emergency response plans; charter schools

Added mandatory emergency response planning requirements that charter schools must develop with local law enforcement and emergency agencies, including specific provisions for students with disabilities.

Strengthened fingerprinting and background check requirements to include documented good faith efforts to contact previous employers, out-of-state criminal record searches, and specific procedures for hiring personnel awaiting fingerprint clearance cards.

Established new requirements for charter schools to post teacher background information on websites or make it available for parent inspection, while protecting personally identifiable information.

Added provisions allowing charter schools to charge reasonable fees for use of school property for lawful purposes including recreational, educational, and civic activities.

Created new annual reporting requirements for charter school sponsors to the auditor general, including data on charter numbers, performance metrics, and renewal/revocation processes.

Added provisions allowing charter schools to pledge assets as collateral for loans and clarifying that charter school property remains the property of the charter school.

Established new provisions for charter schools to offer computer science courses that can fulfill mathematics graduation requirements if they meet specific content and staffing criteria.

Added provisions allowing charter schools to enter into intergovernmental agreements with juvenile court judges for law-related education programs.

Added provisions requiring immediate dismissal or exclusion from employment for charter school employees who fail to report arrests or charges for specific offenses, and requirements to surrender fingerprint clearance cards upon conviction of certain offenses.

Modified charter renewal and revocation procedures to include specific performance framework criteria and established a 30-day notice period before revocation determinations, with exceptions for health and safety matters.