(a) There is a Maryland Public Charter School Program. (b) The general purpose of the Program is to establish an alternative means within the existing public school system in order to provide innovative learning opportunities and creative educational approaches to improve the education of students.
In this title, “public charter school” means a public school that: (1) Is nonsectarian in all its programs, policies, and operations; (2) Is a school to which parents choose to send their children; (3) Except as provided in §§ 9–102.1, 9–102.2, and 9–102.3 of this title, is open to all students on a space–available basis and admits students […]
(a) The State Board may grant a waiver from § 9–102(3) of this title to a public charter school if the public charter school: (1) Is located on property within a federal military base in the State; and (2) Will admit students with parents who are not assigned to the base to at least 35% of its total […]
(a) A public charter school may give greater weight to a student’s lottery status as part of a lottery held under § 9–102(3) of this title and in accordance with an application submitted under § 9–104 of this title if the student is: (1) Eligible for free or reduced price meals; (2) A student with disabilities; (3) A student […]
(a) In accordance with § 9–104 of this title, a county board may grant a waiver from § 9–102(3) of this title to: (1) A converted public charter school that: (i) Subject to subsection (b) of this section, provides guaranteed placement through a lottery to students who live within the geographic attendance area established by the county board; […]
The public chartering authority for the granting of a charter shall be a county board of education.
(a) (1) An application to establish a public charter school shall be submitted to the county board of the county in which the public charter school will be located. (2) An application to establish a public charter school may be submitted to a county board by: (i) The staff of a public school; (ii) A parent or guardian of a […]
(a) In this section, “eligible public charter school” means a public charter school that has been in existence for at least 5 years and demonstrates to the public chartering authority a history of: (1) Sound fiscal management; and (2) Student achievement that exceeds the average in the local school system in which the public charter school is located […]
A member of the professional staff of a public charter school shall be subject to the same certification provisions established in regulations for the professional staff of other public schools.
(a) Subject to subsection (b) of this section, a public charter school shall comply with the provisions of law and regulation governing other public schools. (b) Subject to subsection (d) of this section, a public charter school may seek a waiver of the requirements under subsection (a) of this section from: (1) A county board for policies that […]
(a) A public chartering authority may not grant a charter to a public charter school whose operation would be inconsistent with any public policy initiative, court order, or federal improvement plan governing special education that is applicable to the State. (b) A public chartering authority shall ensure that the authorizing process for a public charter school and […]
(a) Employees of a public charter school: (1) Are public school employees, as defined in §§ 6–401(e) and 6–501(g) of this article; (2) Are employees of a public school employer, as defined in §§ 6–401(f) and 6–501(h) of this article, in the county in which the public charter school is located; and (3) Shall have the rights granted under […]
(a) A county board shall disburse to a public charter school an amount of county, State, and federal money for elementary, middle, and secondary students that is commensurate with the amount disbursed to other public schools in the local jurisdiction. (b) The State Board or the county board may give surplus educational materials, supplies, furniture, and other […]
(a) (1) Each county board shall develop a public charter school policy and provide it to the State Board. (2) The policy required under paragraph (1) of this subsection shall include guidelines and procedures regarding: (i) Evaluation of public charter schools; (ii) Revocation of a charter; (iii) Reporting requirements; and (iv) Financial, programmatic, or compliance audits of public charter schools. (3) The policy […]
(a) (1) If, with the approval of the State Superintendent, a county board determines that a school site or building no longer is needed for school purposes and after the county commissioners or county council have provided the required notice under § 4–115 of this article, the county board shall inform the public charter schools in the […]
Any portion of a building or property occupied and used by a public charter school shall be exempt from property taxes under § 7–202 of the Tax – Property Article for the duration of the occupation and use of the building or property as a public charter school.
