Democratic U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren wants charter schools gone, but several prominent N.C. and national advocates for charter schools say the presidential contender is out of touch with voters. Rhonda Dillingham, executive director of the N.C. Association for Public Charter Schools, says Warren’s views on school choice don’t jibe with public opinion. “Most Americans are...
Proponents of charter schools worry the Governor’s Commission on Access to a Sound Basic Education will use the Leandro ruling as a roundabout way to restrict charter schools. The most recent commission meeting, Monday, Oct. 14, didn’t allay those concerns. Charter schools are public schools, but their place in the Leandro discussion isn’t entirely clear. ...
The U.S. Department of Education awarded North Carolina $10 million to bring more educationally disadvantaged students to charter schools, but state constraints on charters may make spending that money a challenge. Joseph Maimone, a member of the Charter School Advisory Board, said some charter schools may find it difficult to take full advantage of the...
Most North Carolinians recognize and agree with the state constitution’s mandate to provide universal access to taxpayer-funded schools. But how should these schools be constituted and governed?
It’s hard to imagine, but did you know regular people can get as excited about new choices as Raleigh media get about new grocery store options? It’s true. I know, I know, that’s saying a lot, when you consider how excited Raleigh media have been to have new grocery options. Daily stories, inside looks, interviews...
North Carolina continues to see growth in homeschooling, charter schools, and private schools, a recent report from the N.C. Department of Public Instruction says. The report shows more than 80,000 additional students have chosen an educational option beyond their locally assigned district school between 2008 and 2018. Parents cite a variety of reasons to seek...
Despite low performance, NC Virtual Academy may get to raise its enrollment by 20% after the House approved legislation granting the enrollment growth. On Thursday, June 11, the House passed Senate Bill 392, by a vote of 87-26. The bill now goes to the Senate for concurrence. One section of S.B. 392, the Various Charter...
While initial rulings in the Leandro case had nothing directly to do with charter schools, recent discussions are bringing the traditional public school alternative into the conversation. Terry Stoops is vice president of research and director of education studies at the John Locke Foundation. Stoops says charter school leaders should know it’s possible that charter...
In 2011, Thom Tillis, Phil Berger, and the Republican leadership in the N.C. General Assembly removed the 100-school school cap included in the 1996 law that authorized the creation of charter schools, which are tuition-free public schools that have more freedom than district-run public schools. Removing the cap, along with providing opportunities for enrollment expansion...
The Senate, in a 33-11 vote, approved a bill giving charter school operators the option to bypass local county commissioners in winning approval of charter facility bonds. Senate Bill 392 would allow the Superintendent of Public Instruction to approve the issuance of private activity bonds for charter school facilities after a public hearing. Private activity...
The Senate Education Committee took action Wednesday, April 10, on a number of bills, including a law easing rules on welding and manufacturing internships. Lawmakers greenlighted some measures and merely discussed others. Senate Bill 376: N.C. Patriot Star Family Scholarship/Funds Senate Bill 376, “NC Patriot Star Family Scholarship/Funds,” would direct more college scholarships to military...
