Charter school getting state aid to complete school year

FRANKLIN, N.H.—New Hampshire's first charter school, Franklin Career Academy, will stay open until the end of the school year, thanks to a deal worked out by Governor John Lynch.

Next Tuesday, the school will receive $53,200 more in state money than expected, enough to keep it from closing two months early.

The financing will come from money set aside for three charter schools, including Franklin, whose shaky financial situations put them in danger of closing. Instead of sending out the money incrementally, the state will send out what's left to the three schools in one lump sum.

The cash will allow the Franklin school to stay open for the rest of the year, but won't make as much of a difference for the other two recipients - the Seacoast Charter School in Exeter and the Cocheco Arts and Technology Academy in Barrington. Both have enough money to finish the year.

All 11 of the state's charter schools are closely watching a bill in the Legislature that would increase their state aid after this year.

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Information from: Concord Monitor, http://www.cmonitor.com