First Regular Session
Seventy-fourth General Assembly
STATE OF COLORADO
INTRODUCED
LLS NO. 23-0624.01 Amber Paoloemilio x5497
HOUSE BILL 23-1025
House Committees Senate Committees
Education
A BILL FOR AN ACT
C
ONCERNING EXTENSION OF CHARTER SCHOOL APPLICATIONS .101
Bill Summary
(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced and does
not reflect any amendments that may be subsequently adopted. If this bill
passes third reading in the house of introduction, a bill summary that
applies to the reengrossed version of this bill will be available at
http://leg.colorado.gov
.)
The bill extends the timeline from 12 months to 18 months for
prospective charter schools to submit applications to become charter
schools to the local board of education. It also permits local school boards
to issue requests for proposals for prospective charter schools. The bill
allows local boards of education to apply to the state board of education
for modifications to the timelines set forth in the bill.
HOUSE SPONSORSHIP
Taggart,
SENATE SPONSORSHIP
(None),
Shading denotes HOUSE amendment. Double underlining denotes SENATE amendment.
Capital letters or bold & italic numbers indicate new material to be added to existing statute.
Dashes through the words indicate deletions from existing statute. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado:1
SECTION 1. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 22-30.5-107, amend2
(1)(b), (2), and (2.5); and add (1)(d) and (1.3) as follows:3
22-30.5-107. Charter application - process. (1) (b) The local4
board of education shall receive and review all applications for charter5
schools. If the local board of education does not review a charter6
application, it shall be deemed to have denied the THAT charter7
application
IS DENIED. FOR APPLICATIONS BEGINNING IN 2024, a charter8
applicant must file its application with the local board of education by a
9
date determined by the local board of education to be eligible for10
consideration for the following school year DURING THE PERIOD11
BEGINNING FEBRUARY 1 AND ENDING APRIL 1. An application is12
considered filed when the school district administration receives the13
charter application from the charter applicant either in hard copy or14
electronically. The date determined by the local board of education for15
filing of applications shall not be any earlier than August 1 or any later16
than October 1. Prior to any change in the application deadline, the local17
board of education shall notify the department and each charter school18
applicant in the district of the proposed change by certified letter. The19
local board of education shall not charge any application fees.20
(d) A
NY DATE IN THIS SUBSECTION (1) THAT FALLS ON A WEEKEND,21
A LEGAL HOLIDAY, OR A DAY SCHOOL IS NOT IN SESSION IS EXTENDED TO22
THE NEXT SCHOOL DAY.23
(1.3) I
N THE PERIOD FROM NOVEMBER 15 TO JANUARY 15 EACH24
SCHOOL YEAR, A SCHOOL DISTRICT MAY ISSUE A REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS25
FOR PROSPECTIVE CHARTER SCHOOLS . THE REQUESTS MAY CONTAIN26
AREAS OF INTEREST WANTED BY THE SCHOOL DISTRICT FOR CHARTER27
HB23-1025
-2- APPLICANTS IN THE UPCOMING APPLICATION CYCLE .1
(2) After giving reasonable public notice, the local board of2
education shall hold community meetings in the affected areas or the3
entire school district to obtain information to assist the local board of4
education in its decision to approve a charter school application. The local5
board of education shall rule by resolution on the application for a charter6
school in a public hearing, upon reasonable public notice, within ninety7
days after receiving the application filed pursuant to subsection (1) of this8
section NO LATER THAN JUNE 30. A CHARTER SCHOOL SHALL USE THE9
SCHOOL AND FISCAL YEAR , JULY 1 TO JUNE 30, FOLLOWING THE10
SUBMISSION OF ITS CHARTER APPLICATION AS A PLANNING YEAR , DURING11
WHICH THE CHARTER SCHOOL SHALL PREPARE FOR SERVING STUDENTS THE12
NEXT SCHOOL YEAR. All negotiations between the charter school and the13
local board of education on the contract shall be concluded by, and all14
terms of the contract agreed upon, no later than ninety days after the local15
board of education rules by resolution on the application for a charter16
school
OR SEPTEMBER 30, WHICHEVER DATE IS LATER.17
(2.5) The charter applicant and the local board of education may18
jointly waive
OR EXTEND the deadlines
TIMELINES set forth in this section.19
T
HE LOCAL BOARD OF EDUCATION MAY APPLY TO THE STATE BOARD OF20
EDUCATION FOR A MODIFICATION OR WAIVER OF THE TIMELINES SET FORTH21
IN THIS SECTION. IF THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION APPROVES THE22
WAIVER, THE LOCAL BOARD OF EDUCATION MUST PUBLISH NOTICE OF THE23
WAIVER ON THE LOCAL BOARD OF EDUCATION WEBSITE WITHIN THIRTY24
DAYS AFTER THE APPROVAL . THE NEW TIMELINE ONLY APPLIES TO THE25
APPLICATIONS SUBMITTED FOLLOWING THE DATE OF THE PUBLIC POSTING26
OF THE WAIVER.27
HB23-1025
-3- SECTION 2. Act subject to petition - effective date -1
applicability. (1) This act takes effect at 12:01 a.m. on the day following2
the expiration of the ninety-day period after final adjournment of the3
general assembly; except that, if a referendum petition is filed pursuant4
to section 1 (3) of article V of the state constitution against this act or an5
item, section, or part of this act within such period, then the act, item,6
section, or part will not take effect unless approved by the people at the7
general election to be held in November 2024 and, in such case, will take8
effect on the date of the official declaration of the vote thereon by the9
governor.10
(2) This act applies to charter applications that are submitted after11
December 31, 2023.12
HB23-1025
-4-