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
•  Dr. 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
•  Kim Davis, Senior Advisor, Walton Family Foundation
•  Dr. Eric Flowers, Senior Director, Research Advisory Services

2023 Charter Authorizing Panel Meeting Schedule

• Meeting Date	Agenda Items
  January 17, 2023	CANCELED
  February 14, 2023	TBD
  March 14, 2023	CANCELED
  April 25, 2023	TBD
  May 19, 2023	TBD
  June 13, 2023	TBD
  July 18, 2023	TBD
  August 15-16, 2023	Open-Enrollment Application Hearings
  September 19, 2023	TBD
  October 17-18, 2023	District Conversion Applications Hearings
  November 14, 2023	Charter Reviews
  December 19-20, 2023	Renewal Application Hearings

   

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

• General Operating Procedures- approved October 18, 2022. 

For more information, please contact: