§3972. Intent and purpose

            A. It is the intention of the legislature in enacting this Chapter to authorize school choice options for parents, teachers, and pupils through the creation of innovative kinds of independent public charter schools. Further, it is the intention of the legislature to provide a framework of operational autonomy for such schools, a means for all persons with valid ideas and motivation to participate, and a mechanism by which results can be analyzed, considered, and repeated or replicated if appropriate. Finally, it is the intention of the legislature that the best interests of students who are economically disadvantaged shall be the overriding consideration in implementing the provisions of this Chapter.

            B.(1) The purposes of this Chapter shall be to increase school choice options throughout the state and to provide opportunities for parents, educators, and others interested in educating pupils to form, operate, or be employed within an operationally autonomous charter school with each such school designed to accomplish one or more of the following objectives:

            (a) Improve pupil learning and, in general, the public school system.

            (b) Increase learning opportunities and access to quality education for pupils.

            (c) Encourage the use of different and innovative teaching methods, educational models, and a variety of governance, management, and administrative structures.

            (d) Require appropriate assessment and measurement of academic learning results.

            (e) Account better and more thoroughly for educational results.

            (f) Create new professional opportunities for teachers and other school employees, including the opportunity to be responsible for the learning program at the school site.

            (2) It is not a purpose of this Chapter to permit establishment of a charter school to be used as the means of keeping open an existing public school that otherwise would be closed. Such a circumstance, however, shall not preclude approval of a proposed charter that otherwise fulfills a purpose of this Chapter and for which the proposal clearly demonstrates that the educational program proposed to be offered will improve the achievement levels of the students enrolled in that school.

            (3) It is not a purpose of this Chapter to provide a means of funding for nonpublic schools or any home study program.

            Acts 1995, No. 192, §1, eff. June 14, 1995; Acts 1997, No. 477, §1, eff. June 30, 1997; Acts 1999, No. 14, §1; Acts 1999, No. 757, §1, eff. July 2, 1999; Acts 2018, No. 307, §1; Acts 2024, No. 334, §1, eff. May 28, 2024.