(a) The governing council of a state or local charter school may only enter into a contract for whole school management services with a charter management organization.

(b) The governing council of a state or local charter school shall not enter into any contract for whole school management services that is contrary to state or federal law or regulations, which entails any financial or other conflicts of interest, or which amends, alters or modifies any provision of the charter. To the extent that there is a conflict between the terms of the charter of the school and a contract for whole school management services, the terms of the charter shall govern.

(c) The governing council of a state or local charter school shall submit any contract for whole school management services between such governing council and charter management organization to the State Board of Education for approval. The state board, in determining whether to approve such contract, shall (1) review such contract, (2) solicit and review comments on such contract from the local or regional board of education of the town in which the charter school is located or in which the proposed charter school is to be located, and (3) vote on such contract not later than sixty days after the date of receipt of such contract. The state board may approve such contract 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. Any contract for whole school management services between the governing council of a state or local charter school and a charter management organization shall not take effect unless such contract has been approved by the State Board of Education.

(d) The governing council of a state or local charter school shall not enter into any contract for whole school management services that would have the effect of reducing the governing council's responsibility for the operation of the charter school, or which would hinder the governing council in exercising effective supervision of the charter school.

(e) Any governing council of a state or local charter school that enters into a contract for whole school management services shall directly select, retain and compensate the attorney, accountant or audit firm representing the governing council.

(f) A contract for whole school management services shall include, but need not be limited to: (1) The roles and responsibilities of the governing council of the charter school and the charter management organization, including all services to be provided under the contract, (2) the performance measures, mechanisms and consequences by which the governing council will hold the charter management organization accountable for performance, (3) the compensation to be paid to the charter management organization, including all fees, bonuses and what such compensation includes or requires, (4) financial reporting requirements and provisions for the governing council's financial oversight, (5) a choice of law provision that states that Connecticut state law shall be the controlling law for the contract, (6) a statement that the governing council of the charter school and the charter management organization shall ensure compliance with the provisions of section 10-66uu, and (7) any such information required by the Commissioner of Education to ensure compliance with the provisions of this chapter.

(P.A. 15-239, S. 10.)

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