HB459 Alabama 2022 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Terri CollinsRepresentative

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2022

Title

Education, charter schools, Alabama School Choice and Student Opportunity Act, operational and categorical funding of public charter schools further provided, Sec. 16-6F-10 am'd.

Summary

HB459 amends Alabama's School Choice Act to expand and clarify how public charter schools are funded with state and local money, including start-up and conversion charters, and to set rules for transportation, special education, auditing, and reporting.

What This Bill Does

It changes how charter students are counted in local enrollment and requires data sharing with districts and the state. It establishes operational funding for charter schools from the Education Trust Fund, with initial start-up funding and ongoing per-student funding based on the Foundation Program, intended to mirror what would have been allocated to the student in the resident district. It specifies how local tax revenue and other local funds are allocated to start-up and conversion charter schools, including pro rata shares and special rules for smaller counties, and requires quarterly fund transfers. It also provides for categorical and special education funding, auditing requirements, transportation funding, and authorizes the department to adopt implementing rules, while preserving local boards' ability to share non-county revenue.

Who It Affects

• Public charter schools (start-up and conversion) receive state and local funding per student, transportation and special education funding, must report enrollment data, and are subject to auditing and rules for budget and operation.
• Local school systems and county revenue commissioners must report charter enrollment, forward funds to charter schools, determine and adjust local revenue allocations, and manage tax-related allocations and potential revenue sharing with charter schools.

Key Provisions

• Enrollment: charter students are counted in local district enrollment and districts must report related data to the state.
• Operational funding: start-up and growth-year funding comes from the Education Trust Fund; ongoing funding is based on Foundation Program allocations and other appropriations; per-student funding aims to mirror what would have been allocated to the student in the resident district; start-up and conversion charters are treated similarly to other public schools.
• Local funding: per-student local tax allocations are provided to charters, with rules for pro rata distribution, population-based adjustments (including a four-tenths share for certain small counties), and full local funding for conversion charters; department to establish budget processes for these allocations; local funds must be forwarded quarterly.
• Categorical and special education funding: charter schools receive proportional federal/state categorical aid and any disability-related state/federal aid directly; parties may negotiate alternative special education arrangements; charter schools must meet reporting requirements to receive aid.
• Accounting and audits: charters must follow GAAP and engage an independent CPA for annual audits, with reports due to their authorizer.
• Transportation funding: state transportation funding is disbursed to charters similarly to districts; charters may contract for transportation; charters not providing transportation do not get transportation funds.
• Other provisions: local boards may share non-county revenue; the department will adopt rules to implement funding calculations and distributions; this act takes effect on the first day of the third month after approval.

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

Subjects

Education