An Act to ensure charter school transparency and public accountability

This bill requires all charter schools in Massachusetts to increase transparency and public accountability by making their applications, budgets, and contracts available online. It mandates that at least half of the governing board members be elected parents or students and requires board members to file financial disclosures to prevent conflicts of interest. The legislation also grants charter school employees the same due process rights and collective bargaining protections as public school employees while prohibiting discriminatory enrollment practices. Additionally, the bill creates an independent ombudsman office to handle appeals regarding student enrollment and withdrawal decisions. Finally, it establishes an office of the ombudsman to oversee compliance and requires management companies to publicly disclose their financial relationships with the schools they operate.