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Mass. justices probe whether charter schools fall under state public-records law
Summary
The Supreme Judicial Court heard argument in SJC13769 over whether Massachusetts charter schools are state agencies and therefore subject to the Commonwealth—s public records law, with counsel for Mystic Valley urging a narrow textual reading and the Attorney General—s Office urging a finding that charter schools— status as "public schools" places their records within the public-records statute.
The Supreme Judicial Court heard argument in SJC13769, Andrea Joy Campbell, Attorney General, v. Mystic Valley Regional Charter School, on whether Massachusetts charter schools are state agencies under the charter-school statute and therefore subject to the public records law.
Charles Waters, counsel for Mystic Valley Regional Charter School, told the court the question is a matter of first impression in Massachusetts and urged reversal of the trial court—s decision. Waters said the statute "doesn't say that it's a state agency" and pointed to provisions in the charter-school statute that treat charter schools as state agencies only in specific, enumerated circumstances (what he described as "carve-outs"). Waters said those carve-outs, plus statutory references to corporate treatment under…
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