Shown verbatim: the complete text as captured from the official PDF posted by the Oklahoma Legislature, fetched 2026-07-23. Page and line markers are part of the official record; nothing is edited or removed. The official bill page.
1 STATE OF OKLAHOMA
1
2 1st Session of the 60th Legislature (2025)
2
3 SENATE BILL 366 By: Hines
3
4
4
5
5
6 AS INTRODUCED
6
7 An Act relating to charter schools; amending 70 O.S.
7 2021, Section 3-134, as last amended by Section 6,
8 Chapter 323, O.S.L. 2023 (70 O.S. Supp. 2024, Section
8 3-134), which relates to charter school applications;
9 removing language requiring a charter school
9 application to be first submitted to certain school
10 district; requiring charter school applications to be
10 submitted to a proposed sponsor beginning on certain
11 date; updating statutory language; providing an
11 effective date; and declaring an emergency.
12
12
13
13
1 4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
14
15 SECTION 1. AMENDATORY 70 O.S. 2021, Section 3-134, as
15
1 6 last amended by Section 6, Chapter 323, O.S.L. 2023 (70 O.S. Supp.
16
1 7 2024, Section 3-134), is amended to read as follows:
17
18 Section 3-134. A. For written applications filed after July 1,
18
1 9 2024, prior to submission of the application to a proposed sponsor
19
2 0 seeking to establish a charter school or to the Statewide Charter
20
2 1 School Board to establish a virtual charter school, the applicant
21
2 2 shall be required to complete training which shall not exceed ten
22
2 3 (10) hours provided by the Statewide Charter School Board on the
23
2 4 process and requirements for establishing a charter school or
24
Req. No. 1111 Page 1
1 virtual charter school. The sponsor of a charter school that enters
1
2 into a new or renewed sponsorship contract on or after July 1, 2024,
2
3 shall be required to complete training provided by the Statewide
3
4 Charter School Board or an organization approved by the Statewide
4
5 Charter School Board on the oversight duties of the sponsor. The
5
6 Board shall develop and implement the training and publish a list of
6
7 organizations approved to provide training by July 1, 2024. The
7
8 Board and organizations approved by the Board may provide the
8
9 training in any format and manner determined to be efficient and
9
1 0 effective including, but not limited to, web-based training.
10
11 B. Except as otherwise provided for in Section 3-137 of this
11
1 2 title, an applicant seeking to establish a virtual charter school
12
1 3 shall submit a written application to the Statewide Charter School
13
1 4 Board, and an applicant seeking to establish a charter school shall
14
1 5 submit a written application to the proposed sponsor as provided for
15
1 6 in subsection E of this section. The application shall include:
16
17 1. A mission statement for the charter school or virtual
17
1 8 charter school;
18
19 2. A description including, but not limited to, background
19
2 0 information of the organizational structure and the governing board
20
2 1 of the charter school or virtual charter school;
21
22 3. A financial plan for the first five (5) years of operation
22
2 3 of the charter school or virtual charter school and a description of
23
2 4 the treasurer or other officers or persons who shall have primary
24
Req. No. 1111 Page 2
1 responsibility for the finances of the charter school or virtual
1
2 charter school. Such person shall have demonstrated experience in
2
3 school finance or the equivalent thereof;
3
4 4. A description of the hiring policy of the charter school or
4
5 virtual charter school;
5
6 5. The name of the applicant or applicants and requested
6
7 sponsor;
7
8 6. A description of the facility and location of the charter
8
9 school;
9
10 7. A description of the grades being served;
10
11 8. An outline of criteria designed to measure the effectiveness
11
1 2 of the charter school or virtual charter school;
12
13 9. Documentation that the applicants completed training as set
13
1 4 forth in subsection A of this section;
14
15 10. A description of the minimum and maximum enrollment planned
15
1 6 per year for each term of the charter contract;
16
17 11. The proposed calendar for the charter school or virtual
17
1 8 charter school and sample daily schedule;
18
19 12. Unless otherwise authorized by law or regulation, a
19
2 0 description of the academic program aligned with state standards;
20
21 13. A description of the instructional design of the charter
21
2 2 school or virtual charter school including the type of learning
22
2 3 environment, class size and structure, curriculum overview, and
23
2 4 teaching methods;
24
Req. No. 1111 Page 3
1 14. The plan for using internal and external assessments to
1
2 measure and report student progress on the performance framework
2
3 developed by the applicant in accordance with Section 3-136 of this
3
4 title;
4
5 15. The plans for identifying and successfully serving students
5
6 with disabilities, students who are English language learners, and
6
7 students who are academically behind;
7
8 16. A description of cocurricular or extracurricular programs
8
9 and how they will be funded and delivered;
9
10 17. Plans and time lines for student recruitment and enrollment
10
1 1 including lottery procedures;
11
12 18. The student discipline policies for the charter school or
12
1 3 virtual charter school including those for special education
13
1 4 students;
14
15 19. An organizational chart that clearly presents the
15
1 6 organizational structure of the charter school or virtual charter
16
1 7 school, including lines of authority and reporting between the
17
1 8 governing board, staff, any related bodies such as advisory bodies
18
1 9 or parent and teacher councils, and any external organizations that
19
2 0 will play a role in managing the school;
20
21 20. A clear description of the roles and responsibilities for
21
2 2 the governing board, the leadership and management team for the
22
2 3 charter school or virtual charter school, and any other entities
23
2 4 shown in the organizational chart;
24
Req. No. 1111 Page 4
1 21. The leadership and teacher employment policies for the
1
2 charter school or virtual charter school;
2
3 22. Proposed governing bylaws;
3
4 23. Explanations of any partnerships or contractual
4
5 partnerships central to the operations or mission of the charter
5
6 school or virtual charter school;
6
7 24. The plans for providing transportation, food service, and
7
8 all other significant operational or ancillary services;
8
9 25. Opportunities and expectations for parental involvement;
9
10 26. A detailed school start-up plan that identifies tasks, time
10
1 1 lines, and responsible individuals;
11
12 27. A description of the financial plan and policies for the
12
1 3 charter school or virtual charter school including financial
13
1 4 controls and audit requirements;
14
15 28. A description of the insurance coverage the charter school
15
1 6 or virtual charter school will obtain;
16
17 29. Start-up and five-year budgets with clearly stated
17
1 8 assumptions;
18
19 30. Start-up and first-year cash-flow projections with clearly
19
2 0 stated assumptions;
20
21 31. Evidence of anticipated fundraising contributions, if
21
2 2 claimed in the application;
22
23 32. A sound facilities plan including backup or contingency
23
2 4 plans if appropriate;
24
Req. No. 1111 Page 5
1 33. A requirement that the charter school or virtual charter
1
2 school governing board meet no fewer than ten (10) months of the
2
3 year in the state and that for those charter schools outside of
3
4 counties with a population of five hundred thousand (500,000) or
4
5 more, that a minimum of two (2) members are residents within the
5
6 geographic boundary of the charter school;
6
7 34. A requirement that the charter school or virtual charter
7
8 school follow the requirements of the Oklahoma Open Meeting Act and
8
9 Oklahoma Open Records Act; and
9
10 35. A copy of any proposed contract between the governing board
10
1 1 of a charter school or virtual charter school and an educational
11
1 2 management organization, as defined by Section 5-200 of this title,
12
1 3 which meets the requirements of the Oklahoma Charter Schools Act.
13
14 C. A board of education of a public school district, public
14
1 5 body, public or private college or university, private person, or
15
1 6 private organization may contract with a sponsor to establish a
16
1 7 charter school or virtual charter school. A private school shall
17
1 8 not be eligible to contract for a charter school or virtual charter
18
1 9 school under the provisions of the Oklahoma Charter Schools Act.
19
20 D. The sponsor of a charter school is the board of education of
20
2 1 a school district, a higher education institution, a private
21
2 2 institution of higher learning accredited pursuant to Section 4103
22
2 3 of this title, a federally recognized Indian tribe which meets the
23
2 4 criteria established in Section 3-132 of this title, or beginning
24
Req. No. 1111 Page 6
1 July 1, 2024, the Statewide Charter School Board. Any sponsor
1
2 authorized pursuant to subsection A of Section 3-132 of this title
2
3 may sponsor one or more charter schools. The physical location of a
3
4 charter school sponsored by a board of education of a school
4
5 district shall be within the boundaries of the sponsoring school
5
6 district. The physical location of a charter school sponsored by
6
7 the Statewide Charter School Board pursuant to paragraph 6 of
7
8 subsection A of Section 3-132 of this title shall be in the school
8
9 district in which the application originated.
9
10 E. 1. Beginning July 1, 2024 2025, any application seeking to
10
1 1 establish a charter school in this state shall be submitted first to
11
1 2 the school district in which the proposed charter school is to be
12
1 3 located. The school district board of education shall approve or
13
1 4 deny the application within sixty (60) days of receipt of the
14
1 5 application. If the charter school application is denied, nothing
15
1 6 shall prohibit an applicant from submitting a revised application to
16
1 7 the school district board of education, which shall approve or deny
17
1 8 the revised application within sixty (60) days of receipt of the
18
1 9 application.
19
20 2. An applicant for a charter school that has been denied
20
2 1 pursuant to paragraph 1 of this subsection may submit an application
21
2 2 to a proposed sponsor listed in paragraphs 2 through 6 of subsection
22
2 3 A of Section 3-132 of this title, which shall either accept or
23
2 4 reject sponsorship of the charter school within ninety (90) days of
24
Req. No. 1111 Page 7
1 receipt of the application. If the proposed sponsor rejects the
1
2 application, it shall notify the applicant in writing of the reasons
2
3 for the rejection. The applicant may submit a revised application
3
4 for reconsideration to the proposed sponsor within thirty (30) days
4
5 after receiving notification of the rejection. The proposed sponsor
5
6 shall accept or reject the revised application within thirty (30)
6
7 days of its receipt.
7
8 3. 2. Beginning July 1, 2024, an applicant for a virtual
8
9 charter school shall submit an application to the Statewide Charter
9
1 0 School Board, which shall either accept or reject sponsorship of the
10
1 1 virtual charter school within ninety (90) days of receipt of the
11
1 2 application. If the application is rejected, the Statewide Charter
12
1 3 School Board shall notify the applicant in writing of the reasons
13
1 4 for the rejection. The applicant may submit a revised application
14
1 5 for reconsideration to the Statewide Charter school Board within
15
1 6 thirty (30) days after receiving notification of the rejection. The
16
1 7 Statewide Charter School Board shall accept or reject the revised
17
1 8 application within thirty (30) days of its receipt.
18
19 F. A board of education of a school district, a higher
19
2 0 education institution, a private institution of higher learning
20
2 1 accredited pursuant to Section 4103 of this title, or a federally
21
2 2 recognized Indian tribe shall notify the State Board of Education
22
2 3 and the Statewide Charter School Board when it accepts sponsorship
23
24
24
Req. No. 1111 Page 8
1 of a charter school. The notification shall include a copy of the
1
2 charter of the charter school.
2
3 G. Applicants for charter schools and virtual charter schools
3
4 proposed to be sponsored by the Statewide Charter School Board may,
4
5 upon rejection of a revised application, proceed to binding
5
6 arbitration under the commercial rules of the American Arbitration
6
7 Association with costs of the arbitration to be borne by the
7
8 applicant.
8
9 H. If a board of education of a school district, a higher
9
1 0 education institution, a private institution of higher learning
10
1 1 accredited pursuant to Section 4103 of this title, or a federally
11
1 2 recognized Indian tribe accepts sponsorship of a charter school, the
12
1 3 administrative, fiscal, and oversight responsibilities of the school
13
1 4 district, the higher education institution, the private institution
14
1 5 of higher learning accredited pursuant to Section 4103 of this
15
1 6 title, or the federally recognized Indian tribe shall be listed in
16
1 7 the contract. No administrative, fiscal, or oversight
17
1 8 responsibilities of a charter school shall be delegated to a school
18
1 9 district unless the school district agrees to enter into a contract
19
2 0 to assume the responsibilities.
20
21 I. A sponsor of a public charter school shall have the
21
2 2 following powers and duties over charter schools it sponsors, and
22
2 3 the Statewide Charter School Board shall have the following powers
23
24
24
Req. No. 1111 Page 9
1 and duties over the charter schools and virtual charter schools it
1
2 sponsors:
2
3 1. Provide services and oversight of the operations of charter
3
4 schools or virtual charter schools in the state through annual
4
5 performance reviews and reauthorization;
5
6 2. Solicit and evaluate charter applications;
6
7 3. Approve quality charter applications that meet identified
7
8 educational needs and promote a diversity of educational choices;
8
9 4. Decline to approve weak or inadequate charter applications;
9
10 5. Negotiate and execute sound charter contracts with each
10
1 1 approved public charter school or virtual charter school;
11
12 6. Approve or deny proposed contracts between the governing
12
1 3 board of a charter school or virtual charter school and an
13
1 4 educational management organization, as defined by section Section
14
1 5 5-200 of this title;
15
16 7. Monitor, in accordance with charter contract terms, the
16
1 7 performance and legal compliance of charter schools and virtual
17
1 8 charter schools; and
18
19 8. Determine whether each charter contract merits renewal,
19
2 0 nonrenewal, or revocation.
20
21 J. Sponsors shall establish a procedure for accepting,
21
2 2 approving, and disapproving charter school applications in
22
2 3 accordance with subsection E of this section. The Statewide Charter
23
24
24
Req. No. 1111 Page 10
1 School Board shall post its application, application process, and
1
2 application time frames on the Board's website.
2
3 K. Sponsors including the Statewide Charter School Board shall
3
4 develop and maintain chartering policies and practices consistent
4
5 with recognized principles and standards for quality charter
5
6 sponsoring in all major areas of sponsoring responsibility including
6
7 organizational capacity and infrastructure, soliciting and
7
8 evaluating charter school and virtual charter school applications,
8
9 performance contracting, ongoing charter school and virtual charter
9
1 0 school oversight and evaluation, and charter contract renewal
10
1 1 decision-making.
11
12 L. Sponsors acting in their official capacity shall be immune
12
1 3 from civil and criminal liability with respect to all activities
13
1 4 related to a charter school with which they contract.
14
15 SECTION 2. This act shall become effective July 1, 2025.
15
16 SECTION 3. It being immediately necessary for the preservation
16
1 7 of the public peace, health, or safety, an emergency is hereby
17
1 8 declared to exist, by reason whereof this act shall take effect and
18
1 9 be in full force from and after its passage and approval.
19
20
20
21 60-1-1111 EB 1/14/2025 3:50:35 PM
21
22
22
23
23
24
24
Req. No. 1111 Page 11Every fact on this page links to its source, starting with the official bill record.