(a) It is the intention of article 42 of chapter 72 of the Kansas Statutes Annotated, and amendments thereto, to provide an alternative means within the public school system for ensuring accomplishment of the necessary outcomes of education by offering opportunities for school building or school district employees groups, educational services contractors, and other persons or entities to establish and maintain charter schools that operate within a school district structure, but independently from other schools of the district.

(b) As used in article 42 of chapter 72 of the Kansas Statutes Annotated, and amendments thereto, “charter school” means a separate and distinct school, attendance at which is voluntary, which is established to accomplish one or more of the purposes set forth in article 42 of chapter 72 of the Kansas Statutes Annotated, and amendments thereto. Each charter school shall be subject to accreditation requirements of the state board of education and must be accredited to maintain its charter. A charter school may be maintained in a separate facility or in an existing school facility if the charter school is operated separately from the other school in the shared facility. Each charter school shall offer a general curriculum appropriate to the grades offered at the charter school, but may include one or more special programs as part of its curriculum. A charter school also may be organized around a special emphasis, theme or concept or utilize innovative educational methods or practices, or a combination of these.