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State Representative Linda Slocum
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-7158
For more information contact: Charlene Briner 651-296-5809
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Oversight Bill for Public Charter Schools Moves Forward in House
A bill that would subject Minnesota’s public charter schools to more rigorous oversight took another step forward today when it passed the Minnesota House K – 12 Finance Division. Sponsored by State Representative Linda Slocum (DFL-Richfield), the bill would tighten and clarify the rules overseeing Minnesota charter schools and their sponsors.
“The heart of the charter school concept when it started years ago was to provide more innovation and accountability in education for parents, students and the public," said Rep. Slocum. “This bill provides common sense oversight to help charter schools become more responsive and accountable, which in turn will lead to even better student-centered results.”
House File 935 is the Legislature’s response to a Legislative Auditor’s report in 2008 that recommended several changes in the rules that oversee charter schools. The result of months of compromise between charter school proponents, education organizations and legislators, the bill contains most of the recommendations from that report, including those to:
• Provide rigorous criteria and clear oversight for charter school authorizers (sponsors)
• Require financial management and other training for authorizers and charter school board members
• Clarify conflicts of interest with regard to charter school financial management
• Clarify state laws that allow schools to excuse students for up to three hours a week for religious instruction providing that instruction takes place off school property.
A controversial amendment that would have placed a three-year moratorium on the opening of charter schools within a 1-mile radius of a recently closed school or the boundaries of a newly dissolved or consolidated school district was removed.
The bill will be included in the House omnibus education bill.
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