"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
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.
Although many details remain to be ironed out, both of the bills filed so far would create a state panel that would
approve charter applications, which could come from non-profit groups to start a new school or parents and teachers of an existing school.
In many states, charter enrollment is capped and only school districts — which generally oppose charter schools — are allowed to
approve charter applications.
Despite this, the Pennsylvania Department of Education continues to
approve charter applications.
My work with new schools goes beyond the early exploration phase as I work with them throughout «year - 0» (as a school's learning curve entails how to implement
the approved charter application), as well as continue to provide support in year - 1 and through the first contract renewal process.