22-8B-5.3: Chartering authority; powers; duties; liability.

A chartering authority shall:

A. evaluate charter applications;

B. actively pursue the utilization of charter schools to satisfy identified education needs and promote a diversity of educational choices;

C. approve charter applications that meet the requirements of the Charter Schools Act;

D. decline to approve charter applications that fail to meet the requirements of the Charter Schools Act or are otherwise inadequate;

E. negotiate and execute, in good faith, charter contracts that meet the requirements of the Charter Schools Act with each approved charter school;

F. monitor, in accordance with the requirements of the Charter Schools Act and the terms of the charter contract, the performance and legal compliance of charter schools under their authority;

G. determine whether a charter school merits suspension, revocation or nonrenewal; and

H. develop and maintain chartering policies and practices consistent with nationally recognized principles and standards for quality charter authorizing in all major areas of authorizing, including:

(1) organizational capacity and infrastructure;

(2) evaluating charter applications;

(3) performance contracting;

(4) charter school oversight and evaluation; and

(5) charter school suspension, revocation and renewal processes.