Agenda - Council - 07/12/2022 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home

APPENDIX B MINNESOTA LAWS RELATING TO CHARTER SCHOOLS APPENDIX B MINNESOTA LAWS RELATING TO CHARTER SCHOOLS This APPENDIX B summarizes certain provisions of charter school law in the State of Minnesota("State"). This appendix provides a summary, for informational purposes only, and should be read in conjunction with other portions of the Official Statement and the complete Charter School Act(as defined below). Potential investors should refer to and independently evaluate such provisions in their entirety, with assistance from counsel, for a complete understanding of their terms. Further,potential investors should note that the provisions summarized below are subject to change, and this summary only pertains to certain aspects of currently existing law. Introduction Charter schools in Minnesota are public schools and are a component of the State's system of public education. The Minnesota Charter School Act, Minn. Stat. Chapter 124E (the"Charter School Act"), authorizes the creation and operation of charter schools and includes rules concerning governance of charter schools,the legal status and organization of charter schools, the charter application process, charter school facilities, charter school funding and other requirements to maintain good standing with the State. Pursuant to the Charter School Act, any charter school must receive a written charter contract to operate as a charter school from a designated authorizer. Charter schools are primarily intended to improve pupil learning and student achievement. Additional purposes include to: (1)increase learning opportunities for pupils; (2) encourage the use of different and innovative teaching methods; (3)measure learning outcomes and create different and innovative forms of measuring outcomes; (4) establish new forms of accountability for schools; and (5) create new professional opportunities for teachers, including the opportunity for the learning program at the school site. In addition to the Charter School Act, charter schools must comply with certain other State and federal law regarding public education. The sections that follow provide additional information relating to the State laws applicable to charter schools. State Law Charter School Requirements Authorizer Approval Process(Minn.Stat.§124E.05) An applicant seeking to establish a charter school,or to convert an existing school into a charter school,must seek the support and approval of a qualified authorizer. Minnesota law requires that charter schools must be granted a charter by an entity referred to as an authorizer. An eligible authorizer may consist of(1)a school board,intermediate school district board, or education district, (2) certain types of charitable organizations, (3) a Minnesota private college,community college, State university,or technical college governed by the Board of Trustees of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities, or the University of Minnesota, (4)a nonprofit corporation subject to chapter 317A, described in section 317A.905, and exempt from federal income tax under section 501(c)(6)of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, or(5) single purpose authorizers that are charitable,nonsectarian organizations formed under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and incorporated in the state of Minnesota as a corporation with no members or as a nonprofit limited liability company whose sole purpose is to charter schools.