CONCORD - The bill charter school operators and supporters hope ends the log jam over new applications was given preliminary approval by the House on Wednesday. The bill would make charter school funding open-ended, allowing new applications to move forward.

House Bill 299 would change the current law, enacted in 2011, to cap state spending on charter schools. The cap caused the State Board of Education to reject any new applications because the state could not pay its student grants.

Until 2011, New Hampshire paid $5,400 per student in state aid for all charter schools without a limit on how much could be spent.

Matt Southerton, director of the Center for Innovative Schools praised the House..

"This is a great victory for the children of New Hampshire," he said, noting the bill is expected to receive strong support from the House Finance Committee.

"The governor's commitment to public charter schools and the passing of HB 299 set the state for exciting new possibilities for New Hampshire's students and will help the estate to retain over $5.2 million in federal startup funds," Southerton said.

The bill now goes to the Senate Finance Committee, where another public hearing will be held before the bill returns to the House for a final vote.


grayno@unionleader.com