Why is a viable appeals process necessary?
On July 1, 1999, a State Charter Appeals Board (CAB) was constituted to hear appeals from groups that have been denied a charter, have had their charter revoked or have not had their charter renewed. The initial review by the locally elected school board recognizes the need for local oversight in establishing a charter school. However, it is possible that a school board might consider the creation of new, innovative educational opportunities as a criticism of the public schools in its community. An appeal to an independent, regulatory panel (i.e., one without a direct stake in the outcome) protects the integrity of the charter process by providing applicants with an opportunity to obtain an objective, impartial review of a local decision.
