Sec. 1.2. (a) This section applies to an authorizer described in IC 20-24-1-2.5(1), IC 20-24-1-2.5(2), and IC 20-24-1-2.5(5) if the authorizer has not previously issued a charter for any charter school prior to July 1, 2015.

(b) A governing body of a school corporation may register with the state board for charter authority within the attendance area of the school corporation. The state board shall post on the state board's Internet web site an application received from an authorizer to register with the state board under this section within ten (10) days after receipt of the application. The state board may not charge an authorizer a fee to register with the state board under this section.

(c) A governing board of a nonprofit college or university described in IC 20-24-1-2.5(5) may apply to the state board for statewide, regional, or local chartering authority.

(d) The state board shall publicize to all governing bodies the opportunity to register with the state board for chartering authority within their school corporation. Not later than May 1 of each year, the state board shall provide information about the opportunity, including a registration deadline, to all governing bodies. To register as an authorizer, each interested governing body must submit the following information in a format prescribed by the state board:

(1) A written notification of intent to serve as a charter authorizer in accordance with this article.

(2) An explanation of the governing body's strategic vision for chartering.

(3) An explanation of the governing body's budget and personnel capacity and commitment to execute the duties of quality charter authorizing in accordance with this article.

(4) An explanation of how the governing body will solicit charter school applicants in accordance with IC 20-24-3.

(5) A description or outline of the performance framework the governing body will use to guide the establishment of a charter contract and for the oversight and evaluation of charter schools, consistent with this article.

(6) A draft of the governing body's renewal, revocation, and nonrenewal processes, consistent with this article.

(7) A statement of assurance that the governing body commits to serving as a charter authorizer in fulfillment of the expectations, spirit, and intent of this article, and that the governing body will fully adopt standards of quality charter school authorizing in accordance with section 1.5 of this chapter.

(e) Within sixty (60) days of receipt of the information described in subsection (d), the state board shall register the governing body as a charter authorizer within the attendance area of the school corporation and shall provide the governing body a letter confirming the governing body's registration as a charter authorizer. A governing body may not engage in any charter authorizing functions without a current registration as a charter authorizer with the state board.

(f) The state board shall establish an annual application and approval process, including cycles and deadlines during the state fiscal year, for registering an entity described in IC 20-24-1-2.5(5) for authorizer authority. Not later than May 1 of each year, the state board shall make available information and guidelines for an applicant described in IC 20-24-1-2.5(5) concerning the opportunity to apply for chartering authority under this article. The application process must require each applicant to submit an application that clearly explains or presents the following elements:

(1) A written notification of intent to serve as a charter authorizer in accordance with this article.

(2) The applicant's strategic vision for chartering.

(3) A plan to support the applicant's strategic vision described in subdivision (2), including an explanation and evidence of the applicant's budget and personnel capacity and commitment to execute the duties of quality charter authorizing in accordance with this article.

(4) A draft or preliminary outline of the request for proposals that the applicant would, if approved by the state board under this section, issue to solicit charter school applicants under IC 20-24-3.

(5) A draft of the performance framework that the applicant would, if approved by the state board under this section, use to guide the establishment of a charter contract and for ongoing oversight and evaluation of charter schools consistent with this article.

(6) A draft of the applicant's renewal, revocation, and nonrenewal processes.

(7) A statement of assurance that the applicant commits to serving as a charter authorizer in fulfillment of the expectations, spirit, and intent of this article, and that the applicant will fully adopt standards of quality charter school authorizing in accordance with section 1.5 of this chapter.

(g) Not later than July 1 of each year, the state board shall grant or deny chartering authority to an applicant under subsection (f). The state board shall make its decision on the merits of each applicant's proposal and plans submitted under subsection (f).

(h) Within thirty (30) days of the state board's decision under subsection (g), the state board shall execute a renewable authorizing contract with an applicant that the state board has approved for chartering authority. The initial term of each authorizing contract is six (6) years. The authorizing contract must specify each approved applicant's agreement to serve as a charter authorizer in accordance with this article and shall specify additional performance terms based on the applicant's proposal and plan for chartering. An approved applicant may not commence charter authorizing without an authorizing contract in effect.

(i) The state board shall maintain on the state board's Internet web site the names of each authorizer approved by the state board under this section.

As added by P.L.221-2015, SEC.3.