03/30/1995 09:15 AM Senate FIN

                                                                               
       SENATE BILL NO. 88                                                      
       "An  Act  establishing  a  pilot  program  for  charter                 
  schools; and      providing for an effective date."                          
                                                                               
  Senator  Sharp stated that the  issue of charter schools was                 
  discussed  during  the last  two years.    Last year,  SB 61                 
  pertained  to charter schools,  which in all  aspects was an                 
  omnibus  education  bill. The  issues  within the  bill were                 
  controversial and diverse.  SB 88  is a single issue bill on                 
  charter schools.    The goal  and  tone  is to  set  as  few                 
  limitations as possible in setting  up and operating charter                 
  schools.    It  will allow  school  districts,  teachers and                 
  parents the space  to be  creative.  It  allows the  charter                 
                                                                               
                                                                               
  schools to  use existing  school facilities, new  facilities                 
  and/or  the  option of  leasing  other buildings  within the                 
  community  that  meets  code requirements  for  schools.   A                 
  geographical  allocation has  been  done to  assure fairness                 
  statewide  for  this  pilot proposal.    All  charter school                 
  proposals will  be submitted to  the local school  board for                 
  consideration.    Upon   approval,  the  proposal  will   be                 
  forwarded to  the Commissioner, Department of Education, for                 
  review and compliance to state law.  All staffing of charter                 
  schools  must  be  done  on  a  volunteer  basis,  with  the                 
  principal  or  administrator  having  the  right  of   final                 
  approval of all staff selection.  By challenging students to                 
  achieve their highest capabilities,  providing opportunities                 
  for the teachers  to be  challenged, and encouraging  parent                 
  involvement,  Senator Sharp  recommends  charter schools  as                 
  leading the way  to a  more effective  education. This  bill                 
  would be sunset in l0 years.   He urged the members to  look                 
  favorably to this legislation.                                               
                                                                               
  Senator Sharp MOVED to pass Amendment #1.  With no objection                 
  being heard Amendment #1 was ADOPTED.                                        
                                                                               
  Sheila Peterson,  Special  Assistant to  the  Department  of                 
  Education stated  that the  Board of  Education did  vote in                 
  support  of SB 88.   The State  Board and Dept  of Education                 
  supports both Amendments #1 and #2.                                          
                                                                               
  Senator Sharp MOVED to pass Amendment #2.  With no objection                 
  being heard Amendment #2 was ADOPTED.                                        
                                                                               
  Ms.  Peterson  stated  that the  maximum  number  of charter                 
  schools running at any one time  is 40. She stated that  the                 
  bill has the  charter school in operation for 5  years.  The                 
  applications will come in over time as  each school district                 
  examines the  legislation, and  considers the  alternatives.                 
  Independently,  school districts  will be  setting  up their                 
  proposals  at  different times.    The State  Board  will be                 
  receiving the proposals as separate  entities, and will make                 
  a determination  based on the  educationally sound  proposal                 
  that  is  given.  She emphasized  that  SB  88  does set  up                 
  guidelines for  geographical differences  statewide so  that                 
  any  one area of the  state will not  have an advantage over                 
  another area within the state.                                               
                                                                               
  Senator  Sharp MOVED  CSSB 88  (FIN)  out of  committee with                 
  individual recommendations, and an  accompanying fiscal note                 
  of  $2.0 for  the  Department of  Education.   No  objection                 
  having  been  raised  CSSB  88  (FIN)  was REPORTED  OUT  of                 
  committee.  Co-chairs Halford and Frank and Senators Rieger,                 
  Phillips, and Sharp recommended "do pass".  Senators Zharoff                 
  and Donley signed "other recommendations".