First round charter school applications are in

Do, please, note the "first round" above: the applicants must be invited to apply further. DESE's announcement is here.

Brockton, of course, has a new charter school as of this year that is struggling to fill its seats. The Lynn application has been getting press as it's a national finalist in a competition for funding; it's also familiar, as Jennifer Berkshire points out:

Thought Mass. finalist in XQ Super School Project sounded familiar. State has rejected his proposal to open school in Lynn, MA 4 times.

— EduShyster (@EduShyster) August 15, 2016

The Old Sturbridge Village application also was turned down last year.

As for expansions: 

The focus, not surprisingly, is again on Boston. The Pioneer Valley Chinese Immersion Charter was more or less told to do this by the Board, who refused their application for reconsideration back in the spring.