|
LAW |
|
Year Passed |
2003; last amended in 2010.
|
|
Rank |
7th weakest of the nation's 41 charter laws. |
|
Grade |
D |
|
GENERAL DATA |
|
|
• Law has limitations with district-only authorizing and union requirements
• School boards having full control results in few charters opening outside of Baltimore
• Courts affirmed for the need for equitable funding but districts rarely comply |
|
INDEPENDENT OR MULTIPLE AUTHORIZERS - NO |
|
Approval |
School boards. (The State Board of Education may authorize under limited
circumstances involving the conversion of "restructured schools" if the county
board fails to act on an application within 45 days. Has not yet occurred.) |
|
Appeal |
Yes. If the school board denies an application, it may be appealed to the state
board. The state board may direct the school board to grant a charter and
shall act as mediator. Decision is non-binding. |
|
NUMBER OF SCHOOLS ALLOWED |
|
Cap |
Technically there is no cap, but districts create their own limits. |
|
OPERATIONAL AUTONOMY |
|
State |
No.Waiver requests considered on a case-by-case basis. The charter law was
written to ensure that school boards maintain their authority over the
charter schools. Virtual schools are permitted.Management contracts with
ESPs are not restricted. |
|
Local |
No. The law gives school districts the power to make most decisions for
charter schools. Each county board develops its own public charter school
policy for schools in their districts to follow. |
|
Teacher Freedom |
No. Teachers remain covered by the district’s collective bargaining contract.
Charter schools must participate in the state’s retirement system. |
|
EQUITY |
|
Student Funding |
• A 2007 Maryland Court of Appeals ruling affirmed the State Board of
Education’s decision that the law requires charter students be funded in
the same manner and at the same level.
• Funding still rests first with the district, which does not always respond
favorably to charter schools.
• Funds pass through district.
"In general. -- A county board shall disburse to a public charter school an amount of county, State, and federal money for elementary, middle, and secondary students that is commensurate with the amount disbursed to other public schools in the local jurisdiction." [Md. Educ. Code Ann. § 9-109] |
|
Facilities Funding |
None. |
