Alabama Public Charter School Appeals Process The Alabama Public Charter School Commission was established by the Alabama School Choice and Student Opportunity Act of 2015 (the School Act”). The Commission “Charter is an independent state entity charged with the mission of authorizing high quality charter schools. The Commission has the authority to act as the authorizer for Charter Schools in two instances: When considering an application for a Charter School to be located in a school district where there is no local school board as authorizer; and When a local school board has elected to act as authorizer and a denied Charter School application is considered on appeal by the Commission. The following guidelines will be employed as part of the appellate process: Timing. The Act does not provide a specific time or deadlines for appeal. Clearly, an appeal cannot be processed before an application is considered by a local school board authorizer (where there is one). Further, the Act requires a local school board authorizer which denies an application to report to the State Department of Education the action it has taken. This is “Report” necessarily written and must include a copy of the authorizer’s resolution settling forth the action taken and reasons for the decision and assurances as to compliance with all of the procedural requirements and elements set forth in §16-6F-7 of the Alabama Code. This Report has to be provided within thirty (30) days of action taken and has to be provided to the applicant as well as the ALSDE. Because the appeal cannot be considered without the Report, the appeal will not be complete and ready for consideration until the report is received. The Appeal Submission. The appeal by the denied applicant should be filed with the Commission and should contain the complete for ease of “package” processing and consideration. A copy of the Appeal must be provided the ALSDE and the local board authorizer. All of the following materials should be required as part of the appeal submission:
Alabama Public Charter School Appeals Process The Alabama Public Charter School Commission was established by the Alabama School Choice and Student Opportunity Act of 2015 (the “Charter School Act”). The Commission is an independent state entity charged with the mission of authorizing high quality charter schools. The Commission has the authority to act as the authorizer for Charter Schools in two instances: When considering an application for a Charter School to be located in a school district where there is no local school board as authorizer; and When a local school board has elected to act as authorizer and a denied Charter School application is considered on appeal by the Commission. The following guidelines will be employed as part of the appellate process: Timing. The Act does not provide a specific time or deadlines for appeal. Clearly, an appeal cannot be processed before an application is considered by a local school board authorizer (where there is one). Further, the Act requires a local school board authorizer which denies an application to report to the State Department of Education the action it has taken. This “Report” is necessarily written and must include a copy of the authorizer’s resolution settling forth the action taken and reasons for the decision and assurances as to compliance with all of the procedural requirements and elements set forth in §16-6F-7 of the Alabama Code. This Report has to be provided within thirty (30) days of action taken and has to be provided to the applicant as well as the ALSDE. Because the appeal cannot be considered without the Report, the appeal will not be complete and ready for consideration until the report is received. The Appeal Submission. The appeal by the denied applicant should be filed with the Commission and should contain the complete “package” for ease of processing and consideration. A copy of the Appeal must be provided the ALSDE and the local board authorizer. All of the following materials should be required as part of the appeal submission:
Alabama%20Public%20Charter%20School%20Appeals%20Process.docx