Agency: State Board of Education

Line Item: State Charter School Board

Function

Created by H.B. 152 of the 2004 General Session, the State Charter School Board authorizes and promotes the establishment of charter schools and advises the State Board of Education on charter school issues.

The State Charter School Board consists of seven members appointed by the Governor. Statute details that Charter School Board members must reflect the following qualifications: two members who have expertise in finance or small business management; three members who are appointed from a slate of at least six candidates nominated by Utah's charter schools; and two members who are appointed from a slate of at least four candidates nominated by the State Board of Education. Board member terms are four years.

Statutory Authority

The following highlights the major statutes dealing with charter schools and the State Charter School Board:

• UCA 53A-1a-501.5 -- Creates the State Charter School Board, defines member qualifications, length of term, appointment process, and compensation.

• UCA 53A-1a-501.6 -- Details the powers and duties of the Charter School Board. Powers include the authorization of charter schools, review and monitoring of charter schools, provision of technical assistance to charter schools, and advising the State Board of Education on charter school issues.

• UCA 53A-1a-501.7 -- Provides the process of appointing a staff director to the Charter School Board.

• UCA 53A-1a-503 et. seq. -- Sections 501-- 515 details statutory provisions relating to charter schools. These provisions include the purpose of charter schools, application process, requirements for charter schools, provisions for termination of a charter, State Board rule waivers, funding for charter schools, and provisions regulating charter schools approved by local school boards.

Intent Language

The Legislature intends that the Charter School Board develop quantifiable performance measures associated with the activities of the State Charter School Board that directly tie the achievements of the various programs to the incurred costs.

Performance

The Charter School Board considers the grades achieved by charter schools compared to district schools and the total number of charter school students as indicative of its success.

Funding Detail

For more detail about a particular source of finance or organizational unit, click a linked entry in the left column of the table(s) below.