Combined Resolution Charter School Finances, Charter Funding to Schools that Counsel Students out of Charter School, Election of Charter School Board, Charter School Teacher Certification

WHEREAS, transparency and accountability of public funds are critical to ensuring to the taxpayers that funds are used properly on behalf of the students; and

WHEREAS, charter schools that receive a specific allocation of public funds per student have been known to counsel students out of their schools; and

WHEREAS, to ensure that students receive an effective education in charter schools, it is essential to institute some basic regulations; and

WHEREAS, many charter schools are unregulated and do not have direct democratic accountability. THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People ("NAACP") advocates that charter school authorizing entities establish charter school salaries in line with traditional district school salaries; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the NAACP reaffirms its demand for full and open financial accountability to the public, including requiring annual reports that delineate exact, detailed expenditures that includes salaries, management fees, material and textbook expenditures, gifts, advertising, recruitment, political purpose expenditures, and fees paid to private management organizations; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the NAACP advocates that charter school information noted in the previous two paragraphs be collected and reviewed by the charter authorizing agency prior to approval of a new budget for the charter school and/or reauthorization of the charter school. In addition, the charter school's academic performance shall be rated and all the foregoing information shall be made public; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the NAACP advocates for public funds attached to students counseled out of charter schools must be returned to the public school district from which it came; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the NAACP advocate that all charter schools must hold public elections of their board members in accordance with state election laws; and

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that the NAACP advocate that teachers of pre-K through 12 must adhere to the same certification regulations as those required of teachers in traditional district schools