Charter Authorizing Panel

Formed in 2013 after the passage of the Arkansas Quality Charter Schools Act of 2013, the Charter School Authorizing Panel is the primary authorizer for all charters in the state. The panel oversees the authorization, renewal, revision and revocation of charters. Act 462 of 2017 allows for both department staff and individuals outside the department to serve on the panel. In accordance with Act 462 and in an effort to increase representation from multiple stakeholder groups, Commissioner Key named seven Charter Authorizing Panel (CAP) members on August 3, 2017.

Charter Authorizing Panel Members

•  Deborah Coffman – Assistant Commissioner, Public School Accountability
  
•  Phil Baldwin – CEO, Citizens Bank
•  Sonja Wright-McMurray – Division of Career and Technical Education, Associate Director
•  Toyce Newton – State Board of Education Member from August 18, 2009, to June 30, 2016
•  Karli Saracini – Assistant Commissioner, Educator Effectiveness and Licensure
•  Dr. Eric Flowers – ADE Assistant to Director

2022 Charter Authorizing Panel Meeting Schedule

• Meeting Date	Agenda Items
  January 18, 2022	TBD
  February 15, 2022	TBD
  March 15, 2022	TBD
  April 19, 2022	TBD
  May17, 2022	TBD
  June 14, 2022	TBD
  July 19, 2022	TBD
  August 16-17, 2022	Open-Enrollment Application Hearings
  September 20, 2022	TBD
  October 18-19, 2022	District Conversion Applications Hearings
  November 15, 2022	Charter Reviews
  December 20-21, 2022	Renewal Application Hearings

   

• Charter Authorizing Panel meeting agendas can be found at https://meetings.boardbook.org/Public/Organization/1133.

For more information, please contact: