The Education Amendment Bill to allow charter schools, rebranded as partnership schools or kura hourua, was introduced on 15 October 2012 and passed its first reading three days later 63 votes to 56. The bill was referred to the Education and Science select committee for closer scrutiny and public submissions, with the committee reporting back in April 2013 that the bill should proceed with amendments, including a change so that charter schools would be subject to Ombudsman scrutiny on matters relating to suspensions and expulsions (other than the Ombudsman, the only other way to appeal a suspension or expulsion is through the court system). After the report was released, United Future MP Peter Dunne announced he was pulling support for charter schools, leaving only the National, Act and Māori parties supporting the bill. The bill passed its third reading on 4 June 2013, 62 votes to 57.
