Section 11969.3 - Conditions Reasonably EquivalentThe following provisions shall be used to determine whether facilities provided to a charter school are sufficient to accommodate charter school students in conditions reasonably equivalent to those in which the students would be accommodated if they were attending public schools of the school district providing facilities, as required by Education Code section 47614(b).
(a) Comparison Group. (1) The standard for determining whether facilities are sufficient to accommodate charter school students in conditions reasonably equivalent to those in which the students would be accommodated if they were attending public schools of the school district providing facilities shall be a comparison group of district-operated schools with similar grade levels. If none of the district-operated schools has grade levels similar to the charter school, then a contiguous facility within the meaning of subdivision (d) of section 11969.2 shall be an existing facility that is most consistent with the needs of students in the grade levels served at the charter school. The district is not obligated to pay for the modification of an existing school site to accommodate the charter school's grade level configuration.(2) The comparison group shall be the school district-operated schools with similar grade levels that serve students living in the high school attendance area, as defined in Education Code section 17070.15(b), in which the largest number of students of the charter school reside. The number of charter school students residing in a high school attendance area shall be determined using in-district classroom ADA projected for the fiscal year for which facilities are requested.(3) For school districts whose students do not attend high school based on attendance areas, the comparison group shall be three schools in the school district with similar grade levels that the largest number of students of the charter school would otherwise attend. For school districts with fewer than three schools with similar grade levels, the comparison group shall be all schools in the school district with similar grade levels.(4) Although the district is not obligated to pay for the modification of an existing school site to accommodate the charter school's grade level configuration, nothing in this article shall preclude the district from entering into an agreement with the charter school to modify an existing school site, with the costs of the modifications being paid exclusively by the charter school or by the school district, or paid jointly by the district and the charter school.(b) Capacity. (1) Facilities made available by a school district to a charter school shall be provided in the same ratio of teaching stations (classrooms) to ADA as those provided to students in the school district attending comparison group schools. School district ADA shall be determined using projections for the fiscal year and grade levels for which facilities are requested. Charter school ADA shall be determined using in-district classroom ADA projected for the fiscal year and grade levels for which facilities are requested. The number of teaching stations (classrooms) shall be determined using the classroom inventory prepared pursuant to California Code of Regulations, title 2, section 1859.31, adjusted to exclude classrooms identified as interim housing. "Interim housing" means the rental or lease of classrooms used to house pupils temporarily displaced as a result of the modernization of classroom facilities, as defined in California Code of Regulations, title 2, section 1859.2, and classrooms used as emergency housing for schools vacated due to structural deficiencies or natural disasters.(2) If the school district includes specialized classroom space, such as science laboratories, in its classroom inventory, the space allocation provided pursuant to paragraph (1) of subdivision (b) shall include a share of the specialized classroom space and/or a provision for access to reasonably equivalent specialized classroom space. The amount of specialized classroom space allocated and/or the access to specialized classroom space provided shall be determined based on three factors:(A) the grade levels of the charter school's in-district students;(B) the charter school's total in-district classroom ADA; and(C) the per-student amount of specialized classroom space in the comparison group schools.(3) The school district shall allocate and/or provide access to non-teaching station space commensurate with the in-district classroom ADA of the charter school and the per-student amount of non-teaching station space in the comparison group schools. Non-teaching station space is all of the space that is not identified as teaching station space or specialized classroom space and includes, but is not limited to, administrative space, kitchen, multi-purpose room, and play area space. If necessary to implement this paragraph, the district shall negotiate in good faith with the charter school to establish time allocations and schedules so that educational programs of the charter school and school district are least disrupted.(c) Condition. (1) All of the factors listed below shall be used by the school district and charter school to determine whether the condition of facilities provided to a charter school is reasonably equivalent to the condition of comparison group schools. Condition is determined by assessing such factors as age (from latest modernization), quality of materials, and state of maintenance. (B) The condition of interior and exterior surfaces.(C) The condition of mechanical, plumbing, electrical, and fire alarm systems, including conformity to applicable codes.(D) The availability and condition of technology infrastructure.(E) The condition of the facility as a safe learning environment including, but not limited to, the suitability of lighting, noise mitigation, and size for intended use.(F) The condition of the facility's furnishings and equipment.(G) The condition of athletic fields and/or play area space.(2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1) of subdivision (c), at a charter school established at an existing public school site pursuant to Education Code sections 47605(a)(2), 52055.5, 52055.55, or 52055.650, the condition of the facility previously used by the school district at the site shall be considered to be reasonably equivalent to the condition of school district facilities for the first year the charter school uses the facility. During its first year of operation, the charter school shall be subject to charges for pro rata costs pursuant to section 11969.7, but shall not be subject to reimbursement for over-allocated space pursuant to section 11969.8.(d) Additional Provisions Relating to a Charter School Established at an Existing Public School Site. The following provisions apply only to a charter school established at an existing public school site pursuant to Education Code sections 47605(a)(2), 52055.5, 52055.55, or 52055.650 and that operated at the site in its first year pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (c).
(1) The school site, as identified in the school's charter, shall be made available to the school for its second year of operation and thereafter upon annual request pursuant to Education Code section 47614. The district is entitled to charge the charter school pro rata costs for the school site pursuant to section 11969.7, and the district is entitled to receive reimbursement for over-allocated space from the charter school pursuant to section 11969.8, except as provided in paragraph (3).(2)(A) If, by material revision of the charter, the location of a charter school is changed, or if one or more additional sites are approved pursuant to Education Code section 47605(a)(4), then the school is entitled to request and the district shall provide for the use of facilities by the school in accordance with the revised charter, Education Code section 47614, and the provisions of this article.(B) If the charter school was established pursuant to Education Code section 47605(a)(2), the district shall change the school's attendance area only if a waiver is first secured from the State Board of Education (SBE) pursuant to Education Code sections 33050- 33053 of the requirement in Education Code section 47605(e)(1) that the school continuously give admission preference to students residing in the former attendance area of the school site.(C) If the charter school was established pursuant to Education Code sections 52055.5, 52055.55, or 52055.650, the district shall relocate the school or change the school's attendance area only if a waiver is first secured from the SBE pursuant to Education Code sections 33050- 33053 of the provision of statute binding the school to the existing school site.(D) If a school district decides to change a charter school's attendance area as provided in subparagraphs (B) or (C), and if the decision occurs between November 1 and June 30 and becomes operative in the forthcoming fiscal year, then the space allocated to the charter school is not subject to reimbursement for over-allocated space pursuant to section 11969.8 in the forthcoming fiscal year.(3) If, by February 1 of its first year of operation, a charter school notifies the district that it will have over-allocated space in the following fiscal year, the space identified is not subject to reimbursement for over-allocated space pursuant to section 11969.8 in the following year or thereafter, and the district is entitled to occupy all or a portion of the space identified. To recover space surrendered to the district pursuant to this paragraph, a charter school must apply to the district. An application to recover surrendered space shall be evaluated by the district in accordance with the provisions of this article.Cal. Code Regs. Tit. 5, § 11969.3
1. New section filed 7-30-2002; operative 8-29-2002 (Register 2002, No. 31).
2. Amendment of section and NOTE filed 2-28-2008; operative 3-29-2008 (Register 2008, No. 9).
3. Change without regulatory effect amending subsection (d)(2)(B) filed 9-28-2020 pursuant to section 100, title 1, California Code of Regulations (Register 2020, No. 40). Note: Authority cited: Sections 33031 and 47614(b), Education Code. Reference: Sections 33050- 33053, 47605, 47614, 52055.5, 52055.55 and 52055.650, Education Code.
1. New section filed 7-30-2002; operative 8-29-2002 (Register 2002, No. 31).
2. Amendment of section and Note filed 2-28-2008; operative 3-29-2008 (Register 2008, No. 9).
3. Change without regulatory effect amending subsection (d)(2)(B) filed 9-28-2020 pursuant to section 100, title 1, California Code of Regulations (Register 2020, No. 40).