AB 2115 (Mullin) would require charter schools to comply with the same conflict-of-interest restrictions applicable to traditional public schools.  Passing out of the Assembly Floor on a 47-30 vote, this bill is now awaiting consideration by the governor.  We fully expect passage of this bill to be an uphill battle.  Please contact Governor Schwarzenegger TODAY and urge him to sign AB 2115 into law.  Your letters, emails and phone calls can make a difference. 

Charter schools in California currently operate under ambiguous conflict-of-interest regulations.  This lack of clarity has lead to the misuse of public education dollars that were intended for children.  Recent news reports uncovered instances in which charter school officials directed millions of dollars to their own companies and allegedly hired spouses, gave themselves raises, and broke open meetings laws, among other violations.  Due to these financial improprieties, charter schools are forced to close, and school district governing boards are left to assess and repair the damage. 

AB 2115 will strengthen efforts to end financial abuse of public funds in charter schools.  Governing board members would be prohibited from holding a financial interest in any transaction with the charter school, participating in or attempting to influence any decision in which they have an interest, and from serving on the board while employed by the school.  In addition, this bill would require charter schools to comply with the Ralph M. Brown Act regarding open meetings.  It is crucial for charter schools and traditional public schools to be similarly situated under the law for the purpose of protecting public funds.

Staff Contact: Brian Rivas, Sr. Legislative Advocate, brivas@csba.org or Marites Ares, Legislative Analyst, mares@csba.org.

Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,

As a school board member and a leader in education, I am writing to request your signature on Assembly Bill 2115 (Mullin), a measure that would require charter school board members to comply with the same conflict-of-interest policies by which school district board members currently abide.

In the state of California, there are over 680 charter schools serving more than 240,000 students. These schools are funded with public taxpayer dollars. While most charter schools operate with the public's trust in mind, there have been instances in which charter school board members misused public education dollars for personal gain. Recent news reports uncovered instances in which charter school officials directed millions of dollars to their own companies and allegedly hired spouses, gave themselves raises, and broke open meetings laws, among other violations. Due to these financial improprieties, charter schools are forced to close, and school district governing boards are left to assess and repair the damage. These instances underscore the need for clarification of charter school conflict-of-interest laws.

AB 2115 (Mullin) will strengthen efforts to end financial abuse of public funds in charter schools, provide transparency into the operations of charter schools, and renew the faith of parents and the community that their local charter school is acting in the best interest of students. This measure will require charter schools to comply with the same conflict-of-interest restrictions applicable to traditional public schools. Governing board members would be prohibited from holding a financial interest in any transaction with the charter school, participating in or attempting to influence any decision in which they have an interest, and from serving on the board while employed by the school. In addition, this bill would require charter schools to comply with the Ralph M. Brown Act regarding open meetings. It is particularly important for charter schools and traditional public schools to be similarly situated under the law for the purpose of protecting public funds.

Thank you for your consideration of this important matter. On behalf of the parents and children in my community, I respectfully request your signature on AB 2115 when it reaches your desk for action.

Sincerely,

Campaign Launched:
August 19, 2008