HB677 Alabama 2010 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Joe Hubbard

Democrat

Co-Sponsors

Phil WilliamsMary Sue McClurkin

Session

Regular Session 2010

Title

Public K-12 education, responsibilities of state and local boards of education and schools, authorizers, and charter schools provided for, application process and renewal, revocation and closure of schools as public schools, application of existing law and exemptions from provided, Innovative Charter Schools Act

Summary

A bill to create and regulate charter schools in Alabama, allowing local boards or the State Board of Education to authorize, fund, monitor, and close charter schools as part of the public education system.

What This Bill Does

It would authorize the creation of charter schools and let registered local school boards or the State Board of Education act as authorizers. It establishes charter contracts with approval, renewal, and revocation processes, requires accountability and monitoring, and generally relieves charter schools from many state education statutes while requiring compliance with civil rights, health, safety, standards, and transparency laws. It sets funding arrangements (local per-student funding, potential state/federal funds, and possible authorizer oversight fees), reporting and auditing requirements, facility provisions, and enrollment rules, plus procedures for closure and asset distribution.

Who It Affects

• Students and families in districts that have or may establish charter schools, who would have a public school option with admission rules, capacity limits, random selection if needed, and preferences for certain returning students or siblings.
• Local school districts and charter authorizers (local boards and the State Board of Education), which must establish and oversee authorizing processes, fund charter schools, collect and report performance data, and manage renewal, revocation, and potential transition of charter contracts.

Key Provisions

• Establishes the Alabama Innovative Charter Schools Act to create charter schools authorized by local boards or the State Board of Education.
• Allows local school boards to register as charter authorizers and sets criteria and deadlines for authorization.
• Creates charter contracts with specific academic and operational performance expectations, renewal and revocation rules, and open-meeting approval.
• Prohibits private or nonpublic schools from applying to become or converting to charter schools.
• Requires charter contracts to include accountability provisions and ongoing monitoring by authorizers; authorizers may renew, revoke, or not renew contracts.
• Charter schools are generally exempt from most state education statutes but must follow civil rights, health, safety, state standards, accountability, and open government laws; they must meet building codes and other facilities requirements.
• Provides funding for charter schools through local per-student funding formulas, with potential state/federal funding; authorizers may charge an oversight fee (up to 3% of per-student funding) and annual independent audits are required.
• Gives charter schools the ability to acquire and utilize facilities, with certain rights related to existing district facilities and tax/fee exemptions for charter buildings.
• Sets enrollment rules: open to all district students, capacity-based admissions with random selection if needed, non-discrimination, and possible enrollment preferences for returning students, siblings, and certain founder/employee children within limits.
• Imposes staffing and employment standards, including certification requirements, retirement/health benefits participation, due process protections, background checks, and principal certification.
• Outlines a detailed performance framework (academic and operational), with annual targets, data disaggregation by subgroups, and separate performance reporting for each charter school.
• Provides closure, revocation, and nonrenewal processes with due process, orderly transitions for students, and prioritized asset distribution.
• Directs the State Board to promulgate rules; the Department oversees authorizers and publishes annual reports on charter status statewide.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 25, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Education