Tensions rise over NC charter school rejections
MORE INFORMATION
- Bill: Charters must disclose salaries
- NC panel approves 11 charters; rejects 60 others
THE PLAYERS
For-profit management companies that applied to open N.C. charter schools in 2015-16. Find all applications atwww.ncpublicschools.org/charterschools.
• Charter Schools USA: Based in Florida, the company operates 58 schools in seven states, including Langtree Charter Academy in Mooresville and Cabarrus Charter Academy in Concord. It applied to open nine schools in 2015; the state advisory board approved none. Details:www.charterschoolsusa.com.
• National Heritage Academies: Based in Michigan, the company operates 76 schools in nine states, including Queens Grant in Mint Hill. It applied to open three new schools, including one in Matthews. The advisory board approved one, in Greenville. Details: www.nhaschools.com.
• Accelerated Learning Solutions: Operates 21 Florida charter schools that focus on dropout prevention and recovery. Has been approved to open two schools in Charlotte, one in August and another delayed to 2015. Applied to add three new schools; the advisory board approved none. Details:www.als-education.com.
• Connections Education: The virtual education arm of Pearson education company, it won the advisory board’s approval to open a statewide virtual charter school for grades 6-12. Details:www.connectionseducation.com.
• K12 Virtual Schools: Also applied to open a statewide virtual charter school; the advisory board rejected the plan. Details: www.k12.com.
A state screening board’s recent decision to reject most charter school applications has sparked tension over the role private management companies should play in public education.
The N.C. Charter School Advisory Board approved only 11 of the 71 applications filed to open schools in 2015. That’s fewer than half the number approved for 2014, with a similar number of applications.
The board rejected 15 of the 17 applications from for-profit management companies. Board member Alan Hawkes of Greensboro, appointed by Senate leader Phil Berger, sent an email Monday chastising other members for being “judgmental and punitive” in rejecting plans that would have expanded charter enrollment.
“The plan was to have operators come into the state like they did in Louisiana and other states and quickly affect the public school choice landscape for the better and in quantity,” said Hawkes, a founding board member of two Guilford County charter schools run by the for-profit National Heritage Academies.
In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, most New Orleans public schools were replaced by charter schools, which currently serve about 90 percent of the city’s students. Hawkes said Friday that he doesn’t expect numbers like that in North Carolina but wants to see charter enrollment grow quickly and significantly.
Cheryl Turner, a Charlotte charter school director who also serves on the board, says Hawkes’ view will erode support for North Carolina’s charter school movement.
“Who in the world is going to agree to kill the public school system by bringing in private companies?” said Turner, director of Sugar Creek Charter School. “North Carolinians aren’t bigTensions rise over NC charter school rejections | CharlotteObserver.com: