AB 1172 brings the charter school program back to its roots, clarifies legislative intent

SACRAMENTO – Assemblymember Tony Mendoza’s AB 1172, a bill that gives school districts the authority to deny a charter school petition on the basis of financial impact, has passed the Assembly Committee on Education with a vote of 7-4, with one abstention.

The bill now heads to the Assembly floor for a vote.

“If a charter school would be a burden to a district that is already faced with extremely difficult decisions— such as eliminating adult education, counselors, librarians, or closing a school— then the district should have the authority to deny the charter,” Assemblymember Tony Mendoza said. “I want to ensure that these institutions do for the State what they are intended—foster innovation and ultimately increase educational outcomes for all children. Not unnecessarily burden our educational institutions.”

AB 1172 would amend current law to include financial instability as a new reason to deny a charter petition. Specifically, the bill states that a school district could deny a charter petition if the district is in negative financial status, has received an emergency loan, or would lose enough money to go into qualified status by approving the charter, meaning that if the district is currently in positive financial standing but approving a charter school would push them over the edge into qualified status, the district could deny the petition.

Assemblymember Tony Mendoza, a former public school teacher and current Chair of the California Latino Legislative Caucus, has served in the State Assembly since 2006.