Rep. Norm Thurston — Voting Record

Bill

Number

H.B. 292 (2017GS)

Sponsor

Rep. Fawson, J.

Final action

Governor Signed 3/17/2017

Outcome

Became law — signed by Gov. Gary R. Herbert

Summary

What it does

• This bill:
• allows a charter school to give an enrollment preference to the sibling of an individual who was previously enrolled in the charter school.

Every vote on this bill

Bill text

CHARTER SCHOOL ADMISSION AMENDMENTS
GENERAL SESSION
STATE OF UTAH
Chief Sponsor: Justin L. Fawson
Senate Sponsor: 
Deidre M. Henderson
LONG TITLE
General Description:
This bill modifies provisions related to charter school enrollment preferences.
Highlighted Provisions:
This bill:
▸ allows a charter school to give an enrollment preference to the sibling of an
individual who was previously enrolled in the charter school.
Money Appropriated in this Bill:
None
Other Special Clauses:
None
Utah Code Sections Affected:
AMENDS:
53A-1a-506
, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2014, Chapters 291, 363, and 406
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
Section 1. Section 
53A-1a-506
 is amended to read:
53A-1a-506.
Eligible students.
(1) As used in this section:
(a) "District school" means a public school under the control of a local school board
elected pursuant to Title 20A, Chapter 14, Nomination and Election of State and Local School
Boards.
(b) "Refugee" means a person who is eligible to receive benefits and services from the
federal Office of Refugee Resettlement.
(2) All resident students of the state qualify for admission to a charter school, subject
to the limitations set forth in this section and Section 
53A-1a-506.5
.
(3) (a) A charter school shall enroll an eligible student who submits a timely
application, unless the number of applications exceeds the capacity of a program, class, grade
level, or the charter school.
(b) If the number of applications exceeds the capacity of a program, class, grade level,
or the charter school, 
the charter school shall select
 students [
shall be selected
] on a random
basis, except as provided in Subsections (4) through (8).
(4) A charter school may give an enrollment preference to:
(a) a child or grandchild of an individual who has actively participated in the
development of the charter school;
(b) a child or grandchild of a member of the charter school governing board;
(c) a sibling of [
a student
] 
an individual who was previously or is
 presently enrolled in
the charter school;
(d) a child of an employee of the charter school;
(e) [
students
] 
a student
 articulating between charter schools offering similar programs
that are governed by the same 
charter school
 governing board;
(f) [
students
] 
a student
 articulating from one charter school to another pursuant to an
articulation agreement between the charter schools that is approved by the State Charter School
Board; or
(g) students who reside within:
(i) the school district in which the charter school is located;
(ii) the municipality in which the charter school is located; or
(iii) a two-mile radius of the charter school.
(5) (a) Except as provided in Subsection (5)(b), a charter school that is approved by the
State Board of Education after May 13, 2014, and is located in a high growth area shall give an
enrollment preference to [
students
] 
a student
 who [
reside
] 
resides
 within a 
two-mile radius of
the charter school.
(b) The requirement to give an enrollment preference under Subsection (5)(a) does not
apply to a charter school that was approved without a high priority status pursuant to
Subsection 
53A-1a-502.5
[
(6)
]
(7)
(b).
(6) If a district school converts to charter status, the charter school shall give an
enrollment preference to students who would have otherwise attended it as a district school.
(7) (a) A charter school whose mission is to enhance learning opportunities for
refugees or children of refugee families may give an enrollment preference to refugees or
children of refugee families.
(b) A charter school whose mission is to enhance learning opportunities for English
language learners may give an enrollment preference to English language learners.
(8) A charter school may weight [
its
] 
the charter school's
 lottery to give a slightly better
chance of admission to educationally disadvantaged students, including:
(a) low-income students;
(b) students with disabilities;
(c) English language learners;
(d) migrant students;
(e) neglected or delinquent students; and
(f) homeless students.
(9) A charter school may not discriminate in its admission policies or practices on the
same basis as other public schools may not discriminate in [
their
] admission policies and
practices.