Chapter 200 Oregon Laws 1999
Session Law
AN ACT
SB 100
Relating to charter schools;
creating new provisions; amending ORS 181.539, 326.603, 326.607, 327.077,
327.109, 329.045, 337.150, 339.141, 339.147, 339.155, 342.232 and 659.155;
appropriating money; and declaring an emergency.
Be It Enacted by the People of the State of Oregon:
SECTION 1. Policy statement. It is the intent
of sections 1 to 23 of this 1999 Act that new types of schools, called public
charter schools, be created as a legitimate avenue for parents, educators and
community members to take responsible risks to create new, innovative and more
flexible ways of educating children within the public school system. The
Legislative Assembly seeks to create an atmosphere in Oregon's public school
system where research and development of new learning opportunities are
actively pursued. The provisions of sections 1 to 23 of this 1999 Act should be
interpreted liberally to support the goals of this section and to advance a
renewed commitment by this state to the mission, goals and diversity of public
education. It is the intent that public charter schools may serve as models and
catalysts for the improvement of other public schools and the public school
system. The goals of public charter schools shall be to:
(1) Increase student
learning and achievement;
(2) Increase choices of
learning opportunities for students;
(3) Better meet individual
student academic needs and interests;
(4) Build stronger working
relationships among educators, parents and other community members;
(5) Encourage the use of
different and innovative learning methods;
(6) Provide opportunities in
small learning environments for flexibility and innovation, which may be
applied, if proven effective, to other public schools;
(7) Create new professional
opportunities for teachers;
(8) Establish additional
forms of accountability for schools; and
(9) Create innovative
measurement tools.
SECTION 2. Definitions. As used in sections 1
to 23 of this 1999 Act, unless the context requires otherwise:
(1) "Applicant"
means any person or group that develops and submits a written proposal for a
public charter school to a sponsor.
(2) "Public charter
school" means an elementary or secondary school offering a comprehensive
instructional program operating under a written agreement entered into between
a sponsor and an applicant and operating pursuant to sections 1 to 23 of this
1999 Act.
(3) "Sponsor"
means:
(a) The board of the common
school district or the union high school district in which the public charter
school is located that has developed a written charter with an applicant to
create a public charter school.
(b) The State Board of
Education pursuant to section 9 of this 1999 Act.
SECTION 3. Formation of a public charter school.
(1) A public charter school may be established:
(a) As a new public school;
(b) From an existing public
school or a portion of the school; or
(c) From an existing
alternative education program, as defined in ORS 336.615.
(2) Before a public charter
school may operate as a public charter school it must:
(a) Be approved by a
sponsor;
(b) Be established as a
nonprofit organization under the laws of Oregon; and
(c) Have applied to qualify
as an exempt organization under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
(3) An applicant seeking to
establish a public charter school shall submit a proposal pursuant to section 6
of this 1999 Act to the school district board of the school district within
which the public charter school will be located at least 120 days prior to the
date upon which the public charter school would begin operating. However, it is
recommended that an applicant consult with the school district board prior to
submitting a proposal.
(4) An applicant seeking to
establish a public charter school shall provide to the State Board of Education
a copy of any proposal submitted to a school district board under section 6 of
this 1999 Act and a copy of any subsequent approval by the school district
board.
(5) All schools in a school
district shall not become public charter schools. However, a school in a school
district that is composed of only one school may become a public charter
school.
(6)(a) A school district
board or the State Board of Education may not approve a public charter school
proposal that authorizes the conversion of any private school that is tuition
based to a public charter school.
(b) Notwithstanding
paragraph (a) of this subsection, a school district board or the State Board of
Education may authorize the conversion of an existing alternative education
program, as defined in ORS 336.615, to a public charter school.
(7) A school district board
or the State Board of Education may not approve a public charter school
proposal that is affiliated with a nonpublic sectarian school or a religious
institution.
SECTION 4. Phase-in. (1) The total number of
students enrolled in public charter schools located in a school district shall
not be more than 10 percent of the total number of students enrolled in all
public schools in the school district.
(2) A school district board
may waive the requirements of subsection (1) of this section.
SECTION 5. Section 4 of this 1999 Act is repealed
January 1, 2003.
SECTION 6. Application process. (1) An
applicant seeking to establish a public charter school shall submit a written
proposal to a school district board.
(2) The proposal shall
include, but need not be limited to:
(a) The identification of
the applicant;
(b) The name of the proposed
public charter school;
(c) A description of the
philosophy and mission of the public charter school;
(d) A description of the
curriculum of the public charter school;
(e) A description of the
expected results of the curriculum and the verified methods of measuring and
reporting objective results that will show the growth of knowledge of students
attending the public charter school and allow comparisons with public schools;
(f) The governance structure
of the public charter school;
(g) The projected enrollment
to be maintained and the ages or grades to be served;
(h) The target population of
students the public charter school will be designed to serve;
(i) A description of any
distinctive learning or teaching techniques to be used in the public charter
school;
(j) The legal address,
facilities and physical location of the public charter school, if known;
(k) A description of
admission policies and application procedures;
(L) The statutes and rules
that shall apply to the public charter school;
(m) The proposed budget and
financial plan for the public charter school and evidence that the proposed
budget and financial plan for the public charter school are financially sound;
(n) The standards for
behavior and the procedures for the discipline, suspension or expulsion of
students;
(o) The proposed school
calendar for the public charter school, including the length of the school day
and school year;
(p) A description of the
proposed staff members and required qualifications of teachers at the public
charter school;
(q) The date upon which the
public charter school would begin operating;
(r) The arrangements for any
necessary special education and related services provided pursuant to section
21 of this 1999 Act for children with disabilities who may attend the public
charter school;
(s) Information on the
manner in which community groups may be involved in the planning and
development process of the public charter school;
(t) The term of the charter;
(u) The plan for performance
bonding or insuring the public charter school, including buildings and
liabilities;
(v) A proposed plan for the
placement of public charter school teachers, other school employees and
students of the public charter school upon termination or nonrenewal of a
charter;
(w) The manner in which the
program review and fiscal audit will be conducted; and
(x) In the case of an
existing public school being converted to charter status:
(A) The alternative
arrangements for students who choose not to attend the public charter school
and for teachers and other school employees who choose not to participate in
the public charter school; and
(B) The relationship that
will exist between the public charter school and its employees, including
evidence that the terms and conditions of employment have been addressed with
affected employees and their recognized representative, if any.
(3) In addition to the
requirements of subsection (2) of this section, the school district board may
require any additional information the board considers relevant to the
formation or operation of a public charter school.
(4) At the request of the
applicant, the school district board may provide technical assistance in
developing the proposal for operation of the public charter school.
(5) To the extent such
information is reasonably available, education service districts shall make
available to the public lists of vacant and unused public and private buildings
or portions of buildings that may be suitable for the operation of a public
charter school. School districts shall provide to the public and to their
education service districts lists of unused or underutilized buildings that are
owned by the school districts. Nothing in this subsection requires the owner of
a building on the list to sell or lease to a public charter school a building
or any portion of a building.
SECTION 7. Approval process. (1) Within 60 days
of receipt of a proposal submitted under section 6 of this 1999 Act, the school
district board shall hold a public hearing on the provisions of the proposal.
(2) The school district
board shall evaluate a proposal in good faith using the following criteria:
(a) The demonstrated,
sustainable support for the public charter school by teachers, parents,
students and other community members, including comments received at the public
hearing held under subsection (1) of this section;
(b) The demonstrated
financial stability of the public charter school;
(c) The capability of the
applicant, in terms of support and planning, to provide comprehensive
instructional programs to students pursuant to an approved proposal;
(d) The capability of the
applicant, in terms of support and planning, to specifically provide, pursuant
to an approved proposal, comprehensive instructional programs to students
identified by the applicant as academically low achieving;
(e) The extent to which the
proposal addresses the information required in section 6 of this 1999 Act;
(f) Whether the value of the
public charter school is outweighed by any directly identifiable, significant
and adverse impact on the quality of the public education of students residing
in the school district in which the public charter school will be located;
(g) Whether there are
arrangements for any necessary special education and related services for
children with disabilities pursuant to section 21 of this 1999 Act; and
(h) Whether there are
alternative arrangements for students and for teachers and other school
employees who choose not to attend or who choose not to be employed by the
public charter school.
(3) The school district
board must approve a proposal or state in writing the reasons for disapproving
a proposal within 30 days after the public hearing held under subsection (1) of
this section.
(4) Written notice of the
school district board's action shall be sent to the applicant. If the proposal
is not approved, the reasons for the denial and suggested remedial measures, if
any, shall be clearly stated in the notice sent by the school district board to
the applicant. If the proposal is not approved, the applicant may amend the
proposal to address objections and any suggested remedial measures and resubmit
the proposal to the school district board. The school district board shall
approve or disapprove the resubmitted proposal within 20 days after receiving
it. If the proposal is not approved, the applicant may appeal the decision of
the school district board to the State Board of Education.
(5) Individual elements in a
public charter school proposal may be changed through the application and
chartering process.
(6) A proposal to convert an
existing public school to a public charter school must be approved by the
school district board of the public school.
(7) The school district
board or the State Board of Education shall not charge any fee to applicants
for the application process.
(8) Upon request by a school
district, the State Board of Education may grant an extension of any timeline
required by this section if the district has good cause for requesting the
extension.
SECTION 8. Terms and form of charter. (1) Upon
approval of a proposal by a school district board under section 7 of this 1999
Act, the school district board shall become the sponsor of the public charter
school. The sponsor and applicant shall develop a written charter that contains
the provisions of the proposal that have been duly approved by the sponsor and
public charter school governing body. The sponsor and the applicant may agree
to change elements of the proposal prior to incorporating them into the charter
or exclude elements of the proposal from the charter. The charter, when duly
executed by the sponsor and the public charter school governing body, shall act
as the legal authorization for the establishment of the public charter school.
The charter shall be legally binding on both the sponsor and the public charter
school governing body. The charter shall be in effect for a period of not more
than five years and may be renewed upon the authorization of the sponsor.
(2) The sponsor and the
public charter school governing body may amend a charter by joint agreement.
SECTION 9. Application process review. (1) If a
school district board does not approve a proposal to start a public charter
school pursuant to section 7 of this 1999 Act, the applicant may request that
the State Board of Education review the decision of the school district board.
(2) Upon receipt of a
request for review, the State Board of Education:
(a) Shall attempt to mediate
a resolution between the applicant and the school district board.
(b) May recommend to the
applicant and school district board revisions to the application.
(c) If the school district
board does not accept the revisions to the application and the applicant agrees
to the sponsorship, may become the sponsor of the public charter school.
(3) Upon receipt of a
request for review, in addition to actions described in subsection (2) of this
section and at any time during the review process, the State Board of Education
may reject a proposal to start a public charter school based on the criteria
listed in section 7 (2) of this 1999 Act.
(4) An applicant may seek
judicial review of an order of the State Board of Education pursuant to ORS
183.484. If the court finds that the decision of the State Board of Education
is not supported by substantial evidence in the record, the court shall enter a
judgement directing the State Board of Education to sponsor the public charter
school.
SECTION 10. Charter review. (1) A public charter
school shall report to the sponsor and the State Board of Education at least
annually on the performance of the school and its students. A public charter
school shall disclose in its report information necessary to make a determination
of compliance with the requirements of sections 1 to 23 of this 1999 Act. The
sponsor or the sponsor's designee at least annually shall visit the public
charter school site and review the public charter school's compliance with the
terms and provisions of the charter.
(2) The public charter
school shall have an annual audit of the accounts of the public charter school
prepared in accordance with the Municipal Audit Law, ORS 297.405 to 297.555 and
297.990. The annual audit shall be forwarded to the sponsor, the State Board of
Education and the Department of Education.
(3) The State Board of
Education may require public charter schools to file reports with the
Department of Education as necessary to enable the department to gather
information on public charter schools for inclusion in the Oregon Report Card
issued pursuant to ORS 329.115.
SECTION 11. Review and termination. (1) During
the term of a charter, the sponsor may terminate the charter on any of the
following grounds:
(a) Failure to meet the
terms of an approved charter or sections 1 to 23 of this 1999 Act.
(b) Failure to meet the
requirements for student performance stated in the charter.
(c) Failure to correct a
violation of a federal or state law that is described in section 12 of this
1999 Act.
(d) Failure to maintain
insurance as described in the charter.
(e) Failure to maintain
financial stability.
(2) If a charter is
terminated under subsection (1) of this section, the sponsor shall notify the
public charter school governing body at least 60 days prior to the proposed
effective date of the termination. The notice shall state the grounds for the
termination. The public charter school governing body may request a hearing by
the sponsor.
(3) A public charter school
governing body may appeal any decision of a sponsor that is:
(a) A school district board
to the State Board of Education. The State Board of Education shall adopt by
rule procedures to ensure a timely appeals process to prevent disruption of
students' education.
(b) The State Board of
Education to the circuit court pursuant to ORS 183.484.
(4)(a) Notwithstanding
subsection (2) of this section, a sponsor may terminate a charter immediately
and close a public charter school if the public charter school is endangering
the health or safety of the students enrolled in the public charter school.
(b) The public charter
school governing body may request a hearing from the sponsor on the termination
of the charter under this subsection. The sponsor shall hold a hearing within
10 days after receiving the request.
(c) The public charter
school governing body may appeal a decision of a sponsor under this subsection
to the State Board of Education. The State Board of Education shall hold a
hearing within 10 days after receiving the appeal request.
(d) Throughout the appeals
process, the public charter school shall remain closed at the discretion of the
sponsor unless the State Board of Education orders the sponsor to open the
public charter school and not terminate the charter.
(5) Termination of a charter
shall not abridge the public charter school's legal authority to operate as a
private or nonchartered public school.
(6) If a charter is
terminated or a public charter school is dissolved, the assets of the public
charter school that were purchased with public funds shall be given to the
State Board of Education. The State Board of Education may disburse the assets
of the public charter school to school districts or other public charter
schools.
(7) A public charter school
governing body may only terminate a charter, dissolve or close a public charter
school at the end of a semester. If a charter is terminated by the public
charter school governing body or a public charter school is closed or
dissolved, the public charter school governing body shall notify the sponsor at
least 180 days prior to the proposed effective date of the termination, closure
or dissolution.
SECTION 12. Restrictions, protections, waivers and
application of law. (1) Statutes and rules that apply to school district
boards, school districts or other public schools shall not apply to public
charter schools. However, the following laws shall apply to public charter
schools:
(a) Federal law;
(b) ORS 192.410 to 192.505
(public records law);
(c) ORS 192.610 to 192.690
(public meetings law);
(d) ORS 297.405 to 297.555
and 297.990 (Municipal Audit Law);
(e) ORS 181.539, 326.603,
326.607 and 342.232 (criminal records checks);
(f) ORS 337.150 (textbooks);
(g) ORS 339.141, 339.147 and
339.155 (tuition and fees);
(h) ORS 659.150 and 659.155
(discrimination);
(i) ORS 30.260 to 30.300
(tort claims);
(j) Health and safety
statutes and rules;
(k) Any statute or rule that
is listed in the charter;
(L) The statewide assessment
system developed by the Department of Education under ORS 329.485 (1);
(m) ORS 329.045 (1)
(academic content areas);
(n) Any statute or rule that
establishes requirements for instructional time provided by a school during
each day or during a year; and
(o) Sections 1 to 23 of this
1999 Act.
(2) Notwithstanding
subsection (1) of this section, a charter may specify that statutes and rules
that apply to school district boards, school districts and other public schools
may apply to a public charter school.
(3) If a statute or rule
applies to a public charter school, then the terms "school district"
and "public school" shall include public charter school as those
terms are used in that statute or rule.
(4) A public charter school
shall not violate the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment to the United
States Constitution or section 5, Article I of the Oregon Constitution, or be
religion based.
(5) A public charter school
shall maintain an active enrollment of at least 25 students.
(6) A public charter school
may sue or be sued as a separate legal entity.
(7) The sponsor, members of
the governing board of the sponsor acting in their official capacity and
employees of a sponsor acting in their official capacity are immune from civil
liability with respect to all activities related to a public charter school
within the scope of their duties or employment.
(8) A public charter school
may enter into contracts and may lease facilities and services from a school
district, education service district, state institution of higher education,
other governmental unit or any person or legal entity.
(9) A public charter school
may not levy taxes or issue bonds under which the public incurs liability.
(10) A public charter school
may receive and accept gifts, grants and donations from any source for
expenditure to carry out the lawful functions of the school.
(11) The school district in
which the public charter school is located shall offer a high school diploma,
certificate, Certificate of Initial Mastery or Certificate of Advanced Mastery
to any public charter school student who meets the district's and state's
standards for a high school diploma, certificate, Certificate of Initial
Mastery or Certificate of Advanced Mastery.
(12) A high school diploma,
certificate, Certificate of Initial Mastery or Certificate of Advanced Mastery
issued by a public charter school shall grant to the holder the same rights and
privileges as a high school diploma, certificate, Certificate of Initial
Mastery or Certificate of Advanced Mastery issued by a nonchartered public
school.
(13) Prior to beginning
operation, the public charter school shall show proof of insurance to the
sponsor as specified in the charter.
SECTION 13. Authority for rules and waivers. (1)
The State Board of Education may adopt any rules necessary for the
implementation of sections 1 to 23 of this 1999 Act. The rules shall follow the
intent of sections 1 to 23 of this 1999 Act.
(2) Upon application by a
public charter school, the State Board of Education may grant a waiver of any
provision of sections 1 to 23 of this 1999 Act if the waiver promotes the
development of programs by providers, enhances the equitable access by
underserved families to the public education of their choice, extends the
equitable access to public support by all students or permits high quality
programs of unusual cost. The State Board of Education may not waive any appeal
provision in sections 1 to 23 of this 1999 Act or any provision under section
12 (1)(a) to (n) of this 1999 Act.
SECTION 13a. Report to Legislative Assembly. The
Department of Education shall report to the Seventy-first Legislative Assembly
on any public charter schools for which the State Board of Education is the
sponsor.
SECTION 14. Students. (1) Student enrollment in
a public charter school shall be voluntary. All students who reside within the
school district where the public charter school is located are eligible for
enrollment at a public charter school. If the number of applications from
students who reside within the school district exceeds the capacity of a
program, class, grade level or building, the public charter school shall select
students through an equitable lottery selection process. However, after a
public charter school has been in operation for one or more years, the public
charter school may give priority for admission to students:
(a) Who were enrolled in the
school in the prior year; or
(b) Who have siblings who
are presently enrolled in the school and who were enrolled in the school in the
prior year.
(2) If space is available a
public charter school may admit students who do not reside in the school
district in which the public charter school is located.
(3) A public charter school
may not limit student admission based on ethnicity, national origin,
disability, gender, income level, proficiency in the English language or
athletic ability, but may limit admission to students within a given age group
or grade level.
(4) A public charter school
may conduct fund-raising activities. However, a public charter school shall not
require a student to participate in fund-raising activities as a condition of
admission to the public charter school.
SECTION 15. Temporary student enrollment
restrictions. Notwithstanding section 14 of this 1999 Act, at least 80
percent of the students enrolled in a public charter school shall be residents
of the school district within which the public charter school is located.
SECTION 16. Section 15 of this 1999 Act is repealed
January 1, 2004.
SECTION 17. Employment status of public employees in
public charter schools. (1) Employee assignment to a public charter school
shall be voluntary.
(2) A public charter school
or the sponsor of the public charter school may be considered the employer of
any employees of the public charter school. If a school district board is not
the sponsor of the public charter school, the school district board shall not
be the employer of the employees of the public charter school and the school
district board may not collectively bargain with the employees of the public
charter school. The public charter school governing body shall control the
selection of employees at the public charter school.
(3) The school district
board of the school district within which the public charter school is located
shall grant a leave of absence to any employee who chooses to work in the
public charter school. The length and terms of the leave of absence shall be set
by negotiated agreement or by board policy. However, the length of the leave of
absence may not be less than two years unless:
(a) The charter of the
public charter school is terminated or the public charter school is dissolved
or closed during the leave of absence; or
(b) The employee and the
school district board have mutually agreed to a different length of time.
(4) An employee of a public
charter school operating within a school district who is granted a leave of
absence from the school district and returns to employment with the school
district shall retain seniority and benefits as an employee pursuant to the
terms of the leave of absence. Notwithstanding ORS 243.650 to 243.782, a school
district that was the employer of an employee of a public charter school not
operating within the school district may make provisions for the return of the
employee to employment with the school district.
(5) For purposes of ORS
chapter 238, a public charter school shall be considered a public employer and
as such shall participate in the Public Employees Retirement System.
(6) For teacher licensing,
employment experience in public charter schools shall be considered equivalent
to experience in public schools.
(7) Notwithstanding ORS
342.173, a public charter school may employ as a teacher or administrator a
person who is not licensed by the Teacher Standards and Practices Commission.
However, at least one-half of the total full-time equivalent (FTE) teaching and
administrative staff at the public charter school shall be licensed by the
commission pursuant to ORS 342.135, 342.136, 342.138 or 342.140.
(8) Notwithstanding ORS
243.650, a public charter school shall be considered a school district for
purposes of ORS 243.650 to 243.782. An employee of a public charter school may
be a member of a labor organization or organize with other employees to bargain
collectively. Bargaining units at the public charter school may be separate
from other bargaining units of the sponsor or of the school district in which
the public charter school is located. Employees of a public charter school may
be part of the bargaining units of the sponsor or of the school district in
which the public charter school is located.
(9) A school district or the
State Board of Education may not waive the right to sponsor a public charter
school in a collective bargaining agreement.
SECTION 18. The provisions of section 17 of this 1999
Act apply only to a collective bargaining agreement that is entered into,
renewed or extended after the effective date of this 1999 Act.
SECTION 19. Transportation services. (1) The
public charter school shall be responsible for providing transportation to
students who reside within the school district and who attend the public
charter school. The public charter school may negotiate with a school district
for the provision of transportation to students attending the public charter
school.
(2) Notwithstanding
subsection (1) of this section, the school district within which the public
charter school is located shall be responsible for the transportation of
students attending the public charter school pursuant to ORS 327.043 in the
same manner as students attending nonchartered public schools if the student is
a resident of the school district. However, a school district may not be
required to add or extend existing bus routes or other transportation services
pursuant to this subsection.
(3) Students who attend
public charter schools and who reside outside of the school district may use
existing bus routes and transportation services of the school district in which
a public charter school is located.
(4) Any transportation costs
incurred by a school district under this section shall be considered approved
transportation costs for purposes of ORS 327.013 (8) in the same manner as
transportation costs incurred by the school district for transporting students
who attend nonchartered public schools are considered approved transportation
costs for purposes of ORS 327.013 (8).
SECTION 20. Funding. (1) Students of a public
charter school shall be considered to be residents of the school district in
which the public charter school is located for purposes of distribution of the
State School Fund.
(2) A school district shall
contractually establish, with any public charter school that is sponsored by
the board of the school district, payment for provision of educational services
to the public charter school's students. The payment shall equal an amount per
weighted average daily membership (ADMw) of the public charter school that is
at least equal to:
(a) Eighty percent of the
amount of the school district's General Purpose Grant per ADMw as calculated
under ORS 327.013 for students who are enrolled in kindergarten through grade
eight; and
(b) Ninety-five percent of
the amount of the school district's General Purpose Grant per ADMw as
calculated under ORS 327.013 for students who are enrolled in grades 9 through
12.
(3) A school district shall
contractually establish, with any public charter school that is sponsored by
the State Board of Education and within the boundaries of the school district,
payment for provision of educational services to the public charter school's
students. The payment shall equal an amount per weighted average daily
membership (ADMw) of the public charter school that is at least equal to:
(a) Ninety percent of the
amount of the school district's General Purpose Grant per ADMw as calculated
under ORS 327.013 for students who are enrolled in kindergarten through grade
eight; and
(b) Ninety-five percent of
the amount of the school district's General Purpose Grant per ADMw as
calculated under ORS 327.013 for students who are enrolled in grades 9 through
12.
(4) The estimated amount of
each school district's General Purpose Grant per ADMw shall be determined each
year by the Department of Education and made available to all school districts.
(5) The school district in
which the public charter school is located shall transfer an amount per
weighted average daily membership (ADMw) of the public charter school that is
equal to 50 percent of the amount of the school district's General Purpose
Grant per ADMw as calculated under ORS 327.013 that is not paid to the public
charter school through a contract created pursuant to subsections (2) or (3) of
this section to:
(a) Any school district in
which the parent or guardian of or person in parental relationship to a student
of a public charter school resides pursuant to ORS 339.133 and 339.134; or
(b) The Department of
Education if the State Board of Education is the sponsor of the public charter
school.
(6) The department may use
any money received under this section for activities related to public charter
schools.
(7) A school district and a
public charter school may negotiate to establish a payment for the provision of
educational services to the public charter school's students that is more than
the minimum amounts specified in subsection (2) or (3) of this section.
(8) A school district shall
send payment to a public charter school based on a contract negotiated under
this section within 10 days after receiving payments from the State School Fund
pursuant to ORS 327.095.
(9)(a) A public charter
school may apply for any grant that is available to school districts or
nonchartered public schools from the Department of Education. The department
shall consider the application of the public charter school in the same manner
as an application from a school district or nonchartered public school.
(b) The department shall
award any grant that is available to school districts based solely on the
weighted average daily membership (ADMw) of the school district directly to the
public charter school. This paragraph does not apply to any grant from the
State School Fund.
SECTION 21. Special education. (1)
Notwithstanding section 20 (1) of this 1999 Act, for purposes of this section,
the "resident school district" of a student who is eligible for
special education and related services shall be the school district in which
the student's parent or guardian or person in parental relationship to the
student reside pursuant to ORS 339.133 and 339.134.
(2) For students who attend
public charter schools and are eligible for special education and related
services:
(a) The resident school
district of the student shall be responsible for providing any required special
education and related services to the student; and
(b) Amounts from the State
School Fund for those students shall be distributed through the resident school
district pursuant to this section.
(3) Notwithstanding section
20 (2) of this 1999 Act, a resident school district of a student who is
eligible for special education and related services shall contractually
establish, with any public charter school in which the student is enrolled,
payment for provision of special education and related services to the student.
If a student is enrolled in a public charter school and is eligible for special
education and related services an additional amount shall be added to the ADM
of the public charter school as described in ORS 327.013 (7)(a)(A). The payment
per ADMw in the public charter school that is attributable to the student who
is eligible for special education and related services shall equal an amount
that is at least equal to:
(a) 40 percent of the amount
of the school district's General Purpose Grant per ADMw as calculated under ORS
327.013 for students who are enrolled in kindergarten through grade eight; and
(b) 47.5 percent of the
amount of the school district's General Purpose Grant per ADMw as calculated
under ORS 327.013 for students who are enrolled in grades 9 through 12.
(4) If the resident school
district is not the sponsor of a public charter school, the resident school
district for each ADMw that is attributable to a student enrolled in a public
charter school who is eligible for special education and related services shall
transfer five percent of the amount of the school district's General Purpose
Grant per ADMw as calculated under ORS 327.013 to the sponsor of the public
charter school.
(5) Notwithstanding
subsection (3) of this section, a school district and a public charter school
may negotiate on a case-by-case basis for an alternative distribution of funds
other than the distribution prescribed by subsection (3) of this section.
SECTION 22. Public Charter School Development Fund.
(1) There is established a Public Charter School Development Fund, separate and
distinct from the General Fund, consisting of all funds received from the
federal government or from other sources for public charter school development
and any loans repaid under section 23 of this 1999 Act. All expenses incurred
in the administration of section 23 of this 1999 Act shall be borne by the
Public Charter School Development Fund. Interest earned by the fund shall be
credited to the fund.
(2) The moneys in the fund
are appropriated continuously to the Department of Education.
SECTION 23. Grant and loan program. (1) The
Department of Education shall award grants and loans to public charter schools
that have a charter approved by a sponsor or to applicants that wish to establish
or expand a public charter school. The purpose of the grants and loans is to
promote development of high quality public charter schools.
(2) Pursuant to rules
adopted by the State Board of Education, the Department of Education shall
award grants and loans on the basis of need. Priority for awarding grants and
loans shall be to those public charter schools serving at-risk youth.
(3) The State Board of
Education shall adopt by rule criteria for awarding grants and loans under this
section.
SECTION 24.
ORS 181.539 is amended to read:
181.539. (1) Upon the request of the Teacher Standards and
Practices Commission or the Department of Education, the Department of State
Police shall furnish to the authorized staff of the Teacher Standards and
Practices Commission or the Department of Education such information on a
subject individual as the Department of State Police may have in its possession
from its central bureau of criminal identification, including but not limited
to manual or computerized criminal offender information.
(2)(a) Subsequent to furnishing the information required under
subsection (1) of this section, the Department of State Police shall conduct
nationwide criminal records checks of the subject individual through the
Federal Bureau of Investigation by use of the subject individual's fingerprints
and shall report the results to the staff of the Teacher Standards and
Practices Commission or the Department of Education, who must be specifically
authorized to receive the information.
(b) The Federal Bureau of Investigation shall either return or
destroy the fingerprint cards used to conduct the criminal records check and
shall not keep any record of the fingerprints. However, if the federal bureau
policy authorizing return or destruction of the fingerprint cards is changed,
the department shall cease to send the cards to the federal bureau but shall
continue to process the information through other available resources.
(c) If the Federal Bureau of Investigation returns the
fingerprint cards to the Department of State Police, the department shall
return the fingerprint cards to the Teacher Standards and Practices Commission
or the Department of Education. The Teacher Standards and Practices Commission
or the Department of Education shall destroy the fingerprint cards and shall
retain no facsimiles or other material from which a fingerprint can be
reproduced.
(3) For purposes of requesting and receiving the information
and data described in subsections (1) and (2) of this section, the Teacher
Standards and Practices Commission and the Department of Education are
designated agencies for purposes of ORS 181.010 to 181.560 and 181.715 to
181.730.
(4) As used in this section, "subject individual"
means:
(a) An individual who is applying for initial issuance of a
license under ORS 342.120 to 342.430 as a teacher, administrator or personnel
specialist if the individual has not submitted to a criminal records check
within the previous year with the Teacher Standards and Practices Commission
for the purpose of a criminal records check.
(b) An individual who is applying for reinstatement of a
license as a teacher, administrator or personnel specialist whose license has
lapsed for at least three years.
(c) An individual who is applying for initial issuance of a
certificate under ORS 342.475 as a school nurse.
(d) A school district or private school contractor, whether
part-time or full-time, or an employee thereof, whether part-time or full-time,
who has direct, unsupervised contact with students as determined by the
district or private school.
(e) An individual newly hired, whether part-time or full-time,
by a school district or private school in a capacity not described in
paragraphs (a) to (c) of this subsection who has direct, unsupervised contact
with children as determined by the district or private school.
(f) An individual employee, whether part-time or full-time, of
a school district or private school in a capacity not described in paragraphs
(a) to (c) of this subsection who has direct, unsupervised contact with
children as determined by the district or private school.
(g) An individual who is registering with the Teacher Standards
and Practices Commission for student teaching, practicum or internship as a
teacher, administrator or personnel specialist, if the individual has not
submitted to a criminal records check within the previous year with the Teacher
Standards and Practices Commission for student teaching, practicum or
internship as a teacher, administrator or personnel specialist.
(h) An individual who is a community college faculty member
providing instruction at a kindergarten through grade 12 school site during the
regular school day.
(i) An individual who is
an employee of a public charter school.
(5) "Subject individual" does not include an
individual described in subsection (4)(d), (e), (f), [or] (h) or (i) of this section if the
individual or the individual's employer was checked in one school district or
private school and is currently seeking to work in another district or private
school unless the individual lived outside this state during the period between
the two periods of time of working in the district or private school.
(6) Nothing in this section shall be considered to require a
subject individual as described in subsection (4)(d), [or] (e) or (i) of this section to submit to
fingerprinting until the individual has been offered employment or a contract
by a school district or private school. Contractor employees shall not be
required to submit to fingerprinting until the contractor has been offered a
contract.
(7) As used in this section:
(a) "Private school" means a school that provides
educational services as defined in ORS 345.505 and is registered as a private
school under ORS 345.505 to 345.575.
(b) "School district" means:
(A) A school district as defined in ORS 330.003.
(B) The Oregon State School for the Blind.
(C) The Oregon State School for the Deaf.
(D) An educational program under the Youth Corrections
Education Program.
(E) A public charter
school as defined in section 2 of this 1999 Act.
SECTION 25.
ORS 326.603 is amended to read:
326.603. (1)(a) A school district shall send to the Department
of Education for purposes of a criminal records check any information,
including fingerprints, for each subject individual described in ORS 181.539
(4)(d), (e), (f), [or] (h) or (i).
(b) A private school may send to the Department of Education
for purposes of a criminal records check any information, including
fingerprints, for each subject individual described in ORS 181.539 (4)(d), (e),
(f) or (h).
(2) The Department of Education shall request criminal offender
information from the Department of State Police in the manner required by ORS
181.539 and shall charge the district or private school a fee of $42 for the
cost of acquiring and furnishing the information described in ORS 181.525 and
181.539. The school district or private school may recover its costs or a
portion thereof from the subject individual described in ORS 181.539 (4)(d),
(e), (f), [or] (h) or (i). If the
subject individual described in ORS 181.539 (4)(e), [or] (f) or (i) requests, the district shall and
a private school may withhold the amount from amounts otherwise due the
individual, including a periodic payroll deduction rather than a lump sum
payment.
(3)(a) If the Superintendent of Public Instruction informs the
school district that the subject individual has been convicted of a crime
listed in ORS 342.143 or has made a false statement as to the conviction of a
crime, the superintendent shall notify the school district of the fact and the
district shall not employ or contract with the individual. Notification by the
superintendent that the school district shall not employ or contract with the
subject individual shall remove the individual from any school district
policies, collective bargaining provisions regarding dismissal procedures and
appeals and the provisions of ORS 342.805 to 342.937.
(b) The Superintendent of Public Instruction shall notify the
private school if the subject individual has been convicted of a crime listed
in ORS 342.143 or has made a false statement as to the conviction of a crime.
Based on the notice, the private school may choose not to employ or contract
with the individual.
(c) The criminal records are confidential and shall not be
released to the district or private school but are subject to inspection by the
subject individual. The subject individual, other than a subject individual in
a private school, may appeal the determination as a contested case under ORS
183.413 to 183.470 and the superintendent shall notify the subject individual
of the right to appeal the determination.
(4) If an individual described in subsection (1) of this
section refuses to consent to the criminal records check or refuses to be
fingerprinted or if the subject individual falsely swears to the nonconviction
of a crime, the district shall terminate the employment or contract status of
the individual. Termination under this subsection shall remove the individual
from any school district policies, collective bargaining provisions regarding
dismissal procedures and appeals and the provisions of ORS 342.805 to 342.937.
(5) The State Board of Education by rule shall specify the
information to be required by subsection (1) of this section.
(6)(a) A school district shall not hire or continue to employ
or contract with or allow the contractor to continue to assign an individual to
the school project if the individual described in subsection (1) of this
section has been convicted of a crime according to the provisions of ORS
342.143.
(b) School district employment and contract forms shall contain
a notice that employment or contracting is subject to fingerprinting and a
criminal records check as required by ORS 181.525, 181.537, 181.539, 326.603,
342.223, 342.227 and 342.232.
(7) As used in this section and ORS 326.607:
(a) "Private school" means a school that provides
educational services as defined in ORS 345.505 and is registered as a private
school under ORS 345.505 to 345.575.
(b) "School district" means:
(A) A school district as defined in ORS 330.003.
(B) The Oregon State School for the Blind.
(C) The Oregon State School for the Deaf.
(D) An educational program under the Youth Corrections
Education Program.
(E) A public charter
school as defined in section 2 of this 1999 Act.
SECTION 26.
ORS 326.607 is amended to read:
326.607. (1) Upon request from a school district, a private school or a public charter school or a
school district, [or] private school or public charter school contractor and with consent from the
individual, the Department of Education may conduct an Oregon criminal history
check using the Law Enforcement Data System for screening any individual who is
a volunteer for the school district,
[or] private school or public charter school and who has
direct, unsupervised contact with school children, or for screening applicants
for employment.
(2) The department may charge the requesting school district,
private school, public charter school
or school district, [or] private school or public charter school contractor a fee not to exceed $5 for each
request under subsection (1) of this section.
SECTION 27.
ORS 327.077 is amended to read:
327.077. (1) A school may qualify as a remote small school if
the average daily membership:
(a) In grades one through eight for an elementary school
teaching:
(A) Eight grades is below 224.
(B) Seven grades is below 196.
(C) Six grades is below 168.
(D) Five grades is below 140.
(E) Four grades is below 112.
(F) Three grades is below 84.
(G) Two grades is below 56.
(H) One grade is below 28.
(b) In grades 9 through 12 for a high school teaching:
(A) Four grades is below 350.
(B) Three grades is below 267.
(2)(a) No elementary school shall qualify as a remote small
school under subsection (1)(a) of this section if it is within eight miles by
the nearest traveled road from another elementary school unless there are
physiographic conditions that make transportation to another school not
feasible.
(b) No high school shall qualify as a remote small school under
subsection (1)(b) of this section if it is within 10 miles by the nearest
traveled road from another high school unless there are physiographic
conditions that make transportation to another school not feasible.
(3)(a) If an elementary school in a school district qualifies
as a remote small school, the district shall have an additional amount added to
the district's ADMw.
(b) The additional amount = {224 - (ADMa – (number of
grades in the school – eight))} x .0045 x ADMa x distance adjustment.
(4)(a) If a high school in a district qualifies as a remote
small school, the district shall have an additional amount added to the
district's ADMw.
(b) The additional amount = {350 - (ADMa – (number of grades in
the school – four))} x .0029 x ADMa x distance adjustment.
(5)(a) The distance adjustment for an elementary school = .025
for each 10th of a mile more than eight miles that a school is away from the
nearest elementary school measured by the nearest traveled road or 1.0, whichever
is less.
(b) The distance adjustment for a high school = .01 for each
10th of a mile over 10 miles that a school is away from the nearest high school
measured by the nearest traveled road or 1.0, whichever is less.
(6)(a) A school may qualify as a remote small school under this
section only if the location of the school has not changed since January 1,
1995, and if the school qualified as a remote small school on July 18, 1995.
(b) A public charter
school as defined in section 2 of this 1999 Act may qualify as a remote small
school under this section only if the location of the school has not changed
since January 1, 1995, and if the school qualified as a nonchartered public
remote small school on July 18, 1995.
[(b)] (c) The Superintendent of Public
Instruction may waive the requirements of paragraph (a) or (b) of this subsection if the superintendent determines that
exceptional circumstances exist.
(7) The opening of a
public charter school shall not disqualify a school as a remote small school under
subsection (2) of this section or change the distance adjustment for a school
under subsection (5) of this section.
[(7)] (8) For purposes of this section:
(a) The "adjusted average daily membership" or
"ADMa" for an elementary school shall be the average daily membership
for the school, but no less than 25.
(b) The "adjusted average daily membership" or
"ADMa" for a high school shall be the average daily membership for
the school, but no less than 60.
SECTION 28.
ORS 327.109 is amended to read:
327.109. (1) Upon receipt from a citizen of Oregon of a
complaint [which] that on its face is colorable that a
school district or public charter school
is a district or public charter school
[which] that sponsors, financially supports or is actively involved with
religious activity, the Superintendent of Public Instruction or the
superintendent's designated representative shall undertake promptly a
preliminary investigation of the facts alleged in the complaint.
(2) If, after the preliminary investigation, the superintendent
finds that there is a substantial basis to believe that the school district or public charter school is a district or public charter school that [which] sponsors, financially supports or
is actively involved with religious activity, the superintendent shall:
(a) In the case of a school
district:
[(a)] (A) Notify the complainant and the
school district;
[(b)] (B) Withhold immediately all funds due
the school district under ORS
327.095; and
[(c)] (C) Schedule a contested case hearing to
be conducted in accordance with ORS 183.413 to [183.464] 183.470.
(b) In the case of a
public charter school:
(A) Notify the complainant,
the public charter school, the school district in which the public charter
school is located and the sponsor of the public charter school;
(B) Withhold immediately all
funds for the public charter school that, pursuant to section 20 of this 1999
Act, are due under ORS 327.095 to the school district in which the public
charter school is located;
(C) Order the school district
in which the public charter school is located to withhold immediately all funds
due the public charter school under section 20 of this 1999 Act; and
(D) Schedule a contested
case hearing to be conducted in accordance with ORS 183.413 to 183.470.
(3)(a) [If,] In the case of a school district if, after the preliminary
investigation, the superintendent finds that there is no substantial basis to
believe that the school district is a district [which] that sponsors,
financially supports or is actively involved with religious activity, the
superintendent shall notify the complainant and the district of that finding
and shall not withhold funds due the district under ORS 327.095 or schedule a
hearing.
(b) In the case of a
public charter school if, after the preliminary investigation, the
superintendent finds that there is no substantial basis to believe that the
public charter school is a school that sponsors, financially supports or is
actively involved with religious activity, the superintendent shall notify the
complainant, the public charter school, the school district in which the public
charter school is located and the sponsor of the public charter school of that
finding and shall not schedule a hearing or withhold funds for the public
charter school that, pursuant to section 20 of this 1999 Act, are due under ORS
327.095 to the school district in which the public charter school is located.
The superintendent shall also order the school district in which the public
charter school is located not to withhold funds due the public charter school
under section 20 of this 1999 Act.
(4) During the preliminary investigation, the school district or public charter school shall
cooperate to a reasonable degree with the superintendent and provide any and
all evidence [which] that the superintendent considers
necessary for the investigation. If the school district or public charter school fails or refuses to cooperate to a
reasonable degree with the superintendent during the investigation, the
superintendent shall presume that there is a substantial basis to believe that
the school district or public charter school is a school district or public charter school [which]
that sponsors, financially supports
or is actively involved with religious activity and shall proceed as provided
in subsection (2) of this section.
(5) If the superintendent makes a finding under subsection (2)
or (4) of this section, the school district or public charter school shall receive no funds under ORS 327.095 or section 20 of this 1999 Act from the
date of the superintendent's finding until the superintendent finds that the school district or public charter school is no longer sponsoring, financially
supporting or actively involved with religious activity.
(6) The funds withheld under this section shall be held in an
escrow account and shall be removed from that account only as follows:
(a) If the superintendent determines, after a contested case
hearing, or a court on appeal rules, that the school district or public charter school never sponsored,
financially supported or was actively involved with religious activity, the
entire amount, including interest thereon, in the escrow account shall be
released to the school district or public charter school.
(b) If the superintendent determines, after a contested case
hearing, or a court on appeal rules, that the school district or public charter school sponsored,
financially supported or was actively involved with religious activity in the
past but has ceased to do so, that portion of the amount, including interest
thereon, in the escrow account [which]
that accrued to the school district or public charter school after the school district or public
charter school ceased the proscribed conduct shall be paid to the school district or public charter school. Any amount, including interest thereon,
permanently withheld from the school
district or public charter school
shall revert to the State School Fund or to the General Fund, if the biennium
has ended.
(c) If the school district or
public charter school does not cease the proscribed conduct by the
beginning of the next school year, the superintendent shall notify the State
Treasurer who shall cause the amount in the escrow account, including interest
thereon, to revert to the State School Fund or to the General Fund, if the
biennium has ended.
(7) If the superintendent schedules a contested case hearing,
as provided in subsection (2) of this section, the superintendent may conduct
such further investigation of the facts relevant to the complaint as the
superintendent considers necessary. In conducting the investigation, the
superintendent shall have the power of subpoena to compel production of
documents and attendance of witnesses at depositions and may do all things
necessary to secure a full and thorough investigation.
(8) If a person or school district or public charter school fails to comply with any subpoena issued
under subsection (7) of this section, a judge of the circuit court of any
county, on application of the superintendent, shall compel obedience by
proceedings for contempt as in the case of disobedience of the requirements of
a subpoena issued from circuit court.
SECTION 29.
ORS 329.045 is amended to read:
329.045. (1) In order to achieve the goals contained in ORS
329.025 and 329.035, the State Board of Education shall regularly and
periodically review and revise its Common Curriculum Goals. This includes
Essential Learning Skills and rigorous academic content standards in
mathematics, science, history, geography, economics, civics and English. School
districts and public charter schools
shall maintain control over course content, format, materials and teaching
methods but shall ensure that students receive instruction in the academic
content areas [and in health and physical
education]. The rigorous academic content standards shall reflect the
knowledge and skills necessary for achieving Certificates of Mastery and
diplomas pursuant to ORS 329.025 and as described in ORS 329.447. The regular
review shall involve teachers and other educators, parents of students and
other citizens and shall provide ample opportunity for public comment.
(2) The State Board of Education shall continually review all
adopted standards and shall raise the standards in academic content areas to
the highest levels possible.
(3) The Common Curriculum Goals reviewed and revised by the
board under subsection (1) of this section shall also include goals in physical
education and health. In accordance with the Common Curriculum Goals, school
districts shall offer instruction in content areas, physical education and
health.
SECTION 30.
ORS 337.150 is amended to read:
337.150. (1) Subject
to ORS 339.155, each district school board shall provide textbooks, prescribed
or authorized by law, for free use by all resident public school pupils
enrolled in kindergarten through grade 12.
(2) Subject to ORS
339.155, each public charter school as defined in section 2 of this 1999 Act
shall provide textbooks, prescribed or authorized by law, for free use by all
pupils enrolled in the public charter school.
SECTION 31.
ORS 339.141 is amended to read:
339.141. (1) For the purposes of this section:
(a) "Public charter
school" has the meaning given that term in section 2 of this 1999 Act.
[(a)] (b) "Regular school program"
means the regular curriculum provided in the required full-time day sessions in
the schools of the district, including
public charter schools, for grades 1 through 12 and the school program for
kindergarten during the period of approximately nine months each year when the
schools of the district or public
charter schools are normally in operation and does not include summer
sessions or evening sessions.
[(b)] (c) "Tuition" means payment
for the cost of instruction and does not include fees authorized under ORS
339.155.
(2) Except as provided in subsection (3) of this section,
district school boards and public
charter schools may establish tuition rates to be paid by pupils receiving
instruction in educational programs, classes or courses of study, including driver
instruction, which are not a part of the regular school program. Tuition
charges, if made, shall not exceed the estimated cost to the district or public charter school of furnishing
the program, class or course of study.
(3) Except as provided in ORS 336.805 for driver instruction:
(a) No tuition shall be charged to any resident pupil regularly
enrolled in the regular school program for special instruction received at any
time in connection therewith.
(b) No program, class or course of study for which tuition is
charged, except courses of study beyond the 12th grade, shall be eligible for
reimbursement from state funds.
SECTION 32.
ORS 339.147 is amended to read:
339.147. (1)(a) Notwithstanding ORS 339.141, no district school
board or public charter school as
defined in section 2 of this 1999 Act shall require tuition for courses not
part of the regular school program, except for driver instruction, from a pupil
who is a member of a low-income family in an amount in excess of what the
low-income family may receive as money specifically to be used for payment of
such tuition.
(b) As used in this subsection, "low-income family"
means a family whose children qualify for free or reduced price school meals
under a federal program, including but not limited to the National School Lunch
Act and the Child Nutrition Act of 1966, and all their subsequent amendments.
(2) A family that does not qualify under subsection (1) of this
section but believes the payment of school tuition is a severe hardship may
request the district school board or
public charter school to waive in whole or in part the payment of such
tuition.
(3) Any parent or guardian who believes that payment of any fee
authorized under ORS 339.155 is a severe hardship may request the district
school board or public charter school
to waive payment of the fee and the board or
public charter school shall waive in whole or in part the fee upon a
finding of hardship. Consideration shall be given to any funds specifically
available to the parent, guardian or child for the payment of fees or other
school expenses.
(4) No district school board or public charter school shall impose or collect fees authorized
under ORS 339.155 from any student who is a ward of a juvenile court or of the
Oregon Youth Authority or the State Office for Services to Children and
Families unless funds are available therefor in the court's, authority's or
office's budget.
(5) No district school board or public charter school is required to waive any fee imposed under
ORS 339.155 (5)(a) or (d).
SECTION 33.
ORS 339.155 is amended to read:
339.155. (1) No district school board or public charter school as defined in section 2 of this 1999 Act
shall require payment of fees as a condition of admission to those pupils
entitled under the law to free admission. However, the following are not
considered as conditions of admission:
(a) Pursuant to ORS 339.141, but subject to ORS 339.147,
tuition may be charged for courses not part of the regular school program.
(b) No charge shall be made for a standard, prescribed textbook
but a security deposit may be required which may be refunded if the textbook is
returned in usable condition. Supplemental texts shall be made available on
loan.
(c) A deposit may be charged for a lock for a locker.
(2) A district school board or public charter school may require pupils who do not furnish
their own attire for physical education classes to pay an appropriate fee for
uniforms provided by the district or
public charter school.
(3) A district school board or public charter school may require pupils who do not provide
appropriate towels for physical education classes to pay a fee for use of
towels provided by the district or
public charter school.
(4) A district school board or public charter school may require payment of fees for the use of
musical instruments owned or rented by the district or public charter school, the fee not to exceed the rental cost to
the district or public charter school
or the annual depreciation plus actual maintenance cost for each instrument;
except that children exempt from tuition under ORS 339.147 shall be loaned
musical instruments by the school district or
public charter school without charge.
(5) Subject to ORS 339.147, a district school board or public charter school may require
payments of fees in any of the following:
(a) In any program where the resultant product, in excess of
minimum course requirements and at the pupil's option, becomes the personal
property of the pupil.
(b) Admission fees or charges for extracurricular activities
where pupil attendance is optional.
(c) A security deposit conditioned on the return of materials,
supplies or equipment including athletic equipment.
(d) Items of personal use or products which a pupil may
purchase such as student publications, class rings, annuals and graduation
announcements.
(e) Field trips considered optional to a district's or public charter school's regular
school program.
(f) Any authorized voluntary pupil health and accident benefit
plan.
(g) As used in this subsection, "minimum course
requirements" means any product required to be produced to meet the goals
of the course.
SECTION 34.
ORS 342.232 is amended to read:
342.232. (1) A school district, [or] private school or public charter school may authorize
an individual described under ORS 181.539 (4)(d), [or] (h) or (i) to begin carrying out the terms
of a contract pending the return of the criminal records check by the Federal
Bureau of Investigation.
(2) A school district,
[or] private school or public charter school may hire on a
probationary basis an individual described under ORS 181.539 (4)(e) or (i) pending the return of the
criminal records check by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
SECTION 35.
ORS 659.155 is amended to read:
659.155. (1) Any public elementary or secondary school
determined by the Superintendent of Public Instruction or any community college
determined by the Commissioner for Community College Services to be in
noncompliance with provisions of ORS 659.150 and this section shall be subject
to appropriate sanctions, which may include withholding of all or part of state
funding, as established by rule of the State Board of Education.
(2) Any public institution of higher education determined by
the Chancellor of the State Board of Higher Education to be in noncompliance
with provisions of ORS 659.150 and this section shall be subject to appropriate
sanctions, which may include withholding of all or part of state funding, as
established by rule of the State Board of Higher Education.
(3) Any public charter
school determined by the sponsor of the school or the Superintendent of Public
Instruction to be in noncompliance with the provisions of ORS 659.150 and this
section shall be subject to appropriate sanctions, which may include the withholding
of all or part of state funding by the sponsor or superintendent, as
established by rule of the State Board of Education.
SECTION 36. The State Board of Education and school
districts may take all necessary actions to implement sections 1 to 23 of this
1999 Act and the amendments to ORS 181.539, 326.603, 326.607, 327.077, 327.109,
329.045, 337.150, 339.141, 339.147, 339.155, 342.232 and 659.155 by sections 24
to 35 of this 1999 Act prior to the operative date of sections 1 to 23 of this
1999 Act and the amendments to ORS 181.539, 326.603, 326.607, 327.077, 327.109,
329.045, 337.150, 339.141, 339.147, 339.155, 342.232 and 659.155 by sections 24
to 35 of this 1999 Act.
SECTION 37. Sections 1 to 23 of this 1999 Act and the
amendments to ORS 181.539, 326.603, 326.607, 327.077, 327.109, 329.045,
337.150, 339.141, 339.147, 339.155, 342.232 and 659.155 by sections 24 to 35 of
this 1999 Act become operative 120 days after the effective date of this 1999
Act.
SECTION 38. The section captions used in this 1999 Act
are provided only for the convenience of the reader and do not become part of
the statutory law of this state or express any legislative intent in the
enactment of this 1999 Act.
SECTION 39. This 1999 Act being necessary for the
immediate preservation of the public peace, health and safety, an emergency is
declared to exist, and this 1999 Act takes effect on its passage.
Approved by the Governor May
27, 1999
Filed in the office of
Secretary of State May 27, 1999
Effective date May 27, 1999
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