An Act relative to local approval for charter schools

This bill requires local approval from every town or school district expected to enroll students before a state-run charter school can receive public funding. Under the new rules, a charter school application must be authorized by either an elected school committee, a town meeting vote, or a city council and mayor vote to access local funds. If a charter school lacks this local consent, the state board may still approve the school, but it will be funded entirely by the state without any money from local communities. The changes apply only to charter school applications submitted after the law takes effect.