Indiana Senate Bill 212 (Prior Session Legislation)

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Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)
Status: Introduced on January 7 2021 - 25% progression, died in committee
Action: 2021-01-25 - Senator Ford J.D. added as coauthor
Pending: Senate Education and Career Development Committee
Text: Latest bill text (Introduced) [PDF]

Charter schools and prohibited discrimination. Provides that it is the public policy of the state to provide equal, nonsegregated, and nondiscriminatory education opportunities and facilities for all, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or marital status (in addition to race, creed, national origin, color, or sex under current law). Makes a similar change to a charter school provision concerning the suspension, expulsion, or requested transfer of a student and to an Indiana academy for science, mathematics, and humanities provision. Provides that a charter school may not discriminate against staff on the basis of disability, race, color, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, religion, or ancestry. Requires the department of education to provide staff to carry out the duties of the Indiana charter school board (charter board). Makes various changes to the charter school law, including the following: (1) Prohibiting an authorizer from: (A) authorizing a charter to an organizer if a charter school of the organizer has been closed within the past five years; or (B) accepting a proposal from an organizer that operates a charter school that does not meet certain school accountability grade thresholds. (2) Requiring certain authorizers that are not currently required to be approved for chartering authority to be approved for chartering authority before granting a new charter or renewing a charter. (3) Providing that an administrative fee for certain authorizers is dependent upon the category or designation that the charter school receives regarding its school accountability grade. (4) Prohibiting, under certain circumstances, a charter school from enrolling new students who are not currently enrolled in the charter school. (5) Requiring authorizers to be responsible for certain amounts owed by a charter school and to cosign for a loan from the common school fund before an organizer may obtain the loan. (6) Requiring each organizer and authorizer of a charter school to submit to the state board of education a surety bond or other form of financial guarantee and establishes consequences for an organizer or authorizer that fails to submit the bond or guarantee. Requires: (1) an authorizer to submit to the department of education a notice of a public hearing regarding the establishment of a proposed charter school; and (2) the department to post the notice on the department's Internet web site. Repeals a provision that provides that funding for the charter board consists of administrative fees.

Charter schools and prohibited discrimination.

Sen. Shelli Yoder [D]

Sen. J.D. Ford [D]

Date	Chamber	Action
2021-01-25	Senate	Senator Ford J.D. added as coauthor
2021-01-07	Senate	First reading: referred to Committee on Education and Career Development
2021-01-07	Senate	Authored by Senator Yoder

Type	Source
Summary	https://iga.in.gov/legislative/2021/bills/senate/212/details
Text	http://iga.in.gov/static-documents/8/9/1/2/8912939b/SB0212.01.INTR.pdf
Supplement	http://iga.in.gov/static-documents/9/c/f/e/9cfe8f73/SB0212.01.INTR.FN001.pdf