"To approve charter applications" means to grant or give permission to create new charter schools. It involves reviewing and accepting the requests from individuals or organizations who want to establish these schools. Full definition
It may be that charter supporters want to take that decision away from some local districts which have not approved charter applications. (pureparents.org)
Planners told the Buffalo News that the state was unlikely to approve the charter applications at the current time. (news.wbfo.org)
The state board could order the local board to approve a charter application, but it could not require the local board to actually open a school or agree to all the terms of the charter applicant's proposal. (educationnext.org)