A. The local school board of a school district that meets the requirements for a charter school district shall enter into a contract with the department establishing its charter to operate as a charter school district for five years.

B. The contract shall reflect all agreements regarding the operation of the charter school district. The terms of the contract may be revised at any time with the approval of both the department and the charter school district.

C. The charter shall include:

(1) assurances that the charter school district shall comply with state laws pertaining to accreditation, state educational standards, assessment and accountability and financial requirements;

(2) a statement of mission and purpose for the operation of the charter school district, including the charter school district's goals and objectives;

(3) evidence that the charter school district's educational and operational plans are economically sound and comply with all state and federal laws and rules;

(4) a description of the charter school district's educational programs and student performance standards and curriculum that must meet or exceed department standards and must be designed to enable each student to achieve those standards;

(5) a description of the way the charter school district's educational program will meet the individual needs of the students, including students with disabilities and students determined to be at risk;

(6) an explanation of the relationship that will exist between the charter school district and its employees and a description of the way the terms and conditions of employment will be addressed with affected employees; and

(7) a description of all waivers from department rules requested and granted.

D. The charter school district shall:

(1) continue to operate as a public, nonsectarian public school district and operate in the same geographic boundaries that existed for the school district prior to becoming a charter school district;

(2) receive state money as provided in the Public School Code [Chapter 22 NMSA 1978];

(3) provide special education services as required by state and federal law;

(4) be liable for timely payment on its bonded indebtedness and subject to the same bonded indebtedness limitations as it was before becoming a charter school district; and

(5) be subject to all state and federal laws and constitutional provisions prohibiting discrimination on the basis of disability, race, creed, color, gender, national origin, religion, ancestry or need for special education services.

E. The charter school district shall be accountable to the department for ensuring compliance with its charter and applicable state and federal laws and rules.

F. Employees of a charter school district shall be considered continuous employees without interruption of employment pursuant to the School Personnel Act [Chapter 22, Article 10A NMSA 1978] and shall be afforded procedural due process rights and protection.

G. The governing body of the charter school district shall continue to be the local school board.

History: Laws 2005, ch. 292, § 4.

Cross references. — For the Public Education Department Act, see 9-24-1 NMSA 1978.

For the public education department, see 9-24-4 NMSA 1978.

For the Assessment and Accountability Act, see 22-2C-1 NMSA 1978.

For the Human Rights Act, see 28-1-1 NMSA 1978.

For courses of instruction and school programs, see 22-13-1 to 22-13-27 NMSA 1978.

Effective dates. — Laws 2005, ch. 292, § 10 made the act effective July 1, 2005.