The Maine Charter School Commission has received applications from two entities proposing a new public charter school opening in Fall 2020. There are nine public charter schools operating in the state of Maine. Current law allows for a maximum of 10.

Applications were received for the Ecology Learning Center, in Montville.

The school is to serve grades 9-12 with a target population of high school-aged youth seeking experiential, community-based learning. The catchment area of the school will be Waldo County.

• Sheffwood Academy, in Topsham, is to serve grades 6-12 with a target population of students with a passion for the arts and/or technology. The catchment area of the school was to be a 20-mile radius around Topsham.
• At its August 6 Business Meeting, the Maine Charter School Commission determined whether the application(s) appear to demonstrate the applicant's competence in each element of the Commission's published approval criteria and appears to demonstrate that the applicant is likely to open and operate a successful public charter school in the state of Maine.
• The Maine Charter School Commission denied the application for Sheffwood Academy, with no further action recommended.
• The Maine Charter School Commission moved the Ecology Learning Center application forward, and a public hearing will be held on August 7 for the Ecology Learning Center from 4 to 6 p.m. in the Washington/York Room of the Augusta Civic Center. 
• The purpose of the hearing is to elicit public comment on the expected impact of the proposed charter school on students, parents, the community to be served by the school, and public education in the State.
• If a school is approved for a charter, all students in the state of Maine are welcome to enroll.

If you are unable to attend a public hearing in person, written comments will be accepted through 5 p.m. on Friday, August 23. Written comments can be mailed to the Maine Charter School Commission at 182 State House Station, Augusta, ME 04333 or emailed to mcsc@maine.gov.

Information will be provided on the Commission's website maine.gov/csc.