Sec. 1. 20-A MRSA c. 112 is enacted to read:

CHAPTER 112

CHARTER SCHOOLS

§2411.__Charter schools authorized

Charter schools are authorized as public schools of this State.__Charter schools may be created to meet the learning needs of students, to provide academic choices to parents and students, to provide professional opportunities for educators and for other educational purposes.__Individual charter schools must be created by acts of the Legislature.

Sec. 2. 20-A MRSA §2951, sub-§2, as enacted by PL 1981, c. 693, §§5 and 8, is repealed.

Sec. 3. 20-A MRSA §5205, sub-§6, as amended by PL 1991, c. 365, §2, is further amended to read:

6. Transfer students. The following provisions apply to transfers of students from one school administrative unit to another or between a school administrative unit and a private school approved for tuition purposes under section 2951.

A. Two Except as provided in subsection 9, 2 superintendents may approve the transfer of a student from one school administrative unit to another or a superintendent and the headmaster of a private school approved for tuition purposes under section 2951 may approve the transfer of a student between the 2 schools if the school to which transfer is sought is within 50 miles of the school the student currently attends and:

(1) They find that a transfer is in the student's best interest; and

(2) The student's parent approves.

The superintendents or superintendent and headmaster shall notify the commissioner of any transfer approved under this paragraph.

B. On the request of the parent of a student requesting transfer under paragraph A, the commissioner shall review the transfer. The commissioner's decision shall be final and binding.