Relating to public charter schools; creating new provisions; and amending ORS 338.005, 338.025, 338.035, 338.045, and 338.125.


 
 
 
     75th OREGON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY--2009 Regular Session
 
SMRA to A-Eng. SB 767
 
LC 2866/SB 767-AMR24
 
                     SENATE MINORITY REPORT
                          AMENDMENTS TO
                   A-ENGROSSED SENATE BILL 767
 
                             June 8
 
President Courtney:
  A minority of your Committee on Rules, to whom was referred
A-engrossed Senate Bill 767, having had the same under
consideration, respectfully reports it back with the
recommendation that it do pass with the following amendments:
 
  On page 1 of the printed A-engrossed bill, line 2, after the
first semicolon delete the rest of the line and line 3 and insert
' appropriating money; and declaring an emergency.'.
  Delete lines 5 through 16 and delete pages 2 through 11 and
insert:
  '  { +  SECTION 1. + }  { + (1) There is created the Oregon
Online Education Task Force Relating to Public Charter Schools,
consisting of 14 members appointed as follows:
  ' (a) The President of the Senate shall appoint two members
from among members of the Senate, one from the majority party and
one from the minority party.
  ' (b) The Speaker of the House of Representatives shall appoint
two members from among members of the House of Representatives,
one from the majority party and one from the minority party.
  ' (c) The President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House
of Representatives shall jointly appoint:
  ' (A) One member of the State Board of Education, as
recommended by the chairperson of the State Board of Education.
  ' (B) One representative from the Oregon School Employees
Association.
  ' (C) One representative from the Oregon Education Association.
  ' (D) One representative from the Oregon School Boards
Association.
  ' (E) One superintendent of an education service district, as
defined in ORS 334.003.
  ' (F) One representative of the Northwest Center for
Educational Options.
  ' (G) One principal of a virtual public charter school, as
defined in section 4 of this 2009 Act.
  ' (H) One superintendent of a school district, as defined in
ORS 329.007, that currently sponsors a virtual public charter
school.
  ' (I) One superintendent of a school district that does not
currently sponsor a virtual public charter school.
  ' (J) One parent of a student currently enrolled in an online
course provided at a public charter school.
  ' (2) The task force shall:
  ' (a) Study and identify the means to provide students in this
state with online course options that have critical curriculum
content and highly qualified instructors that are otherwise
unavailable.
  ' (b) Make recommendations to assist public charter schools in
developing the characteristics identified in ORS 329.025.
  ' (c) Make recommendations for providing public charter
schools, school districts and school district staff members with
a public website for posting and sharing professional development
information and school improvement opportunities related to
online instruction.
  ' (d) Make recommendations for administrative structures to:
  ' (A) Ensure adequate funding and reliable resource support for
online instruction.
  ' (B) Develop and implement policies and procedures to ensure
quality course content and instructional processes.
  ' (C) Provide oversight of:
  ' (i) Student portfolios;
  ' (ii) Subject and course certification;
  ' (iii) Teacher certification;
  ' (iv) Virtual public charter schools; and
  ' (v) Transfers of students from or to public charter schools
within or outside of a school district.
  ' (3) The task force may engage the assistance of additional
persons to provide expertise in an advisory capacity to the task
force in the performance of its duties and functions.
  ' (4) A majority of the members of the task force constitutes a
quorum for the transaction of business.
  ' (5) Official action by the task force requires the approval
of a majority of the members of the task force.
  ' (6) The task force shall elect one of its members to serve as
chairperson.
  ' (7) If there is a vacancy for any cause, the appointing
authorities shall make an appointment to become immediately
effective.
  ' (8) The task force shall meet at times and places specified
by the call of the chairperson or of a majority of the members of
the task force.
  ' (9) The task force may adopt rules necessary for the
operation of the task force.
  ' (10) The task force shall submit a report, and may include
recommendations for legislation, to the legislative interim
committees on education no later than December 15, 2009.
  ' (11) The Department of Education shall provide staff support
to the task force.
  ' (12) Members of the task force who are not members of the
Legislative Assembly are not entitled to compensation or
reimbursement for expenses and serve as volunteers on the task
force.
  ' (13)(a) The Department of Education may accept contributions
of moneys and assistance from nonprofit organizations and agree
to conditions placed on the moneys not inconsistent with the
duties of the task force.
  ' (b) Moneys received by the department under this subsection,
and such other moneys as may otherwise be made available by law
to the task force, shall be deposited into the Public Charter
School Development Fund established under ORS 338.175. Interest
earned on the moneys deposited in the fund pursuant to this
subsection shall be credited to the fund for the benefit of the
task force. Moneys deposited in the fund under this subsection
are continuously appropriated to the department and shall be used
only for the performance of the functions and duties of the task
force. + }
  '  { +  SECTION 2. + }  { + Section 1 of this 2009 Act is
repealed on the date the Legislative Assembly next convenes in a
regular or special session that begins on or after January 1,
2010. + }
  '  { +  SECTION 3. + }  { + Section 4 of this 2009 Act is added
to and made a part of ORS chapter 338. + }
  '  { +  SECTION 4. + }  { + (1) As used in this section,
'virtual public charter school' means a public charter school
that provides at least 50 percent of its comprehensive
educational program through online instruction.
 
  ' (2) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, on
or after the effective date of this 2009 Act, a school district
board or the State Board of Education may not approve a charter
for which the school district board or the State Board of
Education would become a sponsor of a virtual public charter
school. + }
  '  { +  SECTION 5. + }  { +  Section 4 of this 2009 Act is
repealed on the earlier of the date of adjournment sine die of
the next regular or special session of the Legislative Assembly
that begins on or after January 1, 2010. + }
  '  { +  SECTION 6. + }  { + This 2009 Act being necessary for
the immediate preservation of the public peace, health and
safety, an emergency is declared to exist, and this 2009 Act
takes effect on its passage. + } ' .
 
                         /sTed Ferrioli
                           Senator
 
                         /sJason Atkinson
                           Senator
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