SB 10-161, Authorizing Charter Schools to Enter Into Contracts

Some aspects of a charter school being an "LEA" or Local Education Agency are good; others not so much. Sen. Keith King, in SB 161 wants to allow charter schools to have some of the beneficial aspects of being an LEA by permitting them to join a BOCES (Board of Cooperative Education Services) board for services or facilities.

The bill would also allow charter schools to apply for federal or state grants as an LEA if they get permission from their authorizing school districts. Currently, charter schools cannot apply for these grants or occasionally can participate through their authorizing school district. Charter school collaboratives could apply for some federal and state grants, even without authorizer permission, if SB 161 were to pass as introduced.

This bill has been assigned to the Senate Education committee.