw heavily from rules R277-480 through R277-482, which are being recommended for elimination with the "reorganization" of charter specific Board rules.

small businesses:

This new rule is not expected to have any fiscal impact on small businesses' revenues or expenditures because it provides technical, conforming, and stylistic changes in accordance with the Rulewriting Manual for Utah and Board policies. The provisions of this rule draw heavily from rules R277-480 through R277-482, which are being recommended for elimination with the "reorganization" of charter specific Board rules.

persons other than small businesses, businesses, or local governmental entities:

This new rule is not expected to have any fiscal impact on persons other than small businesses, businesses, or local government entities revenues or expenditures because it provides technical, conforming, and stylistic changes in accordance with the Rulewriting Manual for Utah and Board policies. The provisions of this rule draw heavily from rules R277-480 through R277-482, which are being recommended for elimination with the "reorganization" of charter specific Board rules.

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 new rule 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:

Education
Administration
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

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 new rule 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.

R277-550. Charter Schools - Definitions.

R277-550-1. 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 make rules to execute the Board's duties and responsibilities under the Utah Constitution and state law; and

(c) Title 53G, Chapter 5, Charter Schools, which allows the Board to make rules governing aspects of operations of charter schools.

(2) The purpose of this rule is to establish definitions for rules governing charter schools.

(3) The definitions contained in this rule apply to Rules R277-550 through R277-555.

 

R277-550-2. Definitions.

(1) "Amendment" means a change or addition to a charter agreement.

(2) "Authorizer" means an entity approved to authorize the establishment of a charter school under Sections 53G-5-304 through 53G-5-306.

(3) "Charter school" means a public school created in accordance with the provisions of Title 53G, Chapter 5, Charter Schools.

(4)(a) "Charter school agreement" or "Charter agreement" means a written agreement between a charter school and its authorizer containing the terms and conditions for the operation of a charter school.

(b) The charter school agreement maintained by a charter school's authorizer is the final, official, and complete agreement.

(5) "Charter school deficiency" means:

(a) failure of a charter school to comply with its charter agreement, including governance, financial, academic, or operational obligations;

(b) failure of a charter school to comply with the requirements of state or federal law or board rule;

(c) failure of a charter school to meet terms established by the school's authorizer as part of a remediation process; or

(d) fraud or misuse of funds by charter school governing board members or employees.

(6) "Charter school governing board" means the local board that governs a charter school.

(7) "Expansion" means:

(a) an increase in the number of grade levels offered by a charter school identified by a single school number; or

(b) an increase in the number of students for which a charter school identified by a single school number is authorized to receive funding.

(8) "Mentor" means an individual or organization with expertise or demonstrated competence, approved by the State Charter School Board to advise charter schools in the Mentoring Program.

(9) "Mentoring program" means the State Charter School Board mentoring program.

(10) "Probation" means a written formal action and notification through which a school is required to demonstrate the school's compliance with the authorizer's probationary requirements.

(11) "Replication school" means a charter school affiliated with an existing charter school physically located in the state of Utah that:

(a) has the same governing board as the existing charter school;

(b) has a similar program of instruction as the existing charter school;

(c) is located at a different site or in a different geographical area than the existing charter school; and

(d) has a separate school number than the existing charter school.

(12) "Non-operating charter school" means a charter school that has not received minimum school program funds or federal funds and is not providing educational services during a fiscal year, such as a charter school in a start-up period.

(13) "Operating charter school" means a charter school that has received minimum school program funds or federal funds and is providing educational services during a fiscal year.

(14) "Satellite school" means a charter school affiliated with an existing charter school physically located within the state of Utah that:

(a) has the same governing board as the existing charter school;

(b) has a different program of instruction or grades served from the existing charter school;

(c) is located at a different site or in a different geographical area than the existing charter school; and

(d) has a separate school number than the existing charter school.

(15) "School number" means a number assigned by the Superintendent in accordance with National Center for Education Statistics criteria that identifies a distinct school within an LEA.

(16) "State Charter School Board" means the board established in Section 53G-5-201.

(17) "Utah Consolidated Application" or "UCA" means the web-based grants management tool employed by the Superintendent through which LEAs submit plans and budgets for approval by the Superintendent or Board.

(18) "Utah eTranscript and Record Exchange" or "UTREx" has the same meaning as described in Subsection R277-484-2(11).

 

KEY: education, charter schools

Date of Enactment or Last Substantive Amendment: 2018

Authorizing, and Implemented, or Interpreted Law: Art X Sec 3; 53E-3-401; 53G-5-205