Relating to education, including by modifying provisions related to the sale of real property by school districts, charter school and open enrollment funding, and the participation in school activities by students enrolled in charter schools

Under current law, the department of education only pays the state cost per pupil, teacher leadership supplement, and non-English speaking weighting based on the previous year as multiplied by the state cost per pupil based on the previous year to a charter school in which a student enrolls. The bill contains similar provisions for a school district of residence’s payments to a school in which a pupil open enrolls. DIVISION II —— SCHOOL DISTRICT PROPERTY. The bill requires the board of directors of a school district to allow charter schools reasonable access to underutilized property and vacant property for educational purposes. The bill also requires the board of directors of a school district to publish information related to the square footage of each school building owned by the school district, the enrollment capacity of each attendance center owned by the school district, how each school building owned by the school district is currently utilized by the school district, and school buildings owned by the school district that are vacant on the school district’s internet site. The bill prohibits the board of directors of a school district from entering into any agreement that prohibits the sale of real property to a school district, an accredited nonpublic school, a charter school, an innovation zone school, the state board of regents, an institution of higher education under the control of the state board of regents, or certain private colleges and universities. The bill requires the board of directors of a school district to give a right of first refusal to an existing charter school established pursuant to Code chapter 256E that is located within the school district to purchase or lease underutilized property and vacant property.1 (power of electors), and as additional to such power.1 for a purpose directly contrary to the action previously approved by the board of directors. The bill defines “underutilized property” as real property owned by the school district that the school district has determined is not being used to the fullest extent reasonably possible by the school district because the school district uses the real property irregularly or intermittently or because the school district uses the real property for purposes that only require a portion of the real property. The bill defines “vacant property” as real property owned by the school district that the school district has determined is not occupied by the school district or is not being put to use by the school district.3.2, subsection 3, which would relieve a school district from complying with a state mandate if funding for the cost of the state mandate is not provided or specified. Therefore, school districts are required to comply with any state mandate included in the division. DIVISION III —— SCHOOL START DATE. Current law provides that the school calendar for school districts and accredited nonpublic schools shall begin no sooner than August 23. The bill provides that the school calendar for school districts and accredited nonpublic schools shall instead begin no sooner than the first Tuesday following the final day of the Iowa state fair. DIVISION IV —— CHARTER SCHOOLS —— BOARD MEMBER RESIDENCE. Current law provides that each member of the governing board of a charter school established under Code chapter 256E who is not a resident of the geographic area served by the charter school must be a resident of this state. The bill strikes this provision.