Fast Facts:

Law enacted: 2013 - 2017

Law passed: 1996

Number of charter schools: 211

Number of charter students: 145,300

Cap on the number of schools allowed: No

Virtual charters allowed: Yes, two are permitted through a pilot program.

Charter Law Analysis:

AUTHORIZERS: As of 2023, and with the passage of H.B. 618, the North Carolina Charter Schools Advisory Board was converted into a Charter School Review Board, which has the sole authority to approve charter school applications and renewals. Under the new law, the State Board of Education would continue to oversee charter school accountability, rule-making, and funding, as well as hear appeals related to Review Board denials. The bill stipulates that applicants, charter schools, and the State Superintendent may appeal Review Board decisions.

GROWTH: Changes to the law in June 2023 give charters authorized to grow the ability to expand without additional approvals, grow up or down one grade and depending on capacity, admit out-of-state and foreign exchange students, along with children of active-duty military personnel and certain preschoolers with pre-existing agreements. Growth will continue; as of 2023, more than a dozen schools have applied to open in 2025.

OPERATIONS: The state provides charters a blanket waiver from most state rules and regulations, and until last year, district impacts had to be considered when reviewing charter school applications. However, as of 2023, district related enrollment or financial impact may not impede approvals and renewals.

EQUITY: The law stipulates per-pupil funds equal to the district allocation where the charter is located, but those funds are often withheld in practice. Charter schools may also request appropriations directly from cities. Charters do not receive per pupil facilities funding, however, In 2023, counties were authorized to allocate property taxes to support charter school capital requirements as well as support various school needs.

Fast Facts:

Number of programs: 2

Choice Laws & Analysis:

Education Savings Account

Education Student Accounts (ESA+)
In 2021, North Carolina introduced and officially launched the Education Student Accounts (ESA+) voucher program in 2022 tailored to families with students meeting the federal definition of a "child with disabilities" under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). It provides a maximum annual amount of $9,000 (or $17,000 for students with specific disabilities) for educational and therapeutic purposes, including private school tuition. These funds can also be used for education-related transportation. Notably, the program replaces both the Personal Education Savings Account Program and the Special Education Scholarship Grants for Children with Disabilities Program through legislative action in the 2021 state budget, which included additional funding for the 2020--21 fiscal year.

Voucher

Opportunity Scholarships
North Carolina's Opportunity Scholarships program was originally launched in 2014 to provide children from low-income households vouchers to attend a private school of their choice. In 2023, the state expanded the program and removed income restrictions. The program will roll out gradually over three years, commencing in the 2024-2025 school year. In the initial phase, families will have access to approximately 33% (around $4,000) of the state per-pupil allotment, which typically exceeds $12,120 on average. The amount of accessible per pupil funds in the program increases to 66% (around $8,000) in 2025-2026 and 100% of the state per-pupil allotment by the 2026-2027 school year. Homeschool students will receive 28% of the per-pupil allotment each year. Initially, amounts between $3,200 and $7,500 will be distributed, with a total budget of $520 million by 2032. LEADERSHIP SUMMARIES:
GOVERNOR


Roy Cooper (D)

First term began in 2017 (two-term limit). Re-elected in 2020.
Governor Roy Cooper is proving he is still the union's number one man, as he started 2024 with a statewide tour to discredit the Opportunity Scholarships program by claiming it costs the traditional schools districts millions of dollars. Declaring a state emergency in 2023 to stop education freedom legislation by stating that public education was "having the life choked out of it" due to a legislature that was attempting to expand vouchers to more low-income families. This Governor is fundamentally anti-parent power and anti-education freedom. STATE LEGISLATURE
The state legislature showed its pro-parent power by enacting major changes to the Opportunity Scholarship program in the state budget at the end of last year. With the removal of the income cap, no prior public school enrollment necessary, and scholarship amounts based on household income, the legislators have proven they will lead when it comes to what is best for the families of North Carolina. Yet, the Governor is only interested in serving a special interest group with adult needs as their special interest. INNOVATION SUMMARY:
Work-based learning along with credits towards graduation and CTE diplomas are part of the innovative approaches in North Carolina. The state offers a portrait of a graduate which signals a commitment to a mastery-based education model; it does not permit competency-based graduation requirements but does allow for endorsements. Innovative schools and districts are permitted.

USE OF STUDENT DATA IN EVALUATING TEACHER PREP

"North Carolina requires educator preparation programs to collect and report the effectiveness of their program completers on student learning by reporting the evaluation ratings of teachers under the state's evaluation system, however the state's evaluation system is not based on student achievement or growth."

This is just one indicator from The National Council on Teacher Quality, which collects and analyzes states on how well their policies and practices lead to well-prepared teachers. They collect data on state laws and regulations concerning the preparation of teachers, the policies that govern their oversight and the contracts that guide their employment. Learn more about your state here.