The Board of Education has upheld a decision by the Charter School Review Panel to suspend charter school applications until the legislative session ends April 29.

The development is a blow to community efforts on the Big Island to convert Laupahoehoe High and Elementary School into a charter school.

Laupahoehoe is on a list of schools to be closed or consolidated because of low enrollment and failure to meet the goals of the federal No Child Left Behind law.

If the school were converted to a charter, Laupahoehoe would be removed from the closure list and remain open.

Laupahoehoe's grant project director, Fred Pollock, said parents and teachers believe their state and federal rights are being violated by the panel's decision.