Charter Schools in North Carolina

1
Charter Schools in North Carolina

• An overview

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What is a Charter School?

• Charter School A charter school is a
  tuition-free public school created on the basis
  of a license or charter made with the State
  Board of Education or an institute of higher
  learning. A charter school has more freedom than
  a traditional public school in return for a
  commitment to meet state standards of
  accountability.

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How is a Charter School funded?

• Public tax dollars are the primary funding
  sources for charter schools. Local, state, and
  federal dollars fund charter schools in the same
  way traditional public schools are funded. The
  schools have open enrollment with no
  discrimination, no religious associations, and no
  tuition.

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National Charter School Definition

• Charter schools are nonsectarian public
  schools of choice that operate with freedom from
  many of the regulations that apply to traditional
  public schools. The "charter" establishing each
  such school is a performance license detailing
  the school's mission, program, goals, students
  served, methods of assessment, and ways to
  measure success. (US Charter Schools - website)

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Benefits of Charter Schools According to the US
Charter Schools website

• The intention of most charter school legislation
  is to
• Increase opportunities for learning and access to
  quality education for all students
• Create choice for parents and students within the
  public school system
• Provide a system of accountability for results in
  public education
• Encourage innovative teaching practices
• Create new professional opportunities for
  teachers
• Encourage community and parent involvement in
  public education
• Leverage improved public education broadly

• From http//www.uscharterschools.org/pub/uscs_doc
  s/o/index.htm

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NC Charter School Law

• 115C-238.29A.  Purpose.
• The purpose of this Part is to authorize a system
  of charter schools to provide opportunities for
  teachers, parents, pupils, and community members
  to establish and maintain schools that operate
  independently of existing schools, as a method to
  accomplish all of the following
• (1) Improve student learning
• (2) Increase learning opportunities for all
  students, with special emphasis on expanded
  learning experiences for students who are
  identified as at risk of academic failure or
  academically gifted
• (3) Encourage the use of different and innovative
  teaching methods

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Charter School Law Continued

• (4) Create new professional opportunities for
  teachers, including the opportunities to be
  responsible for the learning program at the
  school site
• (5) Provide parents and students with expanded
  choices in the types of educational opportunities
  that are available within the public school
  system and
• (6) Hold the schools established under this Part
  accountable for meeting measurable student
  achievement results, and provide the schools with
  a method to change from rule-based to
  performance-based accountability systems. (1995
  (Reg. Sess., 1996), c. 731, s. 2.)
• For additional information see
  http//www.ncpublicschools.org/charterschools/poli
  cy/legislation

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How long can each charter school operate?

• The initial charter is granted for up to 10
  years with a 5 year review. At the end of each
  10 year period, including a 5 year review,
  charter schools must go through a renewal
  process, which may grant yet another 10 year
  term.

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How Are Charter Schools Operated?

• Each school is operated by a Board of Directors.
  They set the policies and procedures for their
  school.
• Of course, no school could operate without the
  support of the families and the school community!

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What are the qualifications for charter school
teachers?

• All charter school core subject teachers must be
  highly qualified as outlined by Federal No Child
  Left Behind requirements.
• North Carolina state statute requires 75 of
  charter school teachers in elementary school to
  be licensed while 50 in middle and high school
  must be licensed.

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Do all charter schools use the same curriculum?

• The Board of Directors for each charter
  school chooses the schools curriculum which is
  approved by the State Board of Education.
  Charter schools are not required to follow the
  North Carolina Standard Course of Study (NCSCOS),
  however, students are assessed using the same
  tests as other schools which correlate to the
  NCSCOS.

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Do charter schools take the state mandated ABCs
tests?

• Yes. All charter schools are required to take
  the state mandated tests. For charter schools
  test results please visit http//abcs.ncpublicscho
  ols.org/abcs.

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How much does it cost to attend a Charter School?

• Charter Schools are tuition free. They are
  public schools and funding for the schools come
  from federal, state, and local taxes.
• Schools must have obtained non-profit status
  from the state of North Carolina prior to
  opening.

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What are the requirements for acceptance into a
charter school?

• The only requirement for enrollment into a
  charter school is the availability at the school
  in the requested grade.

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How do I enroll my child in a charter school?

• Charter schools have open enrollment but may
  have a cap on the number of students served. If
  the school has more applicants than available
  slots, an open lottery must be instituted to fill
  the remaining spots. Parents must contact each
  individual school to see if they have openings,
  and obtain an application. For a list of
  schools, please visit http//www.ncpublicschools.o
  rg/charterschools/schools/.

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Can my child attend a charter school outside our
district?

• There is no districting for charter schools
  students from any North Carolina county may
  attend any charter school providing there is
  space available for the student in the school.

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Charter Schools by County2007-2008 School Year
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Charter Schools by County 2007-2008 School Year
19
Charter Schools by County 2007-2008 School Year

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Charter Schools in North Carolina

• There is currently a cap of 100 charter schools
  in North Carolina serving over 27,000 students.

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Who do I contact?

• Mr. Jack Moyer, Director 919.807.3491jmoyer_at_dpi.
  state.nc.us
• Dr. Jackie Womble Jenkins Consultant919.807.3493
  jjenkins_at_dpi.state.nc.us
• Carl F. Pridgen, Consultant919.807.3494cpridgen_at_
  dpi.state.nc.us

• Vacant (1/08), Consultant919.807.3492jmedley_at_dpi
  .state.nc.us
• Jean Kruft, Consultant919.807.3367jkruft_at_dpi.sta
  te.nc.us
• Dorothy Heath, Consultant919.807.3263dheath_at_dpi.
  state.nc.us
• Janice Ham
• Administrative Assistant919.807.3491
  jham_at_dpi.state.nc.us

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Photo Credits

• Slide 1 The Evergreen School
• Slide 2 Hope Elementary
• Slide 3 The Academy of Moore County
• Slide 4 Cape Fear Center for Inquiry
• Slide 5 Brevard Academy
• Slide 6 Franklin Academy
• Slide 7 Magellan Charter
• Slide 8 East Wake Academy
• Slide 9 Carolina International
• Slide 10 Healthy Start Academy
• Slide 11 SPARC Academy
• Slide 12 Alpha Academy
• Slide 13 Sugar Creek
• Slide 14 American Renaissance Middle
• Slide 15 Sallie B. Howard
• Slide 16 Maureen Joy
• Slide 18 Exploris Middle School
• Slide 19 Childrens Community
• Slide 20 American Renaissance Charter