Requires voter approval at the annual school election or by the board of school estimate prior to the establishment of charter school.

This bill requires voter approval at the annual school election (for Type II school districts) or board of school estimate approval (for Type I districts) before a new charter school can be established. It directly affects school districts seeking to create charter schools by adding a community approval step to the existing application process. The key provision amends existing law to prevent the Education Commissioner from approving charter school applications without this local authorization. This change applies to all new charter schools established after the bill's effective date, not to existing public schools converting to charters under current rules.