Sen. Ruckleshaus has introduced SB 390 which would provide some additional degree of oversight and accountability for charter schools. In the wake of recent events, there certainly seems to be some cause for this sort of initiative. Whether it’s sufficient, I couldn’t say. The bill requires two members of the charter’s board to live within the boundaries of the school district in which the charter is located and requires at least 50% of its meetings to take place within those boundaries. The bill requires an annual audit of all public and private funds by the school and the charter school organizer (notwithstanding the rule that says an entity receiving less than 50% or less than $200k in public money will only be audited with respect to matters relevant to the public money received). A charter school organizer would be considered a public agency for purposes of the Access to Public Records Act.
Additionally, the charter school and charter school organizer would be required to post online a copy of the audit, the school’s most recent enrollment count, and a list of the salaries of each individual employed by the organizer. It also creates an enforcement mechanism whereby the Department of Education can issue findings with respect to waste, fraud, abuse, or misrepresentations made by the school or its organizer along with recommendations to the State Board of Education to penalize the charter or revoke its authorization. The bill also provides for creation of a study committee to study the need for additional charters and potentially a moratorium.
If charters are going to work, they require pretty strict oversight. Massachusetts has had some success by, among other things, prohibiting for-profit Education Management Organizations, allowing only the State Board of Education to authorize schools, and imposing rigorous authorization and re-authorization standards. Indiana’s regime is much looser. This would tighten it up somewhat.
Here is the only place II can find info on Charter School.’Core Financial Reports’. I suspect you have been this website if not there is not only school information but government info on the site. https://gateway.ifionline.org/
https://gateway.ifionline.org/ Is the only place I have seen anything about charter schools Annual Financial Report. There is lots information on the gateway site.
Financial Statements
View financial statements. Only hospitals, housing authorities, charter schools and turn around academies are required to submit financial statements https://gateway.ifionline.org/ is the site An Open Door into Local Government Finance There is a large amount of school information. on this page. I counted 32 charter schools in Marion County but only one charter school in Hamilton County. Looks like charter schools show up in places where people don;t trust there local public schools.
IC 20-24 ARTICLE 24. CHARTER SCHOOLS
Ch. 1. Definitions
Ch. 2. Charter Schools Generally
Ch. 2.1. Indiana Charter School Board
Ch. 2.2. Monitoring and Accountability of Sponsors
Ch. 2.3. Indianapolis Charter School Board
Ch. 3. Establishment of Charter Schools
Ch. 4. The Charter
Ch. 5. Student Admissions and Enrollment
Ch. 5.5. Student Discipline
Ch. 6. Employment of Teachers and Other Personnel; Collective Bargaining
Ch. 7. Fiscal Matters
Ch. 7.5. Repealed
Ch. 8. Charter School Powers and Exemptions
Ch. 9. Oversight of Charter Schools; Reporting Requirements; Revocation of Charter
Ch. 10. Student Transfers From Charter School to Public Noncharter Schools
Ch. 11. Conversion of Existing Public Schools Into Charter Schools
Ch. 12. Charter School Facilities Assistance Program
Ch. 13. Charter and Innovation Network School Grant Program
IC 20-24-1 Chapter 1. Definitions
20-24-1-1 Applicability
20-24-1-2 “ADM of the previous year”
20-24-1-2.3 “Adult high school”
20-24-1-2.5 “Authorizer”
20-24-1-3 “Charter”
20-24-1-3.5 “Charter board”
20-24-1-4 “Charter school”
20-24-1-5 “Conversion charter school”
20-24-1-6 “Current ADM”
20-24-1-6.1 “Education service provider”
20-24-1-6.2 “Fund”
20-24-1-7 “Organizer”
20-24-1-7.5 “Program”
20-24-1-8 “Proposal”
20-24-1-9 Repealed
20-24-1-10 “Virtual charter school”
IC 20-24 ARTICLE 24. CHARTER SCHOOLS – here is some more info charter schools.’ the
balance sheets are all over the place.. Oh well football time.t
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Icharrter
http://iga.in.gov/legislative/laws/2019/ic/titles/020