State Gets 6 Proposals For New Charters, 12 Seek to Expand

BOSTON (AP) — The state of Massachusetts has received proposals for six new charter schools and the expansion of 12 others, but current state caps on charters could prevent them from being approved.

Voters will consider a ballot question in November that would allow for annual increases in charter school enrollment outside of existing state caps.

The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education said in a statement Monday that it will evaluate the proposed new and expanded charters and recommend a final list to the state board of education for a vote in February.

All of the applications combined would add between 5,000 and 6,000 new charter school seats. The state says 32,000 students are on waiting lists for charter schools.