(a) If a governing council of a state or local charter school plans to make a material change in the school's operations, such governing council of such charter school shall submit, in writing, a request to amend the school's charter to the State Board of Education. For purposes of this section, “material change” means a change that fundamentally alters a charter school's mission, organizational structure or educational program, including, but not limited to, (1) altering the educational model in a fundamental way, (2) opening an additional school building, (3) contracting for or discontinuing a contract for whole school management services with a charter management organization, (4) renaming the charter school, (5) changing the grade configurations of the charter school, or (6) increasing or decreasing the total student enrollment capacity of the charter school by twenty per cent or more.

(b) In determining whether to grant a request by a state or local charter school to amend its charter, the State Board of Education shall (1) review the written request of the charter school, (2) solicit and review comments on the request from the local or regional board of education of the town in which the charter school is located, and (3) vote on the request not later than sixty days after the date of receipt of such request or as part of the charter renewal process. The state board may approve the material change by a majority vote of the members of the state board present and voting at a regular or special meeting of the state board called for such purpose or for the purpose of considering whether to renew the charter of the charter school, pursuant to subsection (g) of section 10-66bb.

(P.A. 15-239, S. 9.)

History: P.A. 15-239 effective July 1, 2015.