Charter School Supporters Call on State to Modify Policy
Educational leaders and bipartisan lawmakers questioned North Carolina's direction in charter school policy at a press conference last Tuesday. The press conference came on the deadline for the state's application for federal Race to the Top funds.
Darrell Allison, President of Parents for Educational Freedom in North Carolina, said the state’s Race to the Top application would be jeopardized by its lack of focus on charter schools. Allison pointed to states such as Massachusetts and Rhode Island, where lawmakers recently held special legislative sessions to reform charter school laws ahead of the deadline.
“North Carolina, we fear, could lose the chance to secure these precious funds due to a lack of growth in charter school policy," Allison said. "Instead of racing to the top for this critical funding, is North Carolina, in fact, racing to the bottom?”
In a recent state-by-state review of charter school laws, The National Alliance for Public Charter Schools ranked North Carolina 32nd of 40, citing the state's restrictive cap, difficult operational processes and inadequate facilities' support as problematic.
"We argued that the Department of Education should bounce North Carolina's application back for the first round of funding in April," said Todd Ziebarth, Vice President of Policy for the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools. "The charter community stands ready to work with the state for that second round."
Last week's press conference marked the beginning of a public awareness campaign for public charter schools in the state. The campaign, which involves media engagement and legislative tours of charter schools, will continue until at least April, when the U.S. Department of Education makes its decision for the first phase of the Race to the Top funds.
"Instead of public charter school leaders coming here to the Capitol, we are working to arrange multiple tours across this state where lawmakers can visit public charter schools in their very own districts," Allison said.
North Carolina Senator Larry Shaw (D-Cumberland) voiced his support for public charter schools, emphasizing that North Carolina must remain competitive in tough economic times. "How can we afford to leave $400 million on the table?" asked Shaw. "I'm here today because I think the governor needs to call us back in for a special session."
Other speakers included Grova Bridgers, former Director of the North Carolina Office of Public Charter Schools, North Carolina Senator Eddie Goodall (R-Mecklenberg, Union), who recently was elected as President of the North Carolina Alliance for Public Charter Schools, and Richard Vinroot, former mayor of Charlotte and current Board Chairman for Sugar Creek Charter School in Charlotte. Sugar Creek, which serves a student base that is 87% economically disadvantaged and 100% minority, is in its seventh year of meeting performance standards, even out-performing traditional public schools in the Charlotte Mecklenburg system.
Vinroot argued that traditional public school systems have been unfairly failing to share funds and properly administer the law. "I come at this problem hoping we get those [Race to the Top] funds," said Vinroot. "And when we do, I hope we share them."
