(a) Alternative high-risk population public charter schools may be authorized and funded pursuant to this article. To be eligible for an alternative high-risk population public charter school, the school must have an unduplicated count of at least 70 percent of their total enrollment, upon first entry to the school, comprised of high-risk students and obtain approval from the Charter School Board certifying the school meets the criteria. "High risk" students include the following:

1. (1) Students who have been expelled;
2. (2) Students who have been suspended more than 10 days in a school year;
3. (3) Wards of the court or dependents of the court;
4. (4) Recovered dropouts;
5. (5) Students who are habitually truant;
6. (6) Students who have been retained more than once in kindergarten through grade eight;
7. (7) Students who are credit deficient;
8. (8) Students who have a high-level transiency such as being enrolled in more than two schools during the past academic year or have changed secondary schools more than two times since entering high school;
9. (9) Foster youth;
10. (10) Homeless youth; and
11. (11) Students who need greater flexibility in scheduling or have circumstances which would benefit from this type of schooling.