Bill > S414

This bill modifies Massachusetts law regarding charter school approval by introducing a new definition of "local approval" and establishing new requirements for charter school funding. Under the bill, "local approval" can be obtained through three specific methods: approval by the elected school committee in each district expected to enroll students, approval by voters at a town meeting in towns from which students will be drawn, or in cities without an elected school committee, by a vote of the city council and the mayor. The bill stipulates that commonwealth charter school applications must receive local approval from every town or school district expecting to enroll students in order to be fully funded through standard mechanisms. If a charter school application does not receive such local approval, the state board of education must fund the school exclusively through state funds, excluding local Chapter 70 education funds or other local funding sources. The bill will only apply to commonwealth charter school applications submitted after the act becomes effective, which means existing charter school applications will not be impacted retroactively. This legislation appears aimed at giving local communities more direct control over which charter schools can be established in their jurisdictions by requiring explicit local consent before full funding is authorized.

Education

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/S414