Click Here

Commission to Recommend No Charter School Cap, Increased Standards

Education

A Blue Ribbon commission charged with recommending ways to improve North Carolina charter schools says the state needs more of them.

After six months of study, the commission also suggests getting tougher on performance requirements. They are proposed standards nearly 30 percent of current charter schools are not meeting.

Data shared with the Blue Ribbon Commission on Charter Schools suggests more than half of the state's charter schools have below-average growth.

"When we have a large percentage of schools performing below median, that is not acceptable," said Jack Moyer, the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction's director of charter schools."

Schools falling below median public school standards in a school year would have a year to turn their grades around or close, under the commission's recommendations.

Despite the numbers, the commission also recommends doing away with the current state cap, which allows no more than 100 schools. Instead, six new charter schools would be allowed to open each year.

High-performing schools and charter schools that are a first in the county would not be count against the state's total number of schools.

"We would love to see more charter schools, because we know the frustration of the families we have to turn away," said Mary Griffin, administrator of Magellan Charter School in Raleigh.

The commission is expected to meet again Dec. 19 to finish finalizing its recommendations before it takes them to the North Carolina Board of Education for consideration.



44 Comments


Golo

Welcome to GOLO, where WRAL.com visitors can comment on stories and create profile pages, blogs and photo galleries.

You must be a registered WRAL.com user to use these tools. Click here to register or log in.

View Comments View Comments

Photo Spotlight
0
1
2
3
4
5
[+] more photos | submit your photos
Report It
Send us your news photos, videos, tips and story ideas.
Submit Videos Submit Photos Submit Reports
  1. 2009christmasparade
    Bands, marchers in holiday parade

    Choose your group to watch their performance in the 2009 WRAL-TV Raleigh Christmas Parade.

  2. 2009christmasparade26
    Web only: Complete 2009 WRAL-TV Raleigh Christmas Parade

    Watch the parade in its entirety from the comfort of your computer any time.

  3. taxes
    Search for missing IRS refunds

    The Internal Revenue Service released the names this week of more than 100,000 taxpayers who have not received their 2009 income tax refund.

  4. County Unemployment Rates
    North Carolina unemployment rates

    View an interactive map with county unemployment numbers.

  5. Drought Map
    A year of N.C. Drought Maps

    View a time lapse animation of drought conditions during the last year.

Click Here