Md. Governor's Charter School Bill To Get Hearing

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) -- Gov. Larry Hogan is holding a news conference with education leaders to talk about his charter school bill.

The governor also plans to discuss a bill to create tax credits for people who make voluntary contributions to private or parochial schools at the event on Thursday.

The news conference is being held as the governor's charter school measure is scheduled for a hearing Thursday afternoon before lawmakers. The bill is designed to make it easier to operate charter schools in Maryland.

Charter schools are publicly funded schools that have more freedom than conventional schools to establish their curriculum and set policies. They are often operated by nonprofit organizations or groups of parents.

Keiffer Mitchell, special adviser to the governor, is scheduled to testify at the hearing.

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