|
LAW |
|
Year Passed |
1994; last amended in 2010.
|
|
Rank |
6th weakest of the nation's 41 charter laws. |
|
Grade |
D |
|
GENERAL DATA |
|
|
• Hawaii charter schools struggle to open and have few freedoms
• Inequitable funding and no guarantee of annual support
• No renewal process or accountability plan addressed in the law |
|
INDEPENDENT OR MULTIPLE AUTHORIZERS - NO |
|
Approval |
Charter School Review Panel makes recommendations to the State Board of
Education. |
|
Appeal |
Yes. Applications denied by the Charter School Review Panel may be appealed to the State Board of Education. |
|
NUMBER OF SCHOOLS ALLOWED |
|
Cap |
Yes. 25 conversions. One new school may be authorized for every new start
that has its charter revoked or three new schools may be authorized for
every one that has been accredited for three years or longer by an education
accreditation authority. |
|
OPERATIONAL AUTONOMY |
|
State |
Yes. Blanket waiver from most state rules and regulations. Virtual schools are allowed. Management contracts with ESPs restricted to nonprofits. |
|
Local |
Limited. The school board is responsible for the finances, operations, academics, and management of the school. |
|
Teacher Freedom |
No. Teachers remain covered by district bargaining agreement. Charter schools must participate in state's retirement system. |
|
EQUITY |
|
Student Funding |
• Charter funding requests are made each year based on conventional
school per-pupil funds.
• If enrollment exceeds expectations, charter schools will lose money.
• Funds pass through the state.
"Beginning with fiscal year 2010-2011, and each fiscal year thereafter, the
non-facility general fund per-pupil funding request for charter school
students shall be the same as the general fund per-pupil amount to the
department in the most recently approved executive budget
recommendation for the department as set forth in paragraph (2); provided
that (1) The general fund per-pupil funding request shall be based upon
reasonable projected enrollment figures for all charter schools; and (2) The
general fund per-pupil request for each regular education and special
education student shall: (A) Include all general fund regular education cost
categories, including comprehensive school support services, but excluding
special education services[;], adult education, and the after-school plus
program; provided that these services are provided and funded by the
department." [HRS § 302B-12] |
|
Facilities Funding |
None. |
