The Charter School Agency

The Charter School Agency is a departmental agency established on 1 July 2024 to implement and operate the new charter school model, including negotiating and managing contracts and delivering funding.

The agency will be responsible for engaging with stakeholders, including those who may be interested in applying to be charter schools. It will support the Authorisation Board which will approve sponsors for new and converting charter schools. The agency is hosted by the Ministry of Education.

Responsibilities

The agency’s responsibilities will include: 

• being the secretariat for the authorisation board
• contracting with school sponsors
• monitoring and reporting on what has been achieved with contracts
• providing advice to the authorisation board on interventions with schools
• working with other statutory bodies
• advising Ministers.

Leadership

Jane Lee - Chief Executive

Jane Lee has extensive experience in the education sector and the public service. She was most recently a Deputy Chief Executive at the Education Review Office. She was recently seconded to the Public Service Commission as an Assistant Commissioner, working alongside Chief Executives. 

Jane has worked in the public sector for more than 30 years, starting her career as a teacher.

Jane is of Kai Tahu, Kati Mamoe and Waitaha descent has whakapapa back to Rakiura (Stewart Island).

She is a member of the Institute of Directors New Zealand.