The Board's ruling said the local board had an existing policy which required charter school applications to be submitted by March 1 for the following year. The State Board's ruling said the absence of knowledge about a law is not an excuse, and that Greenville Tech's alleged lack of knowledge of the district's policy did not relieve it of the policy's requirements. State Superintendent of Education Barbara Nielsen said the State Board's ruling would not prohibit Greenville Tech from filing another application and having it considered for the 1999-2000 school year. We all gain when we work together. Nielsen, who is the State Board's secretary and executive officer but is not a Board member and does not vote on Board matters, is a longtime supporter of public charter schools and a leading proponent of the state legislation that created them.
Charter schools receive public funds but are free from most state regulations.
The State Department of Education helps groups comply with the requirements of state law in completing applications to create charter schools.