Ed Board to Vote on Charter School Proposals 

BOSTON (AP) — The state board of education will decide whether to give the green light to two new charter schools and allow several others to expand.

The board is expected to vote Tuesday on education commissioner Mitchell Chester’s recommendation to approve the Libertas Academy Charter School in Springfield and the New Heights Charter School in Brockton

Libertas Academy would serve 630 students in grades 6-12 and New Heights would serve 315 students in grades 6-8.

Chester also recommends allowing the Brooke charter schools in Boston to open a high school for the first time.

The moves come amid debate on Beacon Hill over the growth of charter schools, which operate largely independently from local school districts.

The state says there are some 34,000 students on waiting lists to get into charter schools.