Charter school backers are already making plans to flex their new muscle provided by this year's Idaho Legislature.

Lawmakers approved legislation championed by Gov. Dirk Kempthorne that creates a state commission to approve new charters, instead of just school districts; funnels more state money to Internet-based charters; sets aside enrollment slots for school founders' kids; and removes the five-year limit for charter approval, allowing the schools to operate for an indefinite time.

The new legislation also requires charters to be more forthcoming with public records and financial information.

Patrons in some school districts had complained that some charter organizers didn't follow state laws in disclosing such information.

Kempthorne is expected to sign the provisions into law soon.

Liberty Charter School wants to be released from Nampa School District's jurisdiction and instead answer to the new state charter school commission, said Bart McKnight, chairman of Liberty's school board.

"There's an animosity here. We've seen that in the last five years and we're hoping we can step away from that," McKnight said of Liberty's relationship with the Nampa School Board.

Liberty officials are asking the State Board of Education to overturn the Nampa board's recent decision to give Liberty, which had sought a five-year charter renewal, only one year.

Compass Charter School organizers want the Meridian School Board to reverse its rejection of their proposal to start the school in Southwest Boise.

The board's decision was based in part on organizers' desire to reserve school seats for their own kids.

"There's nothing that holds us back now," said Compass President Eric Jensen.

Charter schools now have a better operating climate, said Ross Vaughn, associate dean of the College of Education at Boise State University.

"People are looking for better ways to educate their children, and I think we're going to continue to see alternate forms of education," Vaughn said.

"Certainly, charter people are assured of more consistent policies" with adoption of new regulations.

Critics contend the changes mean less local control over schools funded with local money.

"I think the local boards of education are the losers because they potentially will have schools put in their district over which they have no say," said Kathy Phelan, president of the Idaho Education Association, the union that represents Idaho teachers.

Phelan said the final versions of charter schools got hammered out at the last minute, leaving no time for debate.

"I don't think (House) legislators knew what they were voting on, and the Senate didn't have time to fix it," Phelan said.

Kempthorne spokesman Mike Journee disagreed.

"I don't know if there are any losers, and I don't think the governor thinks that there are losers, either," Journee said.

Senate Education Committee Chairman Gary Schroeder said he is pleased that some provisions require more financial accountability from charter schools, but he's upset over the possible loss of local control over charter schools.

The Moscow Republican also said the Idaho Virtual Academy, an Internet-based school headquartered in Arco, essentially used kids as pawns to get more money. School officials had warned that the school would shut down and stop serving about 1,800 kids statewide if it didn't receive more funding.

"It's bittersweet," Schroeder said.

Nampa School Board Chairman Dale Wheeler said he likes the provisions that tighten financial accountability but dislikes the charter school commission.

"I don't like an outside entity coming in and telling local school boards how to run things," Wheeler said.

Darrell Deide, a former state senator from Caldwell, said mainstream and charter schools both win.

"We've just created the potential for more competition within the public school arena. Competition is a way to raise the bar for all," said Deide, who has championed charters since the Legislature approved their creation in 1998. This year he lobbied for the reforms.