KRS 160.1599: Conversion of public noncharter school to public charter school --

Establishment requirements -- Administrative regulations -- Governance --

Enrollment requirements -- Employees -- Collective bargaining -- School

facilities.

(1) An existing public school not scheduled for closure may be converted into a public

charter school and be identified to become a conversion public charter school if an

applicant indicates to a valid authorizer the intent to convert an existing public

school into a conversion public charter school.

(2) A conversion public charter school may only be established if:

(a) A school has been identified by the Kentucky Department of Education as

performing in the lowest five percent (5%) of its level and sixty percent (60%)

of the parents or guardians of students who attend the school have signed a

petition requesting the conversion, which shall be completed and submitted to

a valid authorizer no later than ninety (90) days after the date of the first

signature;

(b) A school has been identified by the Kentucky Department of Education as not

performing in the lowest five percent (5%) of its level and sixty percent (60%)

of the parents or guardians of students who attend the school have signed a

petition requesting the conversion, which is approved by a majority vote of the

local school board. If approved the completed petition shall be submitted to a

valid authorizer no later than ninety (90) days after the date of the first

signature; or

(c) The local school board votes to convert an existing public school over which

it has authority.

(3) For each conversion option identified in subsection (2) of this section, the Kentucky

Board of Education shall promulgate administrative regulations to govern the

processes and procedures for the petition, the conversion, and the operation of a

conversion public charter school.

(4) A conversion public charter school shall be governed by a board of directors

constituted and empowered as provided in KRS 160.1592.

(5) A conversion public charter schoo l shall continue to comply with all federal and

state requirements concerning the treatment of children with special needs and

accept all students who attended the school prior to its conversion who wish to

attend.

(6) A conversion public charter school shall hire its own employees.

(7) An employee who works in a conversion public charter school shall be an employee

of the public charter school.

(8) (a) For any collective bargaining agreement entered into on or after June 29,

2017, a governing board shall n ot be bound by its collective bargaining

agreement for employees of a conversion public charter school.

(b) Employees of a conversion public charter school may organize and

collectively bargain only as a unit separate from other school employees.

(9) A conversion public charter school shall continue to be housed in the same public

school facility and shall have the option of using the existing assets of the school.