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Charter School Policies - State Profile October 2010

Maintenance of this database is a collective effort between ECS and the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools. Please contact Molly Ryan, 303.299.3614 or [email protected] with questions or comments about the database.

Hawaii

Charter School Basics

Does the state have a charter school law? Yes

Does the state allow existing public schools to Yes convert to charter schools?

Does the state allow for the creation of start-up Yes charter schools?

Is a charter school part of a local education agency A charter school is part of the LEA that is the state- (LEA) or its own LEA? wide school district.

Does the state specify the charter schools or the No students that may be given preference?

Does the state have any caps on the number of Yes. 25 conversion schools and 23 start-up schools charter schools? An additional start-up charter school is permitted for every existing start-up that receives accreditation for 3 or more years.

Who can approve charter schools? The state charter school review panel

Does the state specify who may apply to open a Yes. Any public school or schools, community, group charter school? of teachers, group of administrators and teachers, nonprofit organization or any program within an existing school

Is there an appeals process in place for charter Yes. A local charter school board may file an appeal applicants? with the state board of education.

Does the state provide technical assistance to Yes

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Charter School Finance

Through whom does a charter school receive its The state funding?

How is the funding for a charter school Charter funding is determined annually, with a per determined? pupil amount for each regular education and special education student. This amount must be equivalent to the total per pupil cost based upon average enrollment in all cost categories, including comprehensive school support services but excluding special education services, for all means of financing except federal funds, as reported in the most recently published department of education consolidated annual financial report.

Does the state provide start-up and/or planning No grants to charter schools?

Does the state provide facilities funds or other Yes. The state department of education must make facilities assistance to charter schools? available vacant school facilities or portions of school facilities for use by charter schools.

Does the state specify who must provide No transportation to charter school students?

Charter School Autonomy

Are the state's standards and assessments applied Yes to charter schools?

What rules are waived for charter schools? Charter schools are exempt from all applicable state laws except those regarding collective bargaining, discriminatory practices and health and safety requirements.

Charter School Teachers

Do teachers in a charter school have to be Yes. All teachers must obtain a license from the Hawaii certified? teacher standards board in such form as the standards board determines.

What sets teacher salaries? The collective bargaining agreement

Does the state require school districts to grant No. Charter school teachers remain employees of the teachers a leave of absence to teach in a charter statewide district. school?

Do teachers in each of a state's charter schools Yes have equal access to the public school teachers'

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retirement system?

Are charter schools bound by school district Yes. The negotiated master agreements apply to collective bargaining agreements? charter school employees unless the exclusive union representatives and the charter school's governing board enter into supplemental agreements that contain cost and non-cost items to facilitate decentralized decision-making.

Charter School Accountability

Does the state require charter schools to submit Yes. Charter schools must provide program audits and annual reports? annual financial audits. Charter schools must also conduct annual self-evaluations.

Does the state list grounds for terminating a Yes. Failure to meet the state student performance school's charter? standards, fiscal irresponsibility, or serious student or employee health or safety deficiencies result in charter termination.

Does the state provide an appeals process in the Yes. A local charter school board may file an appeal charter school renewal process? with the state board of education.

Does the state require the state education agency No or another entity to report on the effectiveness of charter schools?

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