The purpose of this amendment is to substantially revise the Florida Model Charter School Application and Evaluation Instrument for regular and virtual charter schools.

 

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

State Board of Education

RULE NO.:RULE TITLE:

6A-6.0786Forms for Charter School Applicants and Sponsors

PURPOSE AND EFFECT: The purpose of this amendment is to substantially revise the Florida Model Charter School Application and Evaluation Instrument for regular and virtual charter schools.

SUMMARY: The Department is proposing substantive revisions to the Model Florida Charter School Application and Evaluation Instrument for regular and virtual charter schools. The revisions will bring more rigor to the application process and ensure that only those applicants with the vision, plan and capacity to open and operate a high-quality charter school be approved.

SUMMARY OF STATEMENT OF ESTIMATED REGULATORY COSTS AND LEGISLATIVE RATIFICATION: The Agency has determined that this will not have an adverse impact on small business or likely increase directly or indirectly regulatory costs in excess of $200,000 in the aggregate within one year after the implementation of the rule. A SERC has not been prepared by the Agency.

The Agency has determined that the proposed rule is not expected to require legislative ratification based on the statement of estimated regulatory costs or if no SERC is required, the information expressly relied upon and described herein: This rule requires the use of model forms, as required by law. No requirement for SERC was triggered under Section 120.541(1), Florida Statutes. There would be no economic impact from this amendment and the adverse impact or regulatory cost, if any, does not exceed nor would be expected to exceed any one of the economic analysis criteria set forth in Section 120.541(2)(a), Florida Statutes.

Any person who wishes to provide information regarding a statement of estimated regulatory costs, or provide a proposal for a lower cost regulatory alternative must do so in writing within 21 days of this notice.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY: 1002.33(28) FS.

LAW IMPLEMENTED: 1002.33(6), (21) FS.

A HEARING WILL BE HELD AT THE DATE, TIME AND PLACE SHOWN BELOW:

DATE AND TIME: January 6, 2016, 9:00 a.m.

PLACE: Room LL03, The Capitol, 400 South Monroe Street, Tallahassee, Florida

THE PERSON TO BE CONTACTED REGARDING THE PROPOSED RULE IS: Adam Emerson, Charter Schools Director, Office of Independent Education and Parental Choice, 325 W Gaines Street, Suite 1044, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0400

 

THE FULL TEXT OF THE PROPOSED RULE IS:

 

6A-6.0786 Forms for Charter School Applicants and Sponsors.

(1) Persons or entities submitting a charter school application must use Form IEPC-M1, Model Florida Charter School Application, effective February 2016 August 2015 (http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-05516), pursuant to Section 1002.33, F.S. Form IEPC-M1 is hereby incorporated by reference and may be obtained electronically on the Department’s website at http://www.floridaschoolchoice.org or from the Office of Independent Education and Parental Choice, Department of Education, 325 West Gaines Street, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0400.

(2) Sponsors shall evaluate Model Florida Charter School Applications using Form IEPC-M2, Florida Charter School Application Evaluation Instrument, effective February 2016 June 2012 (http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-01257). Form IEPC-M2 is hereby incorporated by reference and may be obtained electronically on the Department’s website at http://www.floridaschoolchoice.org or from the Office of Independent Education and Parental Choice, Department of Education, 325 West Gaines Street, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0400.

(3) No change.

(4) Persons or entities submitting a virtual charter school application must use Form IEPC-VI, Model Florida Virtual Charter School Application, effective February 2016 June 2012, (http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-01257) pursuant to Section 1002.33, F.S. Form IEPC-VI is hereby incorporated by reference and may be obtained electronically on the Department’s website at http://www.floridaschoolchoice.org or from the Office of Independent Education and Parental Choice, Department of Education, 325 West Gaines Street, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0400.

(5) Sponsors shall evaluate Model Florida Virtual Charter School Applications using Form IEPC-V2, Florida Virtual Charter School Application Evaluation Instrument, effective February 2016 June 2012 (http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-01257). Form IEPC-V2 is hereby incorporated by reference and may be obtained electronically on the Department’s website at http://www.floridaschoolchoice.org or from the Office of Independent Education and Parental Choice, Department of Education, 325 West Gaines Street, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0400.

(6) Persons or entities submitting a charter school application to replicate a high-performing charter school, pursuant to Section 1002.331, F.S., must use Form IEPC-HP1, Model Florida Charter School Application for High-Performing Replications, effective August 2015 (http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-05517). Form IEPC-HP1 is hereby incorporated by reference and may be obtained electronically on the Department’s website at http://www.floridaschoolchoice.org or from the Office of Independent Education and Parental Choice, Department of Education, 325 West Gaines Street, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0400.

(7) Sponsors shall evaluate Model Florida Charter School Applications for High-Performing Replications using Form IEPC-HP2, Florida Charter School Application for High-Performing Replications Evaluation Instrument, effective June 2012 (http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-01257). Form IEPC-HP2 is hereby incorporated by reference and may be obtained electronically on the Department’s website at http://www.floridaschoolchoice.org or from the Office of Independent Education and Parental Choice, Department of Education, 325 West Gaines Street, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0400.

(6) (8) Applicants completing Addenda A, B, or C, pursuant to the model application shall use Form IEPC-M1A, Applicant History Worksheet, (http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-05518) effective August 2015. Form IEPC-M1A is hereby incorporated by reference and may be obtained electronically on the Department’s website at http://www.fldoe.org/schools/school-choice/ or from the Office of Independent Education and Parental Choice, Department of Education, 325 West Gaines Street, Tallahassee, FL 32399-0400.

Rulemaking Authority 1002.33(6), (28) FS. Law Implemented 1002.33(6), (21), 1002.331 FS. History–New 10-25-10, Amended 7-9-12, 12-23-14, 8-6-15,.

 

NAME OF PERSON ORIGINATING PROPOSED RULE: Adam Miller, Executive Director, Office of Independent Education and Parental Choice

NAME OF AGENCY HEAD WHO APPROVED THE PROPOSED RULE: Pam Stewart, Commissioner, Department of Education

DATE PROPOSED RULE APPROVED BY AGENCY HEAD: December 3, 2015

DATE NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULE DEVELOPMENT PUBLISHED IN FAR: September 4, 2015