6A-6.0785: Charter School Applicant Training Standards
PURPOSE AND EFFECT: The proposed new rule will codify Department standards for charter school applicant training and establish a procedure for charter school sponsors to demonstrate that their training standards meet or exceed the Department of Education’s standards.
SUMMARY: The proposed new rule will establish a procedure by which sponsors may require charter applicants to attend training provided by the sponsor in lieu of the training provided by the Department.
SUMMARY OF STATEMENT OF ESTIMATED REGULATORY COSTS: Districts opting to provide training may incur minimal costs relating to the notification of such training opportunities.
Any person who wishes to provide information regarding a statement of estimated regulatory costs, or provide a proposal for a lower cost regulatory alternative must do so in writing within 21 days of this notice.
SPECIFIC AUTHORITY: 1002.33 FS.
LAW IMPLEMENTED: 1002.33 FS.
A HEARING WILL BE HELD AT THE DATE, TIME AND PLACE SHOWN BELOW:
DATE AND TIME: March 16, 2010, 9:00 a.m.
PLACE: Tallahassee Community College, 444 Appleyard Drive, Building 38, Room 105, Tallahassee, Florida.
THE PERSON TO BE CONTACTED REGARDING THE PROPOSED RULE IS: Adam Miller, Director of Charter Schools, Office of Independent Education and Parental Choice, 325 West Gaines Street, Suite 522, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0400
THE FULL TEXT OF THE PROPOSED RULE IS:
6A-6.0785 Charter School Applicant Training Standards.
Training will be provided to charter school applicants in accordance with Section 1002.33(6)(g), Florida Statutes.
(1)(a) Standards for charter school applicant training are specified in Form IEPC-TS, Charter School Applicant Training Standards Certification Form 2009, hereinafter, Training Standards Certification Form, which is hereby incorporated by reference to become a part of this rule upon the effective date of this rule.
(b) The Training Standards Certification Form establishes the standards for charter school applicant training. The standards were developed by the Department pursuant to Section 1002.33(6)(g), Florida Statutes, and address the following topics: charter school laws and rules, the application process, charter school sponsor duties and services, developing business plans, projecting enrollment, estimating costs and income, accurate financial planning and good business practices, requirements of Financial and Program Cost Accounting and Reporting for Florida Schools as incorporated by reference in Rule 6A-1.001, F.A.C., charter school audit requirements, and the types and amounts of state and federal financial assistance a charter school may be eligible to receive.
(c) Copies of the Training Standards Certification Form may be obtained from the Office of Independent Education and Parental Choice, Department of Education, 325 West Gaines Street, Tallahassee, Florida 32399.
(2) A sponsor intending to require charter school applicants to participate in training provided by the sponsor in lieu of the Department’s training pursuant to Section 1002.33(6)(g)2., Florida Statutes, must annually certify that the sponsor’s training standards meet or exceed the standards developed by the Department through the following process:
(a) The sponsor shall complete, sign, and submit a Training Standards Certification Form prior to offering training to charter school applicants no later than May 1 of each year. The form shall be submitted to the Office of Independent Education and Parental Choice, Florida Department of Education, 325 West Gaines Street, Tallahassee, Florida 32399.
(b) Upon receipt of the Training Standards Certification Form, the Department will within ten (10) business days notify the sponsor if the form is complete and satisfactorily demonstrates that the sponsor’s standards meet or exceed the standards developed by the Department. If the form is not complete, or if additional information is required, the Department will notify the sponsor in writing.
(c) Upon receipt of notification that the Training Standards Certification Form has been accepted by the Department the sponsor shall:
1. Send written or electronic notification about the training requirement to the prospective charter school applicants known to the sponsor;
2. Post a notice about the required training in a prominent place on the sponsor’s internet website; and
3. Verbally inform each charter school applicant of the training requirement at the time intent to submit an application is made known to the sponsor.
(3) A sponsor that does not intend to require charter school applicants to participate in training provided by the sponsor in lieu of the Department’s training shall provide notification of the applicant training requirement established by Section 1002.33(6)(g)2., Florida Statutes, by sending written or electronic notification to the prospective charter school applicants known to the sponsor. The notification shall include the Department’s charter school website.
(4) Applicant training must be offered annually by July 31 and scheduled in a manner that provides all applicants a reasonable opportunity to participate.
(5) Upon completion of the training, the provider shall present a certificate of participation to the applicant and maintain a record of the training date and the name and title of each attendee.
(6) The sponsor may not require charter school applicants to attend sponsor training in lieu of the Department’s training prior to the effective date of this rule.
Rulemaking Authority 1002.33(26) FS. Law Implemented 1002.33(6)(g) FS. History–New________.