99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2015 and 2016
SB2144

 

Introduced 5/31/2015, by Sen. Kimberly A. Lightford

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
105 ILCS 5/27A-7.10

    Amends the Charter Schools Law of the School Code. Provides that, in Chicago, a 4-year university may serve as the authorizer for a multi-site charter school devoted exclusively to re-enrolled high school dropouts.


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FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

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1    AN ACT concerning education.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 5. The School Code is amended by changing Section
527A-7.10 as follows:
 
6    (105 ILCS 5/27A-7.10)
7    Sec. 27A-7.10. Authorizer powers and duties; immunity;
8principles and standards.
9    (a) Authorizers are responsible for executing, in
10accordance with this Article, all of the following powers and
11duties:
12        (1) Soliciting and evaluating charter applications.
13        (2) Approving quality charter applications that meet
14    identified educational needs and promote a diversity of
15    educational choices.
16        (3) Declining to approve weak or inadequate charter
17    applications.
18        (4) Negotiating and executing sound charter contracts
19    with each approved charter school.
20        (5) Monitoring, in accordance with charter contract
21    terms, the performance and legal compliance of charter
22    schools.
23        (6) Determining whether each charter contract merits

 

 

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1    renewal, nonrenewal, or revocation.
2    (b) An authorizing entity may delegate its duties to
3officers, employees, and contractors.
4    (c) Regulation by authorizers is limited to the powers and
5duties set forth in subsection (a) of this Section and must be
6consistent with the spirit and intent of this Article.
7    (d) An authorizing entity, members of the local school
8board, or the Commission, in their official capacity, and
9employees of an authorizer are immune from civil and criminal
10liability with respect to all activities related to a charter
11school that they authorize, except for willful or wanton
12misconduct.
13    (e) The Commission and all local school boards that have a
14charter school operating are required to develop and maintain
15chartering policies and practices consistent with recognized
16principles and standards for quality charter authorizing in all
17major areas of authorizing responsibility, including all of the
18following:
19        (1) Organizational capacity and infrastructure.
20        (2) Soliciting and evaluating charter applications.
21        (3) Performance contracting.
22        (4) Ongoing charter school oversight and evaluation.
23        (5) Charter renewal decision-making.
24    Authorizers shall carry out all their duties under this
25Article in a manner consistent with nationally recognized
26principles and standards and with the spirit and intent of this

 

 

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1Article.
2    (f) In any city having a population exceeding 500,000, a
34-year university may serve as the authorizer for a multi-site
4charter school devoted exclusively to re-enrolled high school
5dropouts, in which case the university shall be deemed to mean
6the local school board with respect to the provisions of this
7Article concerning authorization of a charter school.
8(Source: P.A. 97-152, eff. 7-20-11.)