As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following terms have the following meanings. [PL 2011, c. 414, §5 (NEW).]
1. At-risk pupil. "At-risk pupil" means a pupil who has an economic or academic disadvantage that requires special services and assistance to enable the student to succeed in educational programs. "At-risk pupil" includes, but is not limited to, pupils who are members of economically disadvantaged families, pupils who are identified as having special educational needs, pupils who are limited in English proficiency, pupils who are at risk of dropping out of high school and pupils who do not meet minimum standards of academic proficiency.
[PL 2011, c. 414, §5 (NEW).]
2. Authorizer. "Authorizer" means an entity empowered under this chapter to review applications, decide whether to approve or reject applications, enter into charter contracts with applicants, oversee and monitor public charter schools and decide whether to renew, not renew or revoke charter contracts.
[PL 2011, c. 414, §5 (NEW).]
2-A. Catchment area. "Catchment area" means the geographic area from which a public charter school expects to draw the majority of its students, which may not be smaller than the combined enrollment areas of the 2 closest noncharter public schools serving students of the same grade levels as the applicant is proposing to serve, or the geographic area within a radius of 20 miles extending from the public charter school, whichever is smaller.
[PL 2011, c. 570, §2 (NEW).]
3. Charter contract. "Charter contract" means a performance-based contract for a fixed term between a public charter school and an authorizer that describes performance expectations, defines operational responsibilities and outlines the autonomy and accountability for each party to the contract.
[PL 2011, c. 414, §5 (NEW).]
4. Conversion public charter school. "Conversion public charter school" means a public charter school that existed as a noncharter public school before becoming a public charter school.
[PL 2011, c. 414, §5 (NEW).]
5. Education service provider. "Education service provider" means an education management organization, charter management organization, school design provider or any other partner entity with whom a public charter school intends to contract for a limited scope of education services and resources, including education design, implementation or management.
[PL 2011, c. 414, §5 (NEW).]
6. Governing board. "Governing board" means the independent board of a public charter school that is party to the charter contract with the authorizer and whose members have been elected or selected pursuant to the school's application.
[PL 2011, c. 414, §5 (NEW).]
7. Local school board. "Local school board" means a school board exercising management and control of a school administrative unit other than a public charter school formed under this chapter.
[PL 2011, c. 414, §5 (NEW).]
8. Noncharter public school. "Noncharter public school" means a public school other than a school formed pursuant to this chapter.
[PL 2011, c. 414, §5 (NEW).]
9. Public charter school. "Public charter school" means a public school formed pursuant to this chapter that:
A. Has autonomy over key decisions, including, but not limited to, decisions concerning finance, personnel, scheduling, curriculum and instruction; [PL 2011, c. 414, §5 (NEW).]
B. Is governed by a board that is independent of a school administrative unit; [PL 2011, c. 414, §5 (NEW).]
C. Is established and operated under the terms of a charter contract between the governing board and its authorizer in accordance with this chapter; [PL 2011, c. 414, §5 (NEW).]
D. Is a school to which parents choose to send their children; [PL 2011, c. 414, §5 (NEW).]
E. Provides a program of education that:
(1) Includes one or more of the following: preschool, prekindergarten and any grade or grades from kindergarten to grade 12;
(2) May include a focus on students with special needs, such as at-risk pupils, English language learners or students involved with the juvenile justice system;
(3) May include a specific academic approach or theme, such as:
(a) Vocational and technical training;
(b) Natural resources and the environment;
(c) Farming, fishing and forestry;
(d) Foreign language and culture;
(e) Visual and performing arts;
(f) Science, mathematics and technology; and
(g) Project-based learning, experiential learning or online instruction; [PL 2011, c. 414, §5 (NEW).]
F. Operates in pursuit of a specific set of educational objectives as defined in its charter contract; and [PL 2011, c. 414, §5 (NEW).]
G. Operates under the oversight of the authorizer from which its charter contract is granted and in accordance with its charter contract. [PL 2011, c. 414, §5 (NEW).]
[PL 2011, c. 414, §5 (NEW).]
10. Start-up public charter school. "Start-up public charter school" means a public charter school that did not exist as a noncharter public school prior to becoming a public charter school.
[PL 2011, c. 414, §5 (NEW).]
11. Virtual public charter school. "Virtual public charter school" means a public charter school that offers education services predominantly through an online program.
[PL 2011, c. 414, §5 (NEW).]
