Sec. 1. 20-A MRSA §1, sub-§26, as corrected by RR 1993, c. 1, §44, is amended to read:

26. School administrative unit. "School administrative unit" means the state-approved unit of school administration and includes a municipal school unit, school administrative district, community school district, charter school or any other municipal or quasi-municipal corporation responsible for operating or constructing public schools, except that it does not include an applied technology region.

Sec. 2. 20-A MRSA §202, sub-§§16 and 17, as enacted by PL 1981, c. 693, §§5 and 8, are amended to read:

16. Other entities. Other entities authorized by the Legislature; and

17. Other bureaus. Any other bureau the commissioner establishes.; and

Sec. 3. 20-A MRSA §202, sub-§18 is enacted to read:

18.__Charter schools.__Charter schools.

Sec. 4. 20-A MRSA c. 112 is enacted to read:

CHAPTER 112

CHARTER SCHOOLS

§2411.__Charter schools authorized

Charter schools may be established as public schools pursuant to this chapter to provide a learning environment that improves student achievement and encourages the use of different and innovative learning methods.__Charter schools provide additional academic choices for parents and students and create new professional opportunities for teachers, including the opportunity to control the learning program at the charter school.

§2412.__Organizers; eligibility for application

The following entities, referred to in this chapter as "organizers," may apply for charter school status.

1.__Existing schools.__An existing nonprofit, nonsectarian school may apply to become a charter school.__An existing public school may apply to become a charter school if the teachers and administration of that public school or the parents of children