EBR to partner with state on charter school reviews

The public school districts in East Baton Rouge, Jefferson and Lafayette parishes have agreed to partner with the state on a “simplified, customized” charter school authorization process, the Louisiana Department of Education announced today. The districts plan to utilize the department’s charter application review procedure while still retaining the right to grant final approval of applicants. The process will allow charter applicants to apply to multiple districts participating in the partnership at once, which the state says will lead to lower costs for the districts. “The partnership between these districts and the Department will create a more efficient process and reduce the burden on districts,” says state Superintendent John White. Charter schools are publicly funded schools that are authorized by a local school district or BESE and enter a five-year contract with the authorizing body.