SF 1707

as introduced - 84th Legislature (2005 - 2006) Posted on 12/15/2009 12:00am

A bill for an act
relating to education; authorizing the commissioner of
education to approve up to five charitable
organizations as charter school sponsors; amending
Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 124D.10, subdivision
3.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 124D.10,
subdivision 3, is amended to read:

Subd. 3.

Sponsor.

(a) A school board; intermediate
school district school board; education district organized under
sections 123A.15 to 123A.19; charitable organization under
section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 that is a
member of the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits or the Minnesota
Council on Foundations, registered with the attorney general's
office, and reports an end-of-year fund balance of at least
$2,000,000; Minnesota private college that grants two- or
four-year degrees and is registered with the Higher Education
Services Office under chapter 136A; community college, state
university, or technical college, governed by the Board of
Trustees of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities; or
the University of Minnesota may sponsor one or more charter
schools.

(b) A nonprofit corporation subject to chapter 317A,
described in section 317A.905, and exempt from federal income
tax under section 501(c)(6) of the Internal Revenue Code of
1986, may sponsor one or more charter schools if the charter
school has operated for at least three years under a different
sponsor and if the nonprofit corporation has existed for at
least 25 years.

new text begin (c) The commissioner of education may approve up to five
charitable organizations under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986 which have as their primary activity the
sponsoring of charter schools. Proposals of the charitable
organizations to the commissioner must contain:
new text end

new text begin (1) the articles, bylaws, and initial board membership;
new text end

new text begin (2) the sources of financing for its operation;
new text end

new text begin (3) the areas of specialization of its sponsorship; and
new text end

new text begin (4) other information requested by the department.
new text end

new text begin Sponsors approved under this paragraph shall report
annually to the commissioner on the types of charter schools
sponsored, their effectiveness in promoting student achievement,
the development of alternative school governance structures, and
other information requested by the department. The commissioner
may terminate its authorization for a charitable organization to
sponsor a charter school under this paragraph if the charitable
organization demonstrates persistent financial mismanagement or
repeated violations of law.
new text end