Sec. 1. 20-A MRSA §1, sub-§26, as corrected by RR 1993, c. 1, §44, is amended to read:

26. School administrative unit. "School administrative unit" means the state-approved unit of school administration and includes a municipal school unit, school administrative district, community school district, charter school or any other municipal or quasi-municipal corporation responsible for operating or constructing public schools, except that it does not include an applied technology region.

Sec. 2. 20-A MRSA §202, sub-§§16 and 17, as enacted by PL 1981, c. 693, §§5 and 8, are amended to read:

16. Other entities. Other entities authorized by the Legislature; and

17. Other bureaus. Any other bureau the commissioner establishes.; and

Sec. 3. 20-A MRSA §202, sub-§18 is enacted to read:

18.__Charter schools.__Charter schools.

Sec. 4. 20-A MRSA c. 112 is enacted to read:

CHAPTER 112

CHARTER SCHOOLS

§2411.__Charter schools authorized

Charter schools may be established as public schools pursuant to this chapter to provide a learning environment that improves student achievement and encourages the use of different and innovative learning methods to provide additional academic choices for parents and students and create new professional opportunities for teachers, including the opportunity to control the learning program at the charter school.

§2412.__Organizers; eligibility for application

The following entities, referred to in this chapter as "organizers," may apply for charter school status.

1.__Existing schools.__An existing nonprofit, nonsectarian school may apply to become a charter school.__An existing public