15-187. Charter schools; teachers; employment benefits

A. A teacher who is employed by or teaching at a charter school and who was previously employed as a teacher at a school district shall not lose any right of certification, retirement or salary status or any other benefit provided by law, by the rules of the governing board of the school district or by the rules of the board of directors of the charter school due to teaching at a charter school on the teacher's return to the school district.

B. A teacher who is employed by or teaching at a charter school and who submits an employment application to the school district where the teacher was employed immediately before employment by or at a charter school shall be given employment preference by the school district if both of the following conditions are met:

1. The teacher submits an employment application to the school district no later than three years after ceasing employment with the school district.

2. A suitable position is available at the school district.

C. A charter school that is sponsored by a university, a community college district, a group of community college districts, the state board of education or the state board for charter schools is eligible to participate in the Arizona state retirement system pursuant to title 38, chapter 5, article 2. The charter school is a political subdivision of this state for purposes of title 38, chapter 5, article 2.

D. Notwithstanding any other law, a charter school shall not adopt policies that provide employment retention priority for teachers based on tenure or seniority.