Charter School Policies
Is there a statewide authorizer specific for virtual charter schools?
January 2020
This resource contains information about the 45 states, plus the District of Columbia, with charter school laws. It does not contain any information for the five states that have not enacted charter school laws. 50-State Comparisons on each data point are here.
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STATE
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Is there a statewide authorizer specific for virtual charter schools?
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Source
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|---|---|---|
| Alabama | No | |
| Alaska | No | |
| Arizona | No | |
| Arkansas | No | |
| California | No | |
| Colorado | Yes. The state charter school institute may authorize a multi-district online school but is first required to apply to the online division within the department of education for certification of such a school. | Colo. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 22-30.7-106 |
| Connecticut | No | |
| Delaware | No | |
| District of Columbia | No | |
| Florida | No | |
| Georgia | No | |
| Hawaii | No | |
| Idaho | No | |
| Illinois | No | |
| Indiana | No. A virtual charter school may apply for authorization with any statewide authorizer in accordance with the authorizer's guidelines. | Ind. Code Ann. § 20-24-7-13 |
| Iowa | No | |
| Kansas | Yes. Virtual schools are under the general supervision of the state board. The state board is authorized to adopt any rules and regulations relating to virtual schools which the state board deems necessary. | Kan. Stat. Ann. § 72-3713 |
| Kentucky | No | |
| Louisiana | Yes. The state board is tasked with creating a process to authorize "course providers." | La. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 17:4002.4 |
| Maine | Yes. The Maine Charter School Commission is the sole authorizer of virtual charter schools. | Me. Rev. Stat. Ann. 20-A § 2405 |
| Maryland | No | |
| Massachusetts | No | |
| Michigan | No. Statute does make reference to statewide authorizing bodies (defined as the governing board of a state public university or the board of a recognized federal tribally controlled community college) regarding cyber charter schools, but also establishes that the following are able to issue contracts to establish cyber charter schools: the board of a school district, an intermediate school board, the board of a community college, and 2 or more public agencies acting jointly. | Mich. Comp. Laws Ann. § 380.553a; Mich. Comp. Laws Ann. § 380.552 |
| Minnesota | No | |
| Mississippi | No | |
| Missouri | No | |
| Nevada | Yes. The State Public Charter School Authority is the sole statewide authorizer. | Senate Bill 441 (2019) Legislation is "undesignated" as of 12/2019 |
| New Hampshire | No | |
| New Jersey | No | |
| Ohio | No. However, all virtual charter school applications must be approved by the superintendent of public instruction, and the superintendent must approve applications demonstrating experience and quality. | Ohio Rev. Code Ann. § 3314.013 |
| Oklahoma | Yes. The state board for virtual charter schools is required to provide oversight of operations of statewide virtual charters and to establish processes for accepting and approving applications and revoking contracts. | Okla. Stat. tit. 70, § 3-145.3 |
| Oregon | No. Virtual charter schools may be authorized by local school boards or the state board of education. | Or. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 338.120 |
| Pennsylvania | Yes. The department of education authorizes virtual charter schools. | 24 Pa. Stat. Ann. § 17-1703; 24 Pa. Stat. Ann. § 17-1741-A |
| Rhode Island | No | |
| South Carolina | No | |
| Tennessee | No | |
| Texas | No | |
| Utah | No | |
| Virginia | No | |
| Washington | No | |
| West Virginia | No. | |
| Wisconsin | No. However, only local school boards may authorize virtual charter schools. | Wis. Stat. Ann. § 118.40 |
| Wyoming | No | |
| Total answers |
36
No:
7
Yes:
|