RALEIGH – North Carolina Senators debated how to ensure full access to charter schools as a bill to remove the state’s cap moves through committee.
Republicans compromised with Democrats to place oversight of charter schools under the State Board of Education. The compromise creates an advisory committee. The state board would have to get a three-fourths majority to override the advisory committee.
Future debate will focus on ensuring access to additional charter schools. Democrats want to ensure that poor and minority students are not excluded from the additional education choices. Republicans say additional requirements could hinder charter schools. They also say the lottery system of filling open seats provides equal access to charters.