A. Beginning July 1, 2024, and subject to the requirements of the Oklahoma Charter Schools Act, the Statewide Charter School Board shall: 1. Provide supervision, services, and oversight of the operations of statewide virtual charter schools in this state and charter schools for which the Statewide Charter School Board is the sponsor, recommend legislation pertaining to charter schools to the Legislature, and promulgate rules and policies that the Board deems necessary to accomplish the purposes prescribed in this section;2. Ensure compliance with state laws and training requirements for all charter schools, virtual charter schools, and sponsors;3. Establish a procedure for accepting, approving, and disapproving charter school and statewide virtual charter school applications and a process for renewal or revocation of approved charter contracts which meet the procedures set forth in the Oklahoma Charter Schools Act;4. Hire an Executive Director and other staff for its operation;5. Prepare a budget for expenditures necessary for the proper maintenance of the Board and accomplishment of its purpose;6. Comply with the requirements of the Oklahoma Open Meeting Act and Oklahoma Open Records Act; and7. Give priority to opening charter schools and virtual charter schools that serve at-risk student populations or students from low-performing traditional public schools.B. The State Board of Education shall be responsible for accreditation of charter schools and virtual charter schools and ensure compliance with special education laws and federal laws and programs administered by the State Board of Education.C.1. For purposes of the Oklahoma Charter Schools Act, "charter school" means: a. prior to July 1, 2024, a public school established by contract with a school district board of education, a technology center school district, a higher education institution, a federally recognized Indian tribe, or the State Board of Education, andb. on July 1, 2024, and after, a public school established by contract with a school district board of education, a higher education institution, an institution of higher learning accredited pursuant to Section 4103 of Title 70 of the Oklahoma Statutes, a federally recognized Indian tribe, or the Statewide Charter School Board, to provide learning that will improve student achievement and as defined in the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as reauthorized by P.L. No. 114-95, also known as the Every Student Succeeds Act.2. A charter school may consist of a new school site, new school sites, or all or any portion of an existing school site. An entire school district may not become a charter school site.D.1. For the purposes of the Oklahoma Charter Schools Act, "conversion school" means a school created by converting all or any part of a traditional public school in order to access any or all flexibilities afforded to a charter school; provided, however, all or any part of a traditional public school shall not be converted to a virtual charter school.2. Prior to the board of education of a school district converting all or any part of a traditional public school to a conversion school, the board shall prepare a conversion plan. The conversion plan shall include documentation that demonstrates and complies with paragraphs 1, 2, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 34, and 35 of subsection B of Section 3-134 of Title 70 of the Oklahoma Statutes. The conversion plan and all documents shall be in writing and shall be available to the public pursuant to the requirements of the Oklahoma Open Records Act. All votes by the board of education of a school district to approve a conversion plan shall be held in an open public session. If the board of education of a school district votes to approve a conversion plan, the board shall notify the State Board of Education within sixty (60) days after the vote. The notification shall include a copy of the minutes for the board meeting at which the conversion plan was approved.3. A conversion school shall comply with all the same accountability measures as are required of a charter school as defined in subsection C of this section. The provisions of Sections 3-140 and 3-142 of Title 70 of the Oklahoma Statutes shall not apply to a conversion school. Conversion schools shall comply with the same laws and State Board of Education rules relating to student enrollment which apply to traditional public schools. Conversion schools shall be funded by the board of education of the school district as a school site within the school district and funding shall not be affected by the conversion of the school.4. The board of education of a school district may vote to revert a conversion school back to a traditional public school at any time; provided, the change shall only occur during a break between school years.5. Unless otherwise provided for in this subsection, a conversion school shall retain the characteristics of a traditional public school.E.1. Beginning July 1, 2024, the Statewide Charter School Board shall make publicly available a list of supplemental online courses which have been reviewed and certified by the Board to ensure that the courses are high-quality options and are aligned with the subject matter standards adopted by the State Board of Education pursuant to Section 11-103.6 of Title 70 of the Oklahoma Statutes. The Statewide Charter School Board shall give special emphasis on listing supplemental online courses in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM), foreign language, and advanced placement courses. School districts shall not be limited to selecting supplemental online courses that have been reviewed and certified by the Statewide Charter School Board and listed as provided for in this paragraph.2. In conjunction with the Office of Management and Enterprise Services, the Board shall negotiate and enter into contracts with supplemental online course providers to offer a state rate price to school districts for supplemental online courses that have been reviewed and certified by the Statewide Charter School Board and listed as provided for in this subsection.Okla. Stat. tit. 70, § 3-132.2
Added by Laws 2023, c. 323,s. 2, eff. 9/1/2023.