Charter schools: establishment of a charter school.

Existing law requires the governing board of a school district to grant or deny a charter petition within 90 days of receipt of the petition unless the petitioner and school district agree to a 30-day extension. Existing law authorizes a petitioner to submit the petition to the county board of education on appeal within 30 days of a governing board's denial of a petition. Under existing law, if either the county board of education or the state board fails to act on the appeal of a charter petition within 180 days of receipt, the decision of the governing board of the school district to deny the charter is subject to judicial review. This bill would additionally authorize a petitioner to submit a charter petition to the county board of education on appeal within 30 days if the governing board of the school district fails to take action on the charter within the prescribed time period. To the extent these provisions would impose additional duties on county boards of education, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.