Section 22-30.5-501 - Legislative declaration(1) The general assembly hereby finds, determines, and declares that: (a) There is a growing demand for more charter schools in the state;(b) There is an underserved population of at-risk students in the state, for whom innovative educational models are needed.(2) The intent of the general assembly in establishing the state charter school institute pursuant to this part 5 is to: (a) Provide an alternative mode of authorizing charter schools as a means to assist school districts in utilizing best practices for chartering schools and to approve and oversee charter schools in school districts not desiring to do so themselves; and(b) Preserve the authority of a school district to authorize charter schools, at the school district's option.L. 2004: Entire part added, p. 1594, § 1, effective July 1.