Purpose of the Bill

The bill aims to modify the requirements for charter school boards of directors and chief administrators in Minnesota. It seeks to ensure transparency, enhance qualifications, and prevent conflicts of interest within charter school governance.

Main Provisions

• Definition of Public Officials: The bill explicitly adds charter school board members and administrators to the list of public officials, subjecting them to ethics and transparency obligations.

• Board Structure and Membership:

  • Charter school boards must have at least five members, including a teacher, a parent or guardian of a student who is not employed by the school, and a community member.
  • Community or board members cannot be employees or have certain conflicts of interest with the school.
  • The board may not compensate its members more than school district board members receive.
  • Elections for board members must follow specific notification procedures and timelines.

• Administrator Qualifications:

  • Administrators must have a four-year degree or equivalent experience and undergo competency-based training annually.
  • Training must cover a wide range of topics including curriculum design, financial management, and community partnerships.
  • Administrators cannot serve on the boards of more than one charter school, with certain exceptions, and must complete documented training.

• Prohibition of Conflicts of Interest:

  • Individuals with direct or indirect professional ties or familial relationships to contracted entities cannot serve on charter school boards.
  • Contracts may be voided if such conflicts of interest are discovered.

• Election and Voting Procedures:

  • Board elections should be held during the school year, excluding days when school is closed, with clear election policies made publicly available.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Transparency and Accountability: By defining charter school leaders as public officials, the bill enforces stricter ethical standards and accountability on charter school governance.
• Conflict of Interest Provisions: The bill introduces detailed rules to avoid conflicts of interest, inclusive of financial and relational biases, thereby aiming to ensure unbiased governance.
• Structured Board Composition: It mandates specified membership criteria and election processes to bolster democratic representation within charter schools.

Relevant Terms

charter school board, public official, board elections, conflict of interest, director qualifications, teacher representation, community member, parental involvement, administrator training, professional development, compensation, transparency.