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7 LONG TITLE
8 General Description:
9 This bill modifies provisions related to charter school enrollment preferences.
10 Highlighted Provisions:
11 This bill:
12 ▸ allows a charter school to give an enrollment preference to the sibling of an
13 individual who was previously enrolled in the charter school.
14 Money Appropriated in this Bill:
15 None
16 Other Special Clauses:
17 None
18 Utah Code Sections Affected:
19 AMENDS:
20 53A-1a-506, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2014, Chapters 291, 363, and 406
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22 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
23 Section 1. Section 53A-1a-506 is amended to read:
24 53A-1a-506. Eligible students.
25 (1) As used in this section:
26 (a) "District school" means a public school under the control of a local school board
27 elected pursuant to Title 20A, Chapter 14, Nomination and Election of State and Local School
28 Boards.
29 (b) "Refugee" means a person who is eligible to receive benefits and services from the
30 federal Office of Refugee Resettlement.
31 (2) All resident students of the state qualify for admission to a charter school, subject
32 to the limitations set forth in this section and Section 53A-1a-506.5.
33 (3) (a) A charter school shall enroll an eligible student who submits a timely
34 application, unless the number of applications exceeds the capacity of a program, class, grade
35 level, or the charter school.
36 (b) If the number of applications exceeds the capacity of a program, class, grade level,
37 or the charter school, the charter school shall select students [
38 basis, except as provided in Subsections (4) through (8).
39 (4) A charter school may give an enrollment preference to:
40 (a) a child or grandchild of an individual who has actively participated in the
41 development of the charter school;
42 (b) a child or grandchild of a member of the charter school governing board;
43 (c) a sibling of a [
44 the charter school;
45 (d) a child of an employee of the charter school;
46 (e) [
47 that are governed by the same charter school governing board;
48 (f) [
49 articulation agreement between the charter schools that is approved by the State Charter School
50 Board; or
51 (g) students who reside within:
52 (i) the school district in which the charter school is located;
53 (ii) the municipality in which the charter school is located; or
54 (iii) a two-mile radius of the charter school.
55 (5) (a) Except as provided in Subsection (5)(b), a charter school that is approved by the
56 State Board of Education after May 13, 2014, and is located in a high growth area shall give an
57 enrollment preference to [
58 the charter school.
59 (b) The requirement to give an enrollment preference under Subsection (5)(a) does not
60 apply to a charter school that was approved without a high priority status pursuant to
61 Subsection 53A-1a-502.5[
62 (6) If a district school converts to charter status, the charter school shall give an
63 enrollment preference to students who would have otherwise attended it as a district school.
64 (7) (a) A charter school whose mission is to enhance learning opportunities for
65 refugees or children of refugee families may give an enrollment preference to refugees or
66 children of refugee families.
67 (b) A charter school whose mission is to enhance learning opportunities for English
68 language learners may give an enrollment preference to English language learners.
69 (8) A charter school may weight [
70 chance of admission to educationally disadvantaged students, including:
71 (a) low-income students;
72 (b) students with disabilities;
73 (c) English language learners;
74 (d) migrant students;
75 (e) neglected or delinquent students; and
76 (f) homeless students.
77 (9) A charter school may not discriminate in its admission policies or practices on the
78 same basis as other public schools may not discriminate in [
79 practices.
Legislative Review Note
Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel