Initiative 729 - AN ACT Relating to education. 
(Authorizing charter schools) 

Main Provisions

• Authorizes up to 20 new charter public schools per year.
• Charter public schools are independently operated public schools, open to all students, which operate under a charter between independent, non-profit corporations which run the schools and a school district or higher education institution which sponsors it.
• Charter public schools are exempted from most state statutes and regulations applying to school districts and school boards.

Preliminary Estimate of Fiscal Impact:

Effect on Spending:

A range of possible fiscal impacts is presented, because it is not known how many schools would be chartered, and what their enrollments would be. There would likely be an increased cost to the state of about $8-16 million in 01-03, due to higher enrollment if charter schools attract private and home-schooled children back into the public school system.