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2011 Legislative Session: How Charter Schools Can Be Prepared

2011 Legislative Session: How Charter Schools Can Be Prepared. Vinny Badolato, VP of Public Affairs Colorado League of Charter Schools. Presentation Overview. 68 th General Assembly 2011 Policy Agenda League Legislative Actions Other Bills of Interest to Date Budget Colorado CAN

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2011 Legislative Session: How Charter Schools Can Be Prepared

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  1. 2011 Legislative Session: How Charter Schools Can Be Prepared Vinny Badolato, VP of Public Affairs Colorado League of Charter Schools

  2. Presentation Overview • 68th General Assembly • 2011 Policy Agenda • League Legislative Actions • Other Bills of Interest to Date • Budget • Colorado CAN • Ongoing Legislative Updates

  3. The 68th General Assembly • Split Chambers: House is Republican Senate is Democratic • Governor: Democratic • House Education: 7R-6D (Massey, Chair) • Senate Education: 5D-3R (Bacon, Chair) • Joint Budget Committee: 3D-3R

  4. 2011 Policy Agenda • The League’s policy priorities for 2011 • Developed by League Government Affairs Committee and approved by Board and members • Legislative and regulatory changes • Not all agenda items are for current year activity

  5. Legislative Actions • Facilities access and financing • Enhanced LEA status for competitive grant opportunities • Improve food service program systems • Timely access to student data • Protecting capital construction fund

  6. Facilities Legislation • HB 11-1055 Sponsors: Rep Beezley, No Sen. Yet In House Approps Feb. 25 • Key Details: • District charter can identify and request to use district facilities or land deemed available, suitable and appropriate. • District has 30 60 days to respond

  7. Facilities Legislation Cont. • HB 11-1055 continued • If district refuses, charter can request evaluation of facility or land from CDE • If CDE determines that facility or land is available, suitable and appropriate, district must grant use by charter • No rent can be charged, but charter/district shall negotiate operation and maintenance fees

  8. Facilities Legislation Cont. • HB 11-1055 continued • Similar situation applies for CSI schools, except facilities or land applies to state agency owned • No restrictive covenants clause that would prevent districts that are selling facilities from stipulating that the structure can not be used as a school in the future.

  9. Facilities Legislation Cont. • Moral Obligation Program (SB 132, no bill #) • Sponsors: Sens. K. King and Bacon, no Rep. yet • Key Details: • Raise ceiling on program by $100 million • Bolster current reserve to keep debt-reserve ratio the same

  10. Facilities Legislation Cont. • Moral Obligation Program Cont. • Open conduit issuer options under the program to competition • Prohibit trailer fees • Treasurer granted enhanced role in allocation and revocation decisions under the moral ob program

  11. Grant Opportunities • HB 11-1089 Sponsors: Rep. Conti, Sen. K. King • Passed House Ed 10-3 • Passed House Final Passage 49-16 YET • Assigned to Senate State, Veterans, and Military Affairs, to be heard on Weds. Feb. 23

  12. Grant Opportunities Cont. • Key Details: • Piggybacks off of bill passed in 2010 to allow charter schools to apply for federal grants without authorizer permission • Extends allowance to any LEA-eligible competitive grant issued by the stateor under ESEA.

  13. Food Service • No Bill # yet Sponsors: Sen. Johnston, No Rep. yet • Key Details • Eliminate district release requirement • Increase School Food Authorities either through collaboratives (SB10-161) or through raising the cap beyond current #

  14. Other League Issues • Timely access to student data • BEST program • HB 1412 Committee • Building Charter School Quality

  15. Bills of Interest • SB 11-069: EMO certification and regulation • HB 11-1126: Improve parental involvement in schools • HB 11-1253: Change charter school at-risk funding (going away) • Massey-Bacon Education Omnibus bill Certainly more coming!

  16. Budget “This stinks.” – Henry Sobanet, Governor’s Budget Director

  17. Budget Cont. • Governor’s budget is grim for K-12 • Filling over $1 billion shortfall over two years • $332 million cut compared to 10-11 (approx. $500 per student) • Will be $836 million short of cost defined by School Finance Act

  18. Colorado CAN • League’s advocacy list • Currently 16,000+ and growing • Working on improving outreach • Expect several action alerts this session • Encourage sign-ups at League’s website under “Take Action”

  19. League Legislative Updates • League’s homepage • Utilizing Colorado Capitol Watch to track and disseminate legislative information • http://www.coloradocapitolwatch.com/bill-tracker-votes/0/698/2011/0/ • Capitol Watch public page will be updated twice per week

  20. Questions? Vinny Badolato Vice President of Public Affairs vbadolato@coloradoleague.org 303-989-5356 x105 (o) 303-946-5045 (m)

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