Section 47616.5.

The Legislative Analyst shall contract for a neutral evaluator to conduct an evaluation of the effectiveness of the charter school approach authorized under this part. On or before July 1, 2003, the neutral evaluator shall report directly to the Legislature and the Governor with recommendations to modify, expand, or terminate the charter school approach. The evaluation of the effectiveness of the charter school approach shall include, but shall not be limited to, the following factors:

(a) If available, the pre- and post-charter school test scores of pupils attending charter schools and other pupil assessment tools.

(b) The level of parental satisfaction with the charter school approach compared with schools within the district in which the charter school is located.

(c) The impact of required parental involvement.

(d) The fiscal structures and practices of charter schools as well as the relationship of these structures and practices to school districts, including the amount of revenue received from various public and private sources.

(e) An assessment of whether or not the charter school approach has resulted in increased innovation and creativity.

(f) Opportunities for teachers under the charter school approach.

(g) Whether or not there is an increased focus on low-achieving and gifted pupils.

(h) Any discrimination and segregation in charter schools.

(i) If available, the number of charter school petitions submitted to governing boards of school districts and the number of those proposals that are denied, per year, since the enactment of the charter school law, including the reasons why the governing boards denied these petitions, and the reasons governing boards have revoked charters.

(j) The governance, fiscal liability and accountability practices and related issues between charter schools and the governing boards of the school districts approving their charters.

(k) The manner in which governing boards of school districts monitor the compliance of the conditions, standards, and procedures entered into under a charter.

(l) The extent of the employment of noncredentialed personnel in charter schools.

(m) An assessment of how the exemption from laws governing school districts allows charter schools to operate differently than schools operating under those laws.

(n) A comparison in each school district that has a charter school of the pupil dropout rate in the charter schools and in the noncharter schools.

(o) The role and impact of collective bargaining on charter schools.

(Amended by Stats. 1998, Ch. 673, Sec. 4. Effective January 1, 1999.)