D.C. Law 21-106. Military Installation Public Charter School Amendment Act of 2016.
AN ACT
To amend the District of Columbia School Reform Act of 1995 to allow the Public Charter School Board to approve a public charter school that gives a preference for admission to children of active duty members of the United States Armed Forces.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this act may be cited as the "Military Installation Public Charter School Amendment Act of 2016".
Sec. 2. Section 2206 of the District of Columbia School Reform Act of 1995, approved April 26, 1996 (110 Stat. 1321; D.C. Official Code § 38-1802.06), is amended by adding a new subsection (c-2) to read as follows:
"(c-2) Authorization of a preference for children of active duty members of the United States Armed Forces. —
"(1) The Public Charter School Board ("PCSB") shall have the authority to approve a petition or application for a public charter school that gives a preference for admission to children of active duty members of the United States Armed Forces; provided, that PCSB may not permit more than one public charter school with such a preference to operate at the same time.
"(2) A public charter school seeking to establish a preference for admission under this subsection shall:
"(A) Request the preference for admission in a petition for approval filed pursuant to section 2201, an application for renewal filed pursuant to section 2212, or in a manner otherwise provided by PCSB; and
"(B) Be located in the same ward as a United States military base.
"(3) In reviewing an application submitted pursuant to paragraph (2) of this subsection, PCSB shall consider whether granting the preference provided under this subsection is consistent with the mission, goals, and instructional methods of the petitioner or applicant and the need for the proposed school in the geographic area of the school site.
"(4) A preference approved under this subsection shall apply to no more than half of the public charter school’s seats.
"(5) This subsection shall not limit the ability of a school that establishes a preference for admission under this subsection to participate in a common lottery system established pursuant to section 205 of the Department of Education Establishment Act of 2007, effective February 26, 2015 (D.C. Law 20-155; D.C. Official Code § 38-194).".
Sec. 3. Fiscal impact statement.
The Council adopts the fiscal impact statement in the committee report as the fiscal impact statement required by section 4a of the General Legislative Procedures Act of 1975, approved October 16, 2006 (120 Stat. 2038; D.C. Official Code § 1-301.47a).
Sec. 4. Effective date.
This act shall take effect following approval by the Mayor (or in the event of veto by the Mayor, action by the Council to override the veto), a 30-day period of congressional review as provided in section 602(c)(1) of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, approved December 24, 1973 (87 Stat. 813; D.C. Official Code § 1-206.02(c)(1)), and publication in the District of Columbia Register.
