As state officials prepare for Kentucky’s first charter schools, they’re asking for public feedback on proposed regulations that will govern how the schools open and operate.

“We could make additional amendments to those regulations before their final approval,” said Gary Houchens, an associate professor at Western Kentucky University and a member of the Kentucky Board of Education. Houchens also serves on the state’s Charter Schools Advisory Council, which helped develop the regulations.

A public hearing is planned Tuesday in Frankfort. Houchens said he will be unable to attend the meeting, but added that comments made during the hearing could inform the development of the regulations.

The state school board will ultimately hear a summary of feedback during the board’s meeting in December, Houchens said. He added the board could choose to finalize the regulations at that time. The board’s next regular meeting in Frankfort is scheduled for Dec. 6, according to the Kentucky Department of Education.

Written comments can be sent until Nov. 30 to Kevin Brown, the associate commissioner and general counsel of the Kentucky Department of Education.

Comments can be mailed to Brown at the Kentucky Department of Education at 300 Sower Blvd., Frankfort, Ky. 40601. Comments can also be emailed to Brown at kevin.brown@education.ky.gov.

Gov. Matt Bevin signed House Bill 520 into law in March creating the possibility for the state’s first charter schools.

The bill passed amid some concerns from public school officials, who worried the legislation would threaten funding for conventional public schools.

Among them was Superintendent Rob Clayton of Warren County Public Schools, who spoke in an interview in November of last year.

“I’m supportive of charter school legislation as long as it doesn’t negatively impact the students that need us most,” he said. At the time, Clayton said he’d seen examples where charter schools funding was carved out from public schools.

“It does not cost the same to educate all kids,” he said, adding some types of students need smaller class sizes.

Under the charter schools law, any local school board, a collaboration of regional school boards and the mayors of Louisville and Lexington can review and authorize charter school applications, according to the Kentucky Department of Education. For-profit and religious organizations are prohibited from opening a charter school. Rejected charter applications may be appealed to the Kentucky Board of Education.

After the board finalizes the regulations, Houchens said they will go to the state legislature for final approval. If approved early next year, “then shortly thereafter we should be able to see the first applicants emerge,” Houchens said.

Eventually, Houchens said potential applicants will be able to access a range of tools to navigate the process of opening a charter school, including training modules and a common application that every Kentucky student will use to apply to such a school. That common application will allow the state to collect data on charter school students, Houchens said.

The regulations are available for review online at education.ky.gov/districts/legal/Pages/KDE-Public-Hearing-Information.aspx. Overall, the regulations focus on requirements for student application, lottery and enrollment, how charter school authorizers are evaluated, the appeal process for rejected charter school applications, how the schools can be opened and how personnel are evaluated.

The first charter school could open in Kentucky as early as fall 2018, according to the Kentucky Department of Education.

“This is a historic moment in Kentucky’s educational progress,” Houchens said, adding he’s pleased with the regulatory framework under development. “We want to make sure we involve as many voices as possible.”