Current through Register Vol. 30, No. 38, September 20, 2024
A. "Start-up costs" mean those costs
associated with developing or implementing the following essential components
of a charter school:
1. The hiring of
teachers and other essential staff members;
2. The hiring of a chief administrative
officer and other costs associated with instituting the administrative
structure of the school;
3.
Curriculum development and implementation;
4. The leasing of physical facilities or
equipment and costs associated with establishment of utility services and
accounts;
5. Operational expenses
incurred prior to the date on which the charter school begins
operations;
6. The development and
implementation of an accounting system which complies with the uniform system
of financial records requirements;
7. Obtaining insurance, including prepayment
of premiums which will effectuate insurance coverage during the first year of
operation;
8. Costs associated with
licensing and compliance with other health, safety and civil rights
requirements.
B. "Costs
associated with renovating or remodeling existing buildings and structures"
means those costs associated with the following essential components:
1. Modifications affecting the structural
integrity of the building, including those changes needed to meet building code
and zoning standards.
2.
Modifications needed to meet non-structural building code requirements, such as
those related to plumbing, electrical wiring and fire safety.
3. Modifications needed to meet state health
standards, such as those related to rest rooms and food preparation and
service.
4. Adjusting the size of
rooms to accommodate the number of students to be served.
5. Construction-related finish work, such as
exterior and interior replastering and painting, carpeting, flooring,
baseboards and door hanging.
6.
Roofing and air conditioning/heating installation or repair required prior to
operation of the school.
7. Access
requirements for persons with disabilities.
C. The State Board of Education shall,
subject to legislative appropriation, provide an initial grant or an additional
grant from the charter schools stimulus fund to applicants who have a charter
or application that has been approved by a sponsor pursuant to A.R.S. §
15-183
and who meet the requirements of A.R.S. §
15-188
and this Section. The grant may be in any amount up to $100,000 per charter
school applicant or charter school.
D. The application for an initial grant shall
include:
1. A copy of the applicant's
charter;
2. The identity of the
sponsor which approved the charter;
3. The total amount of funding
requested;
4. An itemization of the
specific start-up costs and costs associated with renovating or remodeling
existing building and structures for which the funds will be used. Itemization
shall include the amount of funds requested for each essential component and a
detailed explanation of the basis for calculating the amount
requested;
5. The number of
students to be served at the school;
6. The dimensions of the facility in which
the school is to be operated;
7. A
description of the extent to which the facility must be remodeled or renovated
in order to meet applicable health and safety standards, unless this
information is included in the applicant's charter.
E. The application for an additional grant
shall be in a format approved by the State Board of Education and shall
include:
1. The date and amount of the initial
grant award.
2. A copy of any
amendments or other modifications to the charter or application which formed
the basis for the initial grant.
3.
The identity of the current sponsor of the charter school.
4. An itemized accounting of the expenditures
made with the initial grant monies.
5. The total amount of additional funding
requested.
6. An itemization of the
specific start-up costs associated with renovating or remodeling existing
buildings and structures for which the additional funds will be used.
Itemization shall include the amount of funds requested for each essential
component and a detailed explanation of the basis for calculating the amount
requested.
F. In its
review of an application for a stimulus fund grant, the State Board of
Education may receive information concerning the application from the
Department of Education, an advisory committee, and any other source. The State
Board may award a grant in an amount different from that requested by the
applicant. No grant shall be awarded pursuant to this Section unless the State
Board determines that:
1. Every amount
requested in the applicant's itemization of costs is for the essential
component with which the amount is associated; and
2. Based on all of the information before the
State Board concerning the application, there is a rational basis for the award
of funds.
G. No
applicant or charter school shall be eligible for more than one initial grant
and one additional grant, regardless of the amount awarded.
H. An applicant who receives an initial grant
and fails to begin operating a charter school within the 18 months following
the date of the award shall reimburse the Department of Education for the
amount of the initial grant plus interest calculated at a rate of 10% per year.
Such reimbursement is immediately due and payable at the end of the initial
18-month period.
I. An applicant
who receives an additional grant and fails to begin operating a charter school
within the 18 months following the date of the award shall reimburse the
Department of Education for the amount of the initial grant plus interest
calculated at a rate of 10% per year. Such reimbursement is immediately due and
payable at the end of the applicable 18-month period and is in addition to any
amounts required by subsection (H).
J. An applicant for a grant pursuant to this
rule shall be notified of the date at which the State Board of Education shall
consider the application no less than 10 days in advance thereof. Written
notification of the Board's decision concerning an application for a grant
shall be mailed to the applicant within 10 days following such decision.
