Section 650.50  Revision of Certified Charters

a)         A material revision to a previously certified contract may go into effect immediately upon approval of both the authorizer and the governing body of the charter school.  Should either the authorizer or the governing body of the charter school request in writing that the State Superintendent certify the material revision as being consistent with the provisions of Article 27A, the material revision shall not take effect unless and until the State Superintendent so certifies. (See Section 27A-6(e) of the Code.) 

1)         A request for the State Superintendent to certify a material revision shall consist of the revised contractual agreement, any other materials that describe the need for the material revision, and an explanation from the local authorizer or charter school governing body as to any legal concerns raised by the material revision.

2)         The request also shall be accompanied by the forms specified in Section 650.30(b)(2)(A) and may include the forms specified in Section 650.30(b)(2)(B), (b)(2)(C) or (b)(2)(D), as applicable to the proposed revision.

b)         A request for certification of a proposed revision shall be submitted to the State Board of Education in the manner set forth in Section 650.30(f).  Within 30 days after receiving the request for certification, the State Superintendent shall either:

1)         Certify that the proposed revision is consistent with the provisions of Article 27A of the Code; or

2)         Request additional information as may be needed to render a decision.

c)         The following revisions to a certified contract or a renewal are considered material for purposes of this Section.  Any proposed revision not listed in this subsection (c), except those set forth in subsection (d), should be presumed material and shall be subject to the requirements of this Section.

1)         Enrollment growth beyond 20 percent or expansion beyond the grade levels listed in the certified charter.

2)         Transferring the charter to another non-profit entity.

3)         Altering the mission of the charter or the targeted student population.

4)         Employing or terminating a management company.

5)         Any change to the charter with respect to the National School Lunch Program (7 CFR 210 (2012)).

6)         Any change to the charter with respect to the provision of student transportation.

d)         The following revisions to a certified contract are not considered material for purposes of this Section.

1)         Bylaws.

2)         Relocation.

3)         The name of the charter school.

4)         The articles of incorporation.

5)         Class sizes as stated in the application.

6)         Length of school day or academic year.

7)         Curriculum changes.

(Source:  Amended at 44 Ill. Reg. 13375, effective July 28, 2020)