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91_SB0648eng SB648 Engrossed LRB9105854NTsb 1 AN ACT concerning charter schools, amending named Acts. 2 Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, 3 represented in the General Assembly: 4 Section 5. The State Finance Act is amended by adding 5 Section 5.490 as follows: 6 (30 ILCS 105/5.490 new) 7 Sec. 5.490. The Charter Schools Revolving Loan Fund. 8 Section 10. The School Code is amended by changing 9 Sections 27A-4, 27A-5, 27A-6, 27A-8, 27A-9, 27A-11, 27A-12, 10 and 29-4 and adding Sections 27A-6.5 and 27A-11.5 as follows: 11 (105 ILCS 5/27A-4) 12 Sec. 27A-4. General Provisions. 13 (a) The General Assembly does not intend to alter or 14 amend the provisions of any court-ordered desegregation plan 15 in effect for any school district. A charter school shall be 16 subject to all federal and State laws and constitutional 17 provisions prohibiting discrimination on the basis of 18 disability, race, creed, color, gender, national origin, 19 religion, ancestry, marital status, or need for special 20 education services. 21 (b) The total number of charter schools operating under 22 this Article at any one time shall not exceed 45 except as 23 otherwise provided in this subsection (b). Not more thanthat2415 charter schools shall operate at any one time in any city 25 having a population exceeding 500,000; not more than 15 26 charter schools shall operate at any one time in the counties 27 of DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry, Will, and that portion of 28 Cook County that is located outside a city having a 29 population exceeding 500,000; and not more than 15 charter SB648 Engrossed -2- LRB9105854NTsb 1 schools shall operate at any one time in the remainder of the 2 State. However, when the maximum number of charter schools 3 for a region has been reached, the number of charter schools 4 authorized to operate at any one time in that region shall be 5 increased by 15, with further increases by 15 when the new 6 maximum numbers have been reached but with no more than 15 7 new charter schools being authorized per region, per year. 8 For purposes of implementing this Section, the State 9 Board shall assign a number to each charter submission it 10 receives under Section 27A-6 for its review and 11 certification, based on the chronological order in which the 12 submission is received by it. The State Board shall promptly 13 notify local school boards when the maximum numbers of 14 certified charter schools authorized to operate have been 15 reached. 16 (c) No charter shall be granted under this Article that 17 would convert any existing private, parochial, or non-public 18 school to a charter school. 19 (d) Enrollment in a charter school shall be open to any 20 pupil who resides within the geographic boundaries of the 21 area served by the local school board.However, no more than2250% of the number of resident pupils enrolled in any one23grade in a school district with only a single attendance24center covering that grade may be enrolled in a charter25school at one time.26 (e) Nothing in this Article shall prevent 2 or more 27 local school boards from jointly issuing a charter to a 28 single shared charter school, provided that all of the 29 provisions of this Article are met as to those local school 30 boards. 31 (f) No local school board shall require any employee of 32 the school district to be employed in a charter school. 33 (g) No local school board shall require any pupil 34 residing within the geographic boundary of its district to SB648 Engrossed -3- LRB9105854NTsb 1 enroll in a charter school. 2 (h) If there are more eligible applicants for enrollment 3 in a charter school than there are spaces available, 4 successful applicants shall be selected by lottery. However, 5 priority shall be given to siblings of pupils enrolled in the 6 charter school and to pupils who were enrolled in the charter 7 school the previous school year, unless expelled for cause. 8 Dual enrollment at both a charter school and a public school 9 or non-public school shall not be allowed. A pupil who is 10 suspended or expelled from a charter school shall be deemed 11 to be suspended or expelled from the public schools of the 12 school district in which the pupil resides. 13 (i) (Blank).No charter school established under this14Article may be authorized to open prior to the school year15beginning in the fall of 1996.16 (Source: P.A. 89-450, eff. 4-10-96; revised 2-24-98.) 17 (105 ILCS 5/27A-5) 18 Sec. 27A-5. Charter school; legal entity; requirements. 19 (a) A charter school shall be a public, nonsectarian, 20 nonreligious, non-home based, and non-profit school. A 21 charter school shall be organized and operated as a nonprofit 22 corporation or other discrete, legal, nonprofit entity 23 authorized under the laws of the State of Illinois. 24 (b) A charter school may be established under this 25 Article by creating a new school or by converting an existing 26 public school or attendance center to charter school status. 27 (c) A charter school shall be administered and governed 28 by its board of directors or other governing body in the 29 manner provided in its charter. The governing body of a 30 charter school shall be subject to the Freedom of Information 31 Act and the Open Meetings Act. 32 (d) A charter school shall comply with all applicable 33 health and safety requirements applicable to public schools SB648 Engrossed -4- LRB9105854NTsb 1 under the laws of the State of Illinois. 2 (e) Except as otherwise provided in the School Code, a 3 charter school shall not charge tuition; provided that a 4 charter school may charge reasonable fees for textbooks, 5 instructional materials, and student activities. 6 (f) A charter school shall be responsible for the 7 management and operation of its fiscal affairs including, but 8 not limited to, the preparation of its budget. An audit of 9 each charter school's finances shall be conducted annually by 10 an outside, independent contractor retained by the charter 11 school. 12 (g) A charter school shall comply with all provisions of 13 this Article and its charter. A charter school is exempt 14 from all other State laws and regulations in the School Code 15 governing public schools and local school board policies, 16 except the following: 17 (1) Sections 10-21.9 and 34-18.5 of the School Code 18 regarding criminal background investigations of 19 applicants for employment; 20 (2) Sections 24-24 and 34-84A of the School Code 21 regarding discipline of students; 22 (3) The Local Governmental and Governmental 23 Employees Tort Immunity Act; 24 (4) Section 108.75 of the General Not For Profit 25 Corporation Act of 1986 regarding indemnification of 26 officers, directors, employees, and agents; 27 (5) The Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act; 28and29 (6) The Illinois School Student Records Act; and.30 (7) Section 10-17a of the School Code regarding 31 school report cards. 32 (h) A charter school may negotiate and contract with a 33 school district, the governing body of a State college or 34 university or public community college, or any other public SB648 Engrossed -5- LRB9105854NTsb 1 or for-profit or nonprofit private entity for: (i) the use of 2 a school building and grounds or any other real property or 3 facilities that the charter school desires to use or convert 4 for use as a charter school site, (ii) the operation and 5 maintenance thereof, and (iii) the provision of any service, 6 activity, or undertaking that the charter school is required 7 to perform in order to carry out the terms of its charter. 8 Except as provided in subsection (i) of this Section, a 9 school district may charge a charter school reasonable rent 10 for the use of the district's buildings, grounds, and 11 facilities. Any services for which a charter school 12 contracts with a school district shall be provided by the 13 district at cost. Any services for which a charter school 14 contracts with a local school board or with the governing 15 body of a State college or university or public community 16 college shall be provided by the public entity at cost. 17 (i) In no event shall a charter school that is 18 established by converting an existing school or attendance 19 center to charter school status be required to pay rent for 20 space that is deemed available, as negotiated and provided in 21 the charter agreement, in school district facilities. 22 However, all other costs for the operation and maintenance of 23 school district facilities that are used by the charter 24 school shall be subject to negotiation between the charter 25 school and the local school board and shall be set forth in 26 the charter. 27 (j) A charter school may limit student enrollment by age 28 or grade level. 29 (Source: P.A. 89-450, eff. 4-10-96.) 30 (105 ILCS 5/27A-6) 31 Sec. 27A-6. Contract contents; applicability of laws and 32 regulations. 33 (a) A certified charter shall constitute a binding SB648 Engrossed -6- LRB9105854NTsb 1 contract and agreement between the charter school and a local 2 school board under the terms of which the local school board 3 authorizes the governing body of the charter school to 4 operate the charter school on the terms specified in the 5 contract. 6 (b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Article, 7 the certified charter may not waive or release the charter 8 school from the State goals, standards, and assessments 9 established pursuant to Section 2-3.64. 10 (c) Subject to the provisions of subsection (e), a 11 material revision to a previously certified contract or a 12 renewal shall be made with the approval of both the local 13 school board and the governing body of the charter school. 14 (c-5) The proposed contract shall include a provision on 15 how both parties will address minor violations of the 16 contract. 17 (d) The proposed contract between the governing body of 18 a proposed charter school and the local school board as 19 described in Section 27A-7 must be submitted to and certified 20 by the State Board before it can take effect. If the State 21 Board recommends that the proposed contract be modified for 22 consistency with this Article before it can be certified, the 23 modifications must be consented to by both the governing body 24 of the charter school and the local school board, and 25 resubmitted to the State Board for its certification. If the 26 proposed contract is resubmitted in a form that is not 27 consistent with this Article, the State Board may refuse to 28 certify the charter. 29 The State Board shall assign a number to each submission 30 or resubmission in chronological order of receipt, and shall 31 determine whether the proposed contract is consistent with 32 the provisions of this Article. If the proposed contract 33 complies, the State Board shall so certify. 34 (e) No material revision to a previously certified SB648 Engrossed -7- LRB9105854NTsb 1 contract or a renewal shall be effective unless and until the 2 State Board certifies that the revision or renewal is 3 consistent with the provisions of this Article. 4 (Source: P.A. 89-450, eff. 4-10-96.) 5 (105 ILCS 5/27A-6.5 new) 6 Sec. 27A-6.5. Charter school referendum. 7 (a) No charter shall be approved under this Section that 8 would convert any existing private, parochial, or non-public 9 school to a charter school or whose proposal has not been 10 certified by the State Board. 11 (b) A local school board shall, whenever petitioned to 12 do so by 5% or more of the voters of a school district or 13 districts identified in a charter school proposal, order 14 submitted to the voters thereof at a regularly scheduled 15 election the question of whether a new charter school shall 16 be established, which proposal has been certified by the 17 State Board to be in compliance with the provisions of this 18 Article, and the secretary shall certify the proposition to 19 the proper election authorities for submission in accordance 20 with the general election law. The proposition shall be in 21 substantially the following form: 22 "FOR the establishment of (name of proposed charter 23 school) under charter school proposal (charter school 24 proposal number). 25 AGAINST the establishment of (name of proposed 26 charter school) under charter school proposal (charter 27 school proposal number)". 28 (c) Before circulating a petition to submit the question 29 of whether to establish a charter school to the voters under 30 subsection (b) of this Section, the governing body of a 31 proposed charter school that desires to establish a new 32 charter school by referendum shall submit the charter school 33 proposal to the State Board in the form of a proposed SB648 Engrossed -8- LRB9105854NTsb 1 contract to be entered into between the State Board and the 2 governing body of the proposed charter school, as provided 3 under Section 27A-6, together with written notice of the 4 intent to have a new charter school established by 5 referendum. The contract shall comply with the provisions of 6 this Article. 7 If the State Board finds that the proposed contract 8 complies with the provisions of this Article, it shall 9 immediately certify that the proposed contract complies with 10 the provisions of this Article and direct the local school 11 board to notify the proper election authorities that the 12 question of whether to establish a new charter school shall 13 be submitted for referendum. 14 (d) If the State Board finds that the proposal fails to 15 comply with the provisions of this Article, it shall refuse 16 to certify the proposal and provide written explanation, 17 detailing its reasons for refusal, to the local school board 18 and to the individuals or organizations submitting the 19 proposal. The State Board shall also notify the local school 20 board and the individuals or organizations submitting the 21 proposal that the proposal may be amended and resubmitted 22 under the same provisions required for an original 23 submission. 24 (e) If a majority of the votes cast upon the proposition 25 in each school district designated in the charter school 26 proposal is in favor of establishing a charter school, the 27 local school board shall notify the State Board of the 28 passage of the proposition in favor of establishing a charter 29 school and the State Board shall approve the charter within 7 30 days after the State Board of Elections has certified that a 31 majority of the votes cast upon the proposition is in favor 32 of establishing a charter school. The State Board shall be 33 the chartering entity for charter schools established by 34 referendum under this Section. SB648 Engrossed -9- LRB9105854NTsb 1 (105 ILCS 5/27A-8) 2 Sec. 27A-8. Evaluation of charter proposals. 3 (a) This Section does not apply to a charter school 4 established by referendum under Section 27A-6.5. In 5 evaluating any charter school proposal submitted to it, the 6 local school board shall give preference to proposals that: 7 (1) demonstrate a high level of local pupil, 8 parental, community, business, and school personnel 9 support; 10 (2) set rigorous levels of expected pupil 11 achievement and demonstrate feasible plans for attaining 12 those levels of achievement; and 13 (3) are designed to enroll and serve a substantial 14 proportion of at-risk children; provided that nothing in 15 the Charter Schools Law shall be construed as intended to 16 limit the establishment of charter schools to those that 17 serve a substantial portion of at-risk children or to in 18 any manner restrict, limit, or discourage the 19 establishment of charter schools that enroll and serve 20 other pupil populations under a nonexclusive, 21 nondiscriminatory admissions policy. 22 (b) In the case of a proposal to establish a charter 23 school by converting an existing public school or attendance 24 center to charter school status, evidence that the proposed 25 formation of the charter school has received majority support 26 from certified teachers and from parents and guardians in the 27 school or attendance center affected by the proposed charter, 28 and, if applicable, from a local school council, shall be 29 demonstrated by a petition in support of the charter school 30 signed by certified teachers and a petition in support of the 31 charter school signed by parents and guardians and, if 32 applicable, by a vote of the local school council held at a 33 public meeting. In the case of all other proposals to 34 establish a charter school, evidence of sufficient support to SB648 Engrossed -10- LRB9105854NTsb 1 fill the number of pupil seats set forth in the proposal may 2 be demonstrated by a petition in support of the charter 3 school signed by parents and guardians of students eligible 4 to attend the charter school. In all cases, the individuals, 5 organizations, or entities who initiate the proposal to 6 establish a charter school may elect, in lieu of including 7 any petition referred to in this subsection as a part of the 8 proposal submitted to the local school board, to demonstrate 9 that the charter school has received the support referred to 10 in this subsection by other evidence and information 11 presented at the public meeting that the local school board 12 is required to convene under this Section. 13 (c) Within 45 days of receipt of a charter school 14 proposal, the local school board shall convene a public 15 meeting to obtain information to assist the board in its 16 decision to grant or deny the charter school proposal. 17 (d) Notice of the public meeting required by this 18 Section shall be published in a community newspaper published 19 in the school district in which the proposed charter is 20 located and, if there is no such newspaper, then in a 21 newspaper published in the county and having circulation in 22 the school district. The notices shall be published not more 23 than 10 days nor less than 5 days before the meeting and 24 shall state that information regarding a charter school 25 proposal will be heard at the meeting. Copies of the notice 26 shall also be posted at appropriate locations in the school 27 or attendance center proposed to be established as a charter 28 school, the public schools in the school district, and the 29 local school board office. 30 (e) Within 30 days of the public meeting, the local 31 school board shall vote, in a public meeting, to either grant 32 or deny the charter school proposal. 33 (f) Within 7 days of the public meeting required under 34 subsection (e), the local school board shall file a report SB648 Engrossed -11- LRB9105854NTsb 1 with the State Board granting or denying the proposal. Within 2 14 days of receipt of the local school board's report, the 3 State Board shall determine whether the approved charter 4 proposal is consistent with the provisions of this Article 5 and, if the approved proposal complies, certify the proposal 6 pursuant to Section 27A-6. 7 (Source: P.A. 89-450, eff. 4-10-96; 90-548, eff. 1-1-98.) 8 (105 ILCS 5/27A-9) 9 Sec. 27A-9. Term of charter; renewal. 10 (a) A charter may be granted for a period not less than 11 53and not more than 105school years. A charter may be 12 renewed in incremental periods not to exceed 5 school years. 13 (b) A charter school renewal proposal submitted to the 14 local school board or State Board, as the chartering entity, 15 shall contain: 16 (1) A report on the progress of the charter school 17 in achieving the goals, objectives, pupil performance 18 standards, content standards, and other terms of the 19 initial approved charter proposal; and 20 (2) A financial statement that discloses the costs 21 of administration, instruction, and other spending 22 categories for the charter school that is understandable 23 to the general public and that will allow comparison of 24 those costs to other schools or other comparable 25 organizations, in a format required by the State Board. 26 (c) A charter may be revoked or not renewed if the local 27 school board or State Board, as the chartering entity, 28 clearly demonstrates that the charter school did any of the 29 following, or otherwise failed to comply with the 30 requirements of this law: 31 (1) Committed a material violation of any of the 32 conditions, standards, or procedures set forth in the 33 charter. SB648 Engrossed -12- LRB9105854NTsb 1 (2) Failed to meet or make reasonable progress 2 toward achievement of the content standards or pupil 3 performance standards identified in the charter. 4 (3) Failed to meet generally accepted standards of 5 fiscal management. 6 (4) Violated any provision of law from which the 7 charter school was not exempted. 8 (d) (Blank). 9 (e) Notice of a local school board's decision to deny, 10 revoke or not to renew a charter shall be provided to the 11 State Board. The State Board may reverse a local board's 12 decision if the State Board finds that the charter school or 13 charter school proposal (i) is in compliance with this 14 Article, and (ii) is in the best interests of the students it 15 is designed to serve. The State Board may condition the 16 granting of an appeal on the acceptance by the charter school 17 of funding in an amount less than that requested in the 18 proposal submitted to the local school board. Final decisions 19 of the State Board shall be subject to judicial review under 20 the Administrative Review Law. 21 (f) Notwithstanding other provisions of this Article, if 22 the State Board on appeal reverses a local board's decision 23 or if a charter school is approved by referendum, the State 24 Board shall act as the authorized chartering entity for the 25 charter school. The State Board shall approve and certify 26 the charter and shall perform all functions under this 27 Article otherwise performed by the local school board. The 28 State Board shall report the aggregate number of charter 29 school pupils resident in a school district to that district 30 and shall notify the district of the amount of funding to be 31 paid by the State Board to the charter school enrolling such 32 students. The State Board shall withhold from funds 33 otherwise due the district the funds authorized by this 34 Article to be paid to the charter school and shall pay such SB648 Engrossed -13- LRB9105854NTsb 1 amounts to the charter school. 2 (Source: P.A. 89-450, eff. 4-10-96; 90-548, eff. 1-1-98.) 3 (105 ILCS 5/27A-11) 4 Sec. 27A-11. Local financing. 5 (a) For purposes of the School Code, pupils enrolled in 6 a charter school shall be included in the pupil enrollment of 7 the school district within which the pupil resides. Each 8 charter school (i) shall determine the school district in 9 which each pupil who is enrolled in the charter school 10 resides, (ii) shall report the aggregate number of pupils 11 resident of a school district who are enrolled in the charter 12 school to the school district in which those pupils reside, 13 and (iii) shall maintain accurate records of daily attendance 14 that shall be deemed sufficient to file claims under Section 15 18-8 notwithstanding any other requirements of that Section 16 regarding hours of instruction and teacher certification. 17 (b) Except for a charter school established by 18 referendum under Section 27A-6.5, as part of a charter school 19 contract, the charter school and the local school board shall 20 agree on funding and any services to be provided by the 21 school district to the charter school. Agreed funding that a 22 charter school is to receive from the local school board for 23 a school year shall be paid in equal quarterly installments 24 with the payment of the installment for the first quarter 25 being made not later than July 1, unless the charter 26 establishes a different payment schedule. 27 All services centrally or otherwise provided by the 28 school district including, but not limited to, rent, food 29 services, custodial services, maintenance, curriculum, media 30 services, libraries, transportation, and warehousing shall be 31 subject to negotiation between a charter school and the local 32 school board and paid for out of the revenues negotiated 33 pursuant to this subsection (b); provided that the local SB648 Engrossed -14- LRB9105854NTsb 1 school board shall not attempt, by negotiation or otherwise, 2 to obligate a charter school to provide pupil transportation 3 for pupils for whom a district is not required to provide 4 transportation under the criteria set forth in subsection 5 (a)(13) of Section 27A-7. 6 In no event shall the funding be less than 75% or more 7 than 125% of the school district's per capita student tuition 8 multiplied by the number of students residing in the district 9 who are enrolled in the charter school. 10 It is the intent of the General Assembly that funding and 11 service agreements under this subsection (b) shall be neither 12 a financial incentive nor a financial disincentive to the 13 establishment of a charter school. 14 The charter school may set and collect reasonable fees. 15 Fees collected from students enrolled at a charter school 16 shall be retained by the charter school. 17 (c) Notwithstanding subsection (b) of this Section, the 18 proportionate share of State and federal resources generated 19 by students with disabilities or staff serving them shall be 20 directed to charter schools enrolling those students by their 21 school districts or administrative units. The proportionate 22 share of moneys generated under other federal or State 23 categorical aid programs shall be directed to charter schools 24 serving students eligible for that aid. 25 (d)(1)The governing body of a charter school is 26 authorized to accept gifts, donations, or grants of any kind 27 made to the charter school and to expend or use gifts, 28 donations, or grants in accordance with the conditions 29 prescribed by the donor; however, a gift, donation, or grant 30 may not be accepted by the governing body if it is subject to 31 any condition contrary to applicable law or contrary to the 32 terms of the contract between the charter school and the 33 local school board. Charter schools shall be encouraged to 34 solicit and utilize community volunteer speakers and other SB648 Engrossed -15- LRB9105854NTsb 1 instructional resources when providing instruction on the 2 Holocaust and other historical events. 3(2) From amounts appropriated to the State Board for4purposes of this subsection (d)(2), the State Board may make5loans to charter schools established under this Article to be6used by those schools to defer their start-up costs of7acquiring textbooks and laboratory and other equipment8required for student instruction. Any such loan shall be made9to a charter school at the inception of the term of its10charter, under terms established by the State Board, and11shall be repaid by the charter school over the term of its12charter. A local school board is not responsible for the13repayment of the loan.14 (e) (Blank).No later than January 1, 1997, the State15Board shall issue a report to the General Assembly and the16Governor describing the charter schools certified under this17Article, their geographic locations, their areas of focus,18and the numbers of school children served by them.19 (f) The State Board shall provide technical assistance 20 to persons and groups preparing or revising charter 21 applications. 22 (g) At the non-renewal or revocation of its charter, 23 each charter school shall refund to the local board of 24 education all unspent funds. 25 (h) A charter school is authorized to incur temporary, 26 short term debt to pay operating expenses in anticipation of 27 receipt of funds from the local school board. 28 (Source: P.A. 89-450, eff. 4-10-96; 90-548, eff. 1-1-98; 29 90-757, eff. 8-14-98.) 30 (105 ILCS 5/27A-11.5 new) 31 Sec. 27A-11.5. State financing. The State Board of 32 Education shall make the following funds available to school 33 districts and charter schools: SB648 Engrossed -16- LRB9105854NTsb 1 (1) From a separate appropriation made to the State 2 Board for purposes of this subdivision (1), the State 3 Board shall make transition impact aid available to 4 school districts that approve a new charter school or 5 that have funds withheld by the State Board to fund a new 6 charter school that is chartered by the State Board. The 7 amount of the aid shall equal 90% of the per capita 8 funding paid to the charter school during the first year 9 of its initial charter term, 65% of the per capita 10 funding paid to the charter school during the second year 11 of its initial term, and 35% of the per capita funding 12 paid to the charter school during the third year of its 13 initial term. This transition impact aid shall be paid 14 to the local school board in equal quarterly 15 installments, with the payment of the installment for the 16 first quarter being made by August 1st immediately 17 preceding the first, second, and third years of the 18 initial term. The district shall file an application for 19 this aid with the State Board in a format designated by 20 the State Board. If the appropriation is insufficient in 21 any year to pay all approved claims, the impact aid shall 22 be prorated. 23 (2) From a separate appropriation made for the 24 purpose of this subdivision (2), the State Board shall 25 make grants to charter schools to pay their start-up 26 costs of acquiring educational materials and supplies, 27 textbooks, furniture, and other equipment needed during 28 their initial term. The State Board shall annually 29 establish the time and manner of application for these 30 grants, which shall not exceed $250 per student enrolled 31 in the charter school. 32 (3) The Charter Schools Revolving Loan Fund is 33 created as a special fund in the State treasury. Federal 34 funds, such other funds as may be made available for SB648 Engrossed -17- LRB9105854NTsb 1 costs associated with the establishment of charter 2 schools in Illinois, and amounts repaid by charter 3 schools that have received a loan from the Charter 4 Schools Revolving Loan Fund shall be deposited into the 5 Charter Schools Revolving Loan Fund, and the moneys in 6 the Charter Schools Revolving Loan Fund shall be 7 appropriated to the State Board and used to provide 8 interest-free loans to charter schools. These funds 9 shall be used to pay start-up costs of acquiring 10 educational materials and supplies, textbooks, furniture, 11 and other equipment needed in the initial term of the 12 charter school and for acquiring and remodeling a 13 suitable physical plant, within the initial term of the 14 charter school. Loans shall be limited to one loan per 15 charter school and shall not exceed $250 per student 16 enrolled in the charter school. A loan shall be repaid 17 by the end of the initial term of the charter school. 18 The State Board may deduct amounts necessary to repay the 19 loan from funds due to the charter school or may require 20 that the local school board that authorized the charter 21 school deduct such amounts from funds due the charter 22 school and remit these amounts to the State Board, 23 provided that the local school board shall not be 24 responsible for repayment of the loan. 25 (4) A charter school may apply for and receive, 26 subject to the same restrictions applicable to school 27 districts, any grant administered by the State Board that 28 is available for school districts. 29 (105 ILCS 5/27A-12) 30 Sec. 27A-12. Evaluation; annual report. The State Board 31 shall compile annual evaluations of charter schools received 32 from local school boards and shall prepare an annual report 33 on charter schools.The State Board shall review informationSB648 Engrossed -18- LRB9105854NTsb 1regarding the regulations and policies from which charter2schools were released to determine if the exemption assisted3or impeded the charter schools in meeting their stated goals4and objectives. Each annual report shall include suggested5changes in State law necessary to strengthen or change6charter schools.7 On or before the second Wednesday of January, 1998, and 8 on or before the second Wednesday of January of each 9 subsequent calendar year, the State Board shall issue a 10 report to the General Assembly and the Governor on its 11 findings for the school year ending in the preceding calendar 12 year. 13 Inpreparingthe annual report required by this Section, 14 the State Board (i) shall compare the performance of charter 15 school pupils with the performance of ethnically and 16 economically comparable groups of pupils in other public 17 schools who are enrolled in academically comparable courses, 18 (ii) shall review information regarding the regulations and 19 policies from which charter schools were released to 20 determine if the exemptions assisted or impeded the charter 21 schools in meeting their stated goals and objectives, and 22 (iii) shall include suggested changes in State law necessary 23 to strengthen charter schools. 24 In addition, the State Board shall undertake and report 25 on periodic evaluations of charter schools that include 26 evaluations of student academic achievement, the extent to 27 which charter schools are accomplishing their missions and 28 goals, the sufficiency of funding for charter schools, and 29 the need for changes in the approval process for charter 30 schools. 31 (Source: P.A. 89-450, eff. 4-10-96.) 32 (105 ILCS 5/29-4) (from Ch. 122, par. 29-4) 33 Sec. 29-4. Pupils attending a charter school or nonpublic SB648 Engrossed -19- LRB9105854NTsb 1other than a publicschool. The school board of any school 2 district that provides any school bus or conveyance for 3 transporting pupils to and from the public schools shall 4 afford transportation, without cost, for children who attend 5 a charter school or any school other than a public school, 6 who reside at least 1 1/2 miles from the school attended, and 7 who reside on or along the highway constituting the regular 8 route of such public school bus or conveyance, such 9 transportation to extend from some point on the regular route 10 nearest or most easily accessible to their homes to and from 11 the school attended, or to or from a point on such regular 12 route which is nearest or most easily accessible to the 13 school attended by such children. Nothing herein shall be 14 construed to prevent high school districts from transporting 15 public or non-public elementary school pupils on a regular 16 route where deemed appropriate. The elementary district in 17 which such pupils reside shall enter into a contractual 18 agreement with the high school district providing the 19 service, make payments accordingly, and make claims to the 20 State in the amount of such contractual payments. The person 21 in charge of any charter school or school other than a public 22 school shall certify on a form to be provided by the State 23 Superintendent of Education, the names and addresses of 24 pupils transported and when such pupils were in attendance at 25 the school. If any such children reside within 1 1/2 miles 26 from the school attended, the school board shall afford such 27 transportation to such children on the same basis as it 28 provides transportation for its own pupils residing within 29 that distance from the school attended. 30 Nothing herein shall be construed to preclude a school 31 district from operating separate regular bus routes, subject 32 to the limitations of this Section, for the benefit of 33 children who attend a charter school or any school other than 34 a public school where the operation of such routes is safer, SB648 Engrossed -20- LRB9105854NTsb 1 more economical and more efficient than if such school 2 district were precluded from operating separate regular bus 3 routes. 4 If a school district is required by this Section to 5 afford transportation without cost for any child who is not a 6 resident of the district, the school district providing such 7 transportation is entitled to reimbursement from the school 8 district in which the child resides for the cost of 9 furnishing that transportation, including a reasonable 10 allowance for depreciation on each vehicle so used. The 11 school district where the child resides shall reimburse the 12 district providing the transportation for such costs, by the 13 10th of each month or on such less frequent schedule as may 14 be agreed to by the 2 school districts. 15 (Source: P.A. 81-1050.)