On Oct. 3, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill 1505 by Assemblyman Patrick O’Donnell (D-Long Beach), which significantly reforms the Charter Schools Act of 1992 to address longstanding challenges for both traditional public school districts and charter schools.

AB 1505 empowers communities to consider the fiscal impact of new charter schools on existing schools in the neighborhood, increases accountability and transparency for all charter schools and ensures that high-quality charter schools continue to thrive.

AB 1505 allows charter authorizers to close a charter school for fiscal and governance concerns or if the charter school is not serving all student populations. It also allows charter authorizers to consider, when reviewing a petition for a new charter school or a charter that is expanding sites or grade-levels, how the charter school would financially affect the community and the neighborhood schools.

Under AB 1505, a charter school authorizer can deny a charter school when the district is in fiscal distress, as determined by the county superintendent of schools.

Among other things, AB 1505 clarifies that charter school teachers must have a state level background check and the required credential for their assignment Camwith a transition period. It also establishes a two-year moratorium on non-classroom based charter schools, with a commitment to reform the sector in the next two years.

“This is historic legislation that marks a new chapter of collaboration between charter and traditional schools in California,” Newsom added.