Administering Section 218 Policies

Originally presented by

Marc Denos, SSANCSSSA ConferenceAugust 2, 2010Kansas City, MO

Charter School + Section 218

A) QuandaryB) ConundrumC) Bugaboo D) !$#*&@E) Who cares; Everyone in my State is covered by a retirement

system.

Alternative to public schools

Provide elementary or secondary education

Receive public money

May also receive private donations

Free from some of the rules and regulations that apply to public schools

Not allowed to charge tuition

What are Charter Schools?

Are Charter Schools in Every State?

40 States, DC, and Puerto Rico have laws allowing charter schools

Alabama, Kentucky, Maine, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Vermont, Washington and West Virginia do not

Minnesota

1992

Charter Schools Are Different

Charter schools:

Are public schools of choice

Are generally newly created

Are generally small schools (enrollment is less than 250 students while traditional public schools exceed 500)

Often serve multiple communities , and have a unique curriculum and a variety of instructional practices

Vary a from state to state and school to school

Have atypical grade configurations (K-3, K-8)

Often provide one or more non-instructional services, like health, social services, or extended day care

Charter Schools Have Laws

Charter development

School status

Fiscal

Students

Staffing and Labor Relations

Instruction

Accountability

Who Can Open A Charter School?

Parents Community leaders Businesses Teachers

School districts

Municipalities

And others

Who Authorizes Charter Schools?

It could be:

Governing board of the school districtsCity school boardcounty school board

State board

State universities Community colleges

And others

This varies from state to state, depending on the State’s charter law.

Maybe Charter Schools Are Hybrid!

Note: 501(c)(3) organizations are types of organizations that are exempt from some federal income taxes

The States*

*SL 20001.220 When Federal and State Laws Apply

Determining The Legal Status…of a hybrid. I mean charter school.

LawmakersAttorney General

State Statute and LegislationState Board

Apply the six characteristics that may qualify an entity as an instrumentality of government

What do ya’ll suggest?

“We’re listening!”