PORTLAND, Maine (AP) _ Four groups have applied for the last three charter school slots in Maine.
The Portland Press Herald reports that ME Academy, Peridot Montessori Education, Show Pond Arts Academy and Acadia Academy filed applications by Tuesday's deadline.
The Maine Charter School Commission will take a first vote Oct. 13 on advancing the new applications to the second phase of the review process. It will make a final decision on Nov. 17.
Schools approved by the commission would open in fall 2016.
State law allows a maximum of 10 charter schools. Maine already has five brick-and-mortar charter schools and two virtual charter schools. More than 1,500 students attend charter schools in Maine, which has about 184,000 total students.