Sec. 1. (a) A charter must meet the following requirements:

(1) Be a written instrument.

(2) Be executed by an authorizer and an organizer.

(3) Confer certain rights, franchises, privileges, and obligations on a charter school.

(4) Confirm the status of a charter school as a public school.

(5) Subject to subdivisions (6)(E) and (17), be granted for:

(A) not less than three (3) years or more than seven (7) years; and

(B) a fixed number of years agreed to by the authorizer and the organizer.

(6) Provide for the following:

(A) A review by the authorizer of the charter school's performance, including the progress of the charter school in achieving the academic goals set forth in the charter, at least one (1) time in each five (5) year period while the charter is in effect.

(B) Renewal, if the authorizer and the organizer agree to renew the charter.

(C) The renewal application must include guidance from the authorizer, and the guidance must include the performance criteria that will guide the authorizer's renewal decisions.

(D) The renewal application process must, at a minimum, provide an opportunity for the charter school to:

(i) present additional evidence, beyond the data contained in the performance report, supporting its case for charter renewal;

(ii) describe improvements undertaken or planned for the charter school; and

(iii) detail the charter school's plans for the next charter term.

(E) Not later than the end of the calendar year in which the charter school seeks renewal of a charter, the governing board of a charter school seeking renewal shall submit a renewal application to the charter authorizer under the renewal application guidance issued by the authorizer. The authorizer shall make a final ruling on the renewal application not later than April 1 after the filing of the renewal application. A renewal granted under this clause is not subject to the three (3) year minimum described in subdivision (5). The April 1 deadline does not apply to any review or appeal of a final ruling. After the final ruling is issued, the charter school may obtain further review by the authorizer of the authorizer's final ruling in accordance with the terms of the charter school's charter and the protocols of the authorizer.

(7) Specify the grounds for the authorizer to:

(A) revoke the charter before the end of the term for which the charter is granted; or

(B) not renew a charter.

(8) Set forth the methods by which the charter school will be held accountable for achieving the educational mission and goals of the charter school, including the following:

(A) Evidence of improvement in:

(i) assessment measures, including the statewide assessment program measures;

(ii) attendance rates;

(iii) graduation rates (if appropriate);

(iv) increased numbers of Indiana diplomas with a Core 40 designation and other college and career ready indicators including advanced placement participation and passage, dual credit participation and passage, and International Baccalaureate participation and passage (if appropriate);

(v) increased numbers of Indiana diplomas with Core 40 with academic honors and technical honors designations (if appropriate);

(vi) student academic growth;

(vii) financial performance and stability; and

(viii) governing board performance and stewardship, including compliance with applicable laws, rules and regulations, and charter terms.

(B) Evidence of progress toward reaching the educational goals set by the organizer.

(9) Describe the method to be used to monitor the charter school's:

(A) compliance with applicable law; and

(B) performance in meeting targeted educational performance.

(10) Specify that the authorizer and the organizer may amend the charter during the term of the charter by mutual consent and describe the process for amending the charter.

(11) Describe specific operating requirements, including all the matters set forth in the application for the charter.

(12) Specify a date when the charter school will:

(A) begin school operations; and

(B) have students attending the charter school.

(13) Specify that records of a charter school relating to the school's operation and charter are subject to inspection and copying to the same extent that records of a public school are subject to inspection and copying under IC 5-14-3.

(14) Specify that records provided by the charter school to the department or authorizer that relate to compliance by the organizer with the terms of the charter or applicable state or federal laws are subject to inspection and copying in accordance with IC 5-14-3.

(15) Specify that the charter school is subject to the requirements of IC 5-14-1.5.

(16) This subdivision applies to a charter established or renewed for an adult high school after June 30, 2014. The charter must require:

(A) that the school will offer flexible scheduling;

(B) that students will not complete the majority of instruction of the school's curriculum online or through remote instruction;

(C) that the school will offer dual credit or industry certification course work that aligns with career pathways as recommended by the Indiana career council established by IC 22-4.5-9-3; and

(D) a plan:

(i) to support successful program completion and to assist transition of graduates to the workforce or to a postsecondary education upon receiving a diploma from the adult high school; and

(ii) to review individual student accomplishments and success after a student receives a diploma from the adult high school.

(17) This subdivision applies to a charter between an authorizer and an organizer of a charter school granted or renewed after June 30, 2019. The charter must require that:

(A) a charter school comply with actions implemented by the state board under IC 20-24-2.2-2.5; and

(B) if the state board implements closure of the charter school under IC 20-24-2.2-2.5, the charter is revoked at the time the charter school closes.

(b) A charter school shall set annual performance targets in conjunction with the charter school's authorizer. The annual performance targets shall be designed to help each school meet applicable federal, state, and authorizer expectations.

[Pre-2005 Elementary and Secondary Education Recodification Citation: 20-5.5-4-1.]

As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.8. Amended by P.L.91-2011, SEC.12; P.L.280-2013, SEC.36; P.L.33-2014, SEC.1; P.L.47-2014, SEC.4; P.L.5-2015, SEC.43; P.L.242-2017, SEC.10; P.L.250-2017, SEC.17; P.L.86-2018, SEC.173; P.L.192-2018, SEC.7; P.L.159-2019, SEC.7; P.L.211-2019, SEC.20.