§ 6-23-601 - Application for limited public charter school status -- Approval -- Teacher transfers -- Annual evaluation. - Arkansas Statutes

6-23-601. Application for limited public charter school status -- Approval -- Teacher transfers -- Annual evaluation.

(a) (1) Any public school may apply to the State Board of Education for limited public charter school status for alternative comprehensive staffing and compensation programs designed to enhance student and teacher performance and improve employee salaries, opportunities, and incentives, to be known as a limited public charter school.

(2) A limited public charter shall be for the purpose of instituting alternative staffing practices in accordance with a schedule approved by the state board.

(3) A limited public charter shall be initially established for a period of no more than five (5) years and may be renewed on a one-year or multiyear basis, not to exceed five (5) years per charter renewal.

(b) The application shall:

(1) (A) Contain the provisions of this title and the specific rules and regulations promulgated by the state board from which the limited public charter school will be exempt.

(B) The provisions from which the public school district may be exempt for the limited public charter school only shall be limited to the following:

(i) The duty-free lunch period requirements set forth in 6-17-111;

(ii) The daily planning period requirements set forth in 6-17-114;

(iii) The committee on personnel policies requirements set forth in 6-17-201 et seq.; and

(iv) Standards for accreditation set forth in the Arkansas Code, set forth by the Department of Education, or set forth by the state board.

(C) No limited public charter school may be allowed an exemption that would allow a full-time certified employee to be paid less than the salary provided in the public school district's salary schedule for that employee;

(2) Describe a plan for school improvement that addresses how the limited public charter school will improve student learning and meet the state education goals;

(3) Describe how the certified employees at the limited public charter school will be involved in developing and implementing the school improvement plan set forth in subdivision (b)(2) of this section and in identifying performance criteria;

(4) Outline proposed performance criteria that will be used during the initial five-year period of the charter to measure the progress of the limited public charter school in improving student learning and meeting or exceeding the state education goals; and

(5) Be reviewed as a regular agenda item and approved after sufficient public comment by the local school board and the state board.

(c) (1) Any application to obtain limited public charter school status approved by a local school board shall be forwarded by the local school board to the state board.

(2) If a local school board does not approve a public school's application, the local school board shall inform the applicants and faculty of the public school of the local school board's reasons for not approving the application.

(d) (1) A certified teacher employed by a public school in the school year immediately preceding the effective date of a limited public charter for a limited public charter school within that public school district may not be transferred to or be employed by the limited public charter school over the certified teacher's objections, nor shall that objection be used as a basis to deny continuing employment within the public school district in another public school at a similar grade level.

(2) If the transfer of a teacher within a public school district is not possible because only one (1) public school exists for the teacher's certification level, then the local school board shall call for a vote of the certified teachers in the proposed limited public charter school site and proceed, at the local school board's option, with the limited public charter school application if a majority of the certified teachers approve the proposal.

(3) (A) A certified teacher choosing to join the staff of a limited public charter school shall be employed by the district by a written contract as set forth in 6-13-620(4), with the contract being subject to the provisions of The Teacher Fair Dismissal Act of 1983, 6-17-1501 et seq.

(B) (i) The certified teacher shall also enter into a separate supplemental contract specifically for the teacher's employment in the limited public charter school, with the supplemental contract being exempt from The Teacher Fair Dismissal Act of 1983, 6-17-1501 et seq., and from 6-17-807.

(ii) Termination of the supplemental contract shall not be used as a basis to deny continued employment of the teacher within the public school district in another public school at a similar grade level.

(e) (1) Limited public charter schools shall be evaluated annually by the department based on criteria approved by the state board, including, but not limited to, student performance data in order to determine progress in student achievement that has been achieved by the limited public charter school.

(2) The department shall annually report its evaluation to the state board.

(3) Based upon that evaluation, the state board may revoke a limited public charter.

(f) The state board shall promulgate rules and regulations necessary for the implementation of this subchapter.