Assigned to ED FOR COMMITTEE
ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Sixth Legislature, Second Regular Session
FACT SHEET FOR S.B. 1460
charter schools; expansion; approval
Purpose
Allows the Executive Director of the Arizona State Board for Charter Schools (ASBCS) to
approve an amendment to a charter school's charter to expand the school's operation, rather than
requiring the charter school sponsor's approval, if the charter school meets outlined requirements.
Background
Charter schools are public schools operated through a charter between a charter holder and
a charter sponsor. Statute allows the charter sponsor to be either the State Board of Education, the
ASBCS, a university under the jurisdiction of the Arizona Board of Regents, a community college
district or a group of community college districts, subject to statutory requirements. A charter
sponsor may contract with a public body, private person or private organization to establish a
charter school and has oversight and administrative responsibility for the charter schools it
sponsors. A charter must meet outlined requirements, including providing for a governing body
that is responsible for the school's policy decisions. A charter is initially effective for 15 years and
renewable for 20-year terms. Every five years, a charter sponsor must review the charter according
to an adopted performance framework. A charter may be amended at the request of the charter
school governing body and on approval of the sponsor (A.R.S. ยง 15-183).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this
legislation.
Provisions
1. Restricts the required approval necessary to approve an amendment to a charter school's charter
that expands the school's operations to only the approval of the Executive Director of the
ASBCS, rather than the charter school sponsor, if the school meets the following requirements:
a) is assigned a letter grade of A or B;
b) has been operating for at least three years; and
c) is in good financial and operational standing.
2. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
Prepared by Senate Research
February 5, 2024
MH/mg