Three school districts – Tacoma, West Valley and Highline – have announced they plan to apply as charter school authorizers in 2014, according to the Washington State Board of Education (SBE).

By becoming a charter school authorizer, the districts will be given the power to approve charter school applications and oversee the authorized charter schools.

Notices of intent were due Oct. 1 and the applications are due by the end of December. SBE will review the applications and either approve or deny them by April 1.

Spokane Public Schools was the first school district to be approved by the SBE as a charter school authorizer.

For more information about charter schools in the state of Washington, please visit the SBE website.