Commission issues request for charter school proposals

Augusta, Maine - The Maine Charter School Commission announced last week it will accept applications from potential charter school operators who hope to open schools for the 2013-14 school year.

The Commission, a seven-member body that can authorize up to 10 public charter schools statewide over the next decade, published a request for charter school proposals and an application that potential charter school operators must complete in order to open a school for the 2013-14 school year.

Three charter schools have already been approved. Cornville Regional Charter School and Maine Academy of Natural Sciences are expected to open on October 1, 2012. The remaining school, Baxter Academy for Technology and Science in Portland, was approved conditionally to open in fall 2013.

The request for proposals and application are available on the Commission website, at http://www.maine.gov/csc/.

Charter schools are public schools of choice that have more flexibility than traditional public schools over decisions concerning curriculum and instruction, scheduling, staffing and finance. However, they are accountable to the terms of the contracts, or charters, that authorize their existence and the academic standards to which all other public schools are accountable.

The Maine Charter School Commission is considered an “authorizer” under Maine’s public charter school law. Local school boards can authorize additional public charter schools.

Maine Charter School Commission | mcsc@maine.gov