HB 5160

Amends the Charter Schools Law of the School Code. Creates the State-Authorized Charter School Fund. Provides that funds appropriated from the General Revenue Fund, the Education Assistance Fund, or the Common School Fund and all moneys received by the State Board of Education from a private source for the purposes of the State-Authorized Charter School Fund shall be deposited into the State-Authorized Charter School Fund and the moneys in the State-Authorized Charter School Fund shall be used, subject to appropriation, by the State Board for equal distribution among State Board-authorized charter schools for school expenses. Provides that a school district with a State-authorized charter school may not use any funds from its evidence-based funding for that charter school's expenses and a school district with a State Board-authorized charter school must use funds from the State-Authorized Charter School Fund for that charter school's expenses instead. Makes a conforming change in the State Finance Act. Effective July 1, 2026.