Moore bill would require local approval before charter schools receive state funding

Sen. Michael O. Moore filed legislation on Jan. 14, 2025, that would require local approval from every town or school district expected to enroll students before a commonwealth charter school application could be funded under Section 89 of Chapter 71 of the Massachusetts General Laws. The bill was entered in the Senate docket as No. 414.

The bill defines “local approval” as an action by a locally elected body to authorize local funds for a charter school: approval by an elected school committee for each sending district, approval by voters at a town meeting in each town expected to enroll students, or — for a city without an elected school committee — a vote of the city council and the mayor. That definition is inserted into Section 89 of Chapter 71, the bill says.

Under the bill’s funding clause, only commonwealth charter school applications that have received the local approval of every town or school district expected to enroll students "shall be funded pursuant to the provisions of the section." The bill further states that if the board approves an application without that local approval, the application ‘‘shall be funded by the board, exclusive of Chapter 70 or other local funds.’’ The bill text uses the term “the board” but does not identify which board in the text.

The bill also says it applies only to commonwealth charter school applications submitted after the date on which the act becomes effective. The filing cites Section 89 of Chapter 71 as the section to be amended and references Chapter 70 funding in the provision that prohibits use of Chapter 70 or other local funds when the board funds an application approved without local approval.

Sen. Michael O. Moore is listed on the filing as the petitioner; the cover sheet lists his district as Second Worcester. The filing notes similar matter filed in the previous legislative session (see Senate No. 320 of 2023–2024).

The measure, as filed, is a proposal that would change the conditions under which commonwealth charter school applications receive funding from state and local education funds. It must clear subsequent legislative steps before becoming law; the bill text does not specify procedures for how local approval would be verified or timed, nor does it name the ‘‘board’’ that would provide funding absent local approval.