Bill > H485

This bill proposes changes to how commonwealth charter school applications are funded and approved. Currently, the board can approve applications, and if they do, the state funds them. This bill would require that for a commonwealth charter school application to be funded by the state, it must first receive approval from the local or regional school committee, or from the voters of the affected school district(s) through town meetings or general elections. If a charter school application is approved by the board but does not receive this local or voter approval, it would still be funded by the board, but not with state funds designated for education (Chapter 70) or other local funds. The bill also clarifies that applications can be approved by the school committee, town voters, city council and mayor, or by statewide election votes from municipalities expected to enroll students, in addition to board approval. These changes would only apply to new charter school applications submitted after the bill becomes law.