Charter school oversight change gets final legislative OK

RALEIGH, NC (AP) — The General Assembly has agreed to change the laws governing the oversight and approval of North Carolina’s rapidly growing charter schools.

The Senate voted Tuesday for a compromise measure reached with the House. The House approved it Monday. The bill now goes to Gov. Pat McCrory’s desk.

The legislation makes clear that state charter school office is supervised and controlled by the State Board of Education and that its executive director is chosen by the board. Some charter school advocates contend these alternative public schools haven’t been as well received with the office under the watch of the Department of Public Instruction.

The bill also mandates the State Board of Education must renew charters for 10 years, with some exceptions for financial and academic shortcomings.

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