HB347 Alabama 2020 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Terri CollinsRepresentative

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2020

Title

Alabama School Choice and Student Opportunity Act, Public Charter School Commission staff allowed, funding based on enrollment and disbursement of funds revised, Secs. 16-6F-6, 16-6F-7, 16-6F-9, 16-6F-10 am'd.

Summary

HB347 would overhaul Alabama's charter school system by expanding the Public Charter School Commission's role, allowing direct commission applications, and changing funding and governance rules for public charter schools.

What This Bill Does

It allows the Alabama Public Charter School Commission to act as an authorizer alongside local school boards and lets applicants apply directly to the commission to open a charter under certain conditions. It changes funding to base initial dollars on projected enrollment and later on actual enrollment, requires monthly rather than quarterly funding disbursements, and defines how local revenues and local tax allocations are allocated to charter schools. It also creates a governance framework for authorizers, expands staff and oversight powers, and sets a cap on start-up charters while outlining conversion of traditional schools to charters.

Who It Affects

• Charter school applicants and students: applicants may apply directly to the Commission to start a charter; funding and contract terms are based on projected then actual enrollment, with monthly funding; schools operate as local educational agencies and must meet performance and reporting requirements to receive funds.
• Local school boards and the Alabama Public Charter School Commission: authorizers' roles and powers are clarified or expanded; the Commission can hire staff, oversee charters, and even overrule local board denials under established standards; a cap on start-up charters affects how many new charters can begin each year.

Key Provisions

• Authorizers: The bill makes the Alabama Public Charter School Commission an authorizer and allows applicants to apply directly to the Commission to open a public charter under certain conditions; local school boards may also register as authorizers.
• Cap on start-up charters: No more than 10 start-up public charter schools may be approved in a fiscal year; the cap expires on April 1 following the end of the fiscal year starting October 1, 2020; conversion charters have no stated cap.
• Commission membership and powers: The Commission would be an independent state entity with 11 members; it can employ staff, adopt rules, review department rules, convene stakeholders, seek funds, and oversee charters; it can overrule a local board's denial and authorize a charter when appropriate.
• Application process: Local boards issue requests for proposals; authorizers evaluate applications using nationally recognized standards; decisions are required to be made within set timeframes and in open meetings; expedited approval available for certain HBCU-related proposals.
• Charter contracts and term: Approved charters receive a charter contract within 60 days; initial charter term is five years; preopening requirements may be set to ensure readiness; performance expectations are defined in the contract.
• Funding: In the first year, charter funding comes from the Education Trust Fund based on projected enrollment; in later years, funding is based on actual enrollment; funds are disbursed monthly; per-student state and local funds follow the student to the charter.
• Local revenues: Local tax allocations follow per-student amounts for charter students, with rules to exclude certain debt or restricted funds; the department will set procedures to determine local revenue distributions for each charter.
• Special education and accountability: The state pays federal/state special education funds directly to the charter; charters must meet SPED obligations and other applicable laws; annual independent audits are required; adherence to GAAP and open meeting laws is required.
• Operations and governance: Charters may contract with educational service providers but retain governing board oversight; authorizers may charge oversight fees to support their activities; competitive bidding and other public school rules apply where appropriate.
• Enrollment and reporting: Charter enrollment counts are included in local district counts; charter data must be reported to the local district and the state education department; authorizers provide annual performance reports.
• Ethics and conflicts: Charter school employees are subject to the State Ethics Law; conflicts of interest must be avoided in charter operations and contracts.
• Transportation and other services: State transportation funds can be disbursed to charters in the same way as other public schools; charters may contract for transportation or related services; if a charter does not provide transportation, transportation funds may not be allocated to it.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 22, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Charter Schools