Charter schools.

The Charter Schools Act of 1992 authorizes any one or more persons to submit a petition to the governing board of a school district to establish a charter school that operates independently from the existing school district structure as a method of accomplishing specified goals. The act limits the maximum number of charter schools authorized to operate in the 1998–99 school year to 250, and authorizes an additional 100 charter schools to operate in each year thereafter. This bill would limit, until January 1, 2017, the maximum total number of charter schools authorized to operate in the state to 1,450. The bill would prohibit charter schools operated by a private entity from employing relatives of charter school personnel, as specified. The Charter Schools Act of 1992 specifies the procedures for the submission, review, and approval or denial of a petition to establish a standard or countywide charter school. The act authorizes the governing board of a school district or a county board of education to deny a charter petition if the board makes written factual findings that demonstrate that the petition does not meet certain criteria. This bill would add an additional criterion relating to the disclosure of relatives of charter school personnel, as specified.