HB192 Alabama 2015 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Terri CollinsRepresentative

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2015

Title

School Choice and Student Opportunity Act, creation of public charter schools authorized, Alabama Public Charter School Commission created, application, accountability, operation, funding, and autonomy provided

Summary

This bill creates a statewide public charter school system in Alabama, establishing a public charter school commission, authorizers, and a funding and accountability framework to expand high-quality public school options.

What This Bill Does

It creates the Alabama School Choice and Student Opportunity Act and the Alabama Public Charter School Commission, defining who can authorize charter schools and how they operate. It sets up application processes for startup and conversion charter schools, establishes charter contracts with performance expectations, and creates renewal, revocation, and nonrenewal procedures. It creates a performance framework with metrics for academics, growth, attendance, equity, finances, and governance, and requires ongoing oversight and annual reporting. It outlines funding for charter schools from state and local sources, including per-student allocations, special education funding, transportation, facilities, and access to other education dollars, along with governance and closing/transfer rules.

Who It Affects

• Students and families who want more public school options, including at-risk students, because enrollment is open to state residents with lotteries if capacity is exceeded and various enrollment preferences are allowed.
• Local school boards and the Alabama Public Charter School Commission as new charter authorizers who oversee applications, contracts, funding, oversight, and potential revocation or transfer of charters.

Key Provisions

• Establishes the Alabama Public Charter School Commission as an independent state entity to authorize high-quality public charter schools.
• Authorizers may be local school boards or the commission; decisions can be appealed to the commission, which may overrule a local board in certain cases.
• Imposes a cap on startup public charter schools: up to 10 per fiscal year for five years; there is no cap on conversion public charter schools.
• Public charter schools must enroll students openly, not discriminate, and may use lottery if capacity is exceeded; admission preferences include prior-year students, siblings, and up to 10% for founders’ children.
• Charter contracts define performance expectations and governance between the authorizer and the charter school; initial term is five operating years with possible extensions and renewal/ revocation based on performance.
• Funding for charter schools includes per-student state funds and local funds, plus transportation and other restricted funds; funding follows the student and is subject to district and state rules; categorical and special education funding are addressed.
• Charter schools have autonomy in finances, personnel, curriculum, and operations; teachers may be exempt from state certification; schools are LEAs for funding and compliance purposes but may contract with education service providers while retaining oversight.
• Oversight and accountability require annual reports, a performance framework, and potential corrective actions; closures, dissolutions, and transfers between authorizers are provided for under defined processes.
• Policies address facilities access, asset distribution during closures, desegregation considerations, and compliance with Open Meetings Act, public records laws, and anti-discrimination laws.
• Other operational details cover startup preopening requirements, personnel, auditing, and ongoing evaluation of charter performance and governance.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Education