Achievement School District clears General Assembly

RALEIGH, NC (AP) – A plan to hand over struggling North Carolina elementary schools to charter operators is headed to Gov. Pat McCrory’s desk despite outcry from educators and local school boards who call it a takeover.

The House passed the Senate version of a bill Wednesday to create a five-school Achievement School District pilot program for schools that have shown consistently poor growth and performance.

A State Board of Education-appointed superintendent could choose charter companies with proven success to run the schools. The companies would have hiring and firing powers and would be exempt from oversight and evaluations from local school boards.

Supporters call the measure an innovative attempt to better serve children at failing schools. Opponents say it takes power from local schools and ignores poverty issues that cause poor test scores.

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