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An Act To Reform Public Charter Schools
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 20-A MRSA §2403, sub-§1, as enacted by PL 2011, c. 414, §5, is amended to read:
 
1. Information and technical assistance.   The department shall disseminate information on how to form and operate a public charter school and, on how to enroll in a public charter school once the school is created and on financial and contract matters of existing public charter schools. Upon receipt of information received from a public charter school under section 2412, subsection 4, paragraph F and section 2412-A, subsection 6, the department shall post that information on a publicly accessible portion of the department's website. The department may provide assistance and guidance to authorizers in developing effective authorization and oversight procedures.
Sec. 2.  20-A MRSA §2412, sub-§4, ¶F  is enacted to read:
 
F.  A public charter school must provide the department with information detailing every contract that the public charter school executes, including a lease, an employment contract or an agreement with an outside provider of materials or supplies or maintenance, administrative, food or educational services.
Sec. 3.  20-A MRSA §2412, sub-§8  is enacted to read:
 
8.  Governing boards.     A public charter school shall post notice for a meeting of the public charter school's governing board, including the date and time of the meeting, on a publicly accessible portion of the public charter school's website at least 30 days in advance of the meeting. Governing board meetings must be open to the public. The governing board shall ensure that accurate minutes are taken of a meeting of the governing board and post those minutes on a publicly accessible portion of the public charter school's website within 48 hours after the meeting has adjourned.
Sec. 4. 20-A MRSA §2413, sub-§2, ¶D, as enacted by PL 2011, c. 414, §5, is amended to read:
 
D. A public charter school may receive gifts and grants from private sources in any manner that is available to a school administrative unit. A gift or grant under this paragraph may not be conditional upon the public charter school's removing a staff member or teacher of the public charter school.
 
SUMMARY
This bill amends the laws governing public charter schools by:
1. Requiring the Department of Education to post the annual audit of a public charter school and information concerning every contract entered into by a public charter school on a publicly accessible portion of the department's website.
2. Requiring a public charter school to provide the Department of Education with information on every contract executed by the public charter school, including leases, employment contracts or agreements with outside providers of materials or supplies or maintenance, administrative, food or educational services.
3. Requiring that notice for governing board meetings of public charter schools be posted on a publicly accessible portion of the public charter school's website at least 30 days before the meeting, that governing board meetings be open to the public and the governing board take accurate minutes of the meeting and post those minutes on a publicly accessible portion of the public charter school's website within 48 hours after adjournment of the meeting.
4. Prohibiting a public charter school from accepting a gift or grant that is conditional upon the removal of a staff member or teacher of the public charter school.