Utah Legislature OKs College Charter Schools

The Utah House of Representatives voted this week to give colleges and universities the authority to authorize public charter schools in the state of Utah, according to the Deseret News.

Currently, in Utah, public charter schools can be approved through a school district or the State Charter School Board, which is similar to Idaho’s system. In Idaho, a charter school can be authorized by the local school district or the Idaho Public Charter School Commission.

Under Senate Bill 55, Utah would also give colleges and universities the authority to approved K-12 public charter schools. The State Board of Education would still need to give final approval to all charter schools.

The Utah Board of Regents, the Utah Technology Council and the Utah Taxpayers Association have supported the legislation. The bill faced some opposition from House members who said the current system is working.

The bill, which was amended in the House, will now head back to the Senate.

Several states already give colleges and universities the authority to authorize public charter schools. According to the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, institutions of higher education in Missouri, Minnesota, New York, Wisconsin, Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, and Florida have authorized public charter schools.

Click here to read the full story from the Deseret News.

~ Melissa M.