The North Carolina Charter Schools Review Board renewed 18 charter schools despite worries about their academic performance.
Raleigh: The North Carolina Charter Schools Review Board met recently and decided to renew 18 charter schools for another ten years. This happened even though some board members raised concerns about the academic performance of these schools.
One board member, Shelly Slope, expressed her discomfort with giving long renewals to schools that are performing at a D level. She mentioned that while they have to follow the law, it doesn’t feel right to her.
This isn’t the first time this topic has come up. Last year, another member, Alex Quigley, questioned why schools needed such long renewal periods.
Some board members pointed out that the renewal process can be expensive for both the schools and the state, especially with the growing number of charter schools.
To get a ten-year renewal, schools must show that their students’ academic results over the last three years are on par with those in the local district. They also need to pass financial audits and comply with state and federal laws.
Piedmont Classical High School in Guilford County was initially set for a seven-year renewal due to one year of poor performance. However, they got a ten-year renewal after showing good growth for three years in a row.
The board decided to delay votes for Doral Academy in Raleigh and Washington Montessori in Beaufort County because they hadn’t submitted their required audits yet.
Four other schools received five-year renewals, while ten schools were granted three-year renewals due to ongoing issues or financial noncompliance.
Durham’s Community School of Digital & Visual Art didn’t get renewed because of problems with financial management and governance.
They also looked into United Community School in Charlotte, which had defaulted on small business loans. A DPI official raised concerns about this, emphasizing the need for careful financial monitoring.
The decision for United Community School was postponed until they can provide more information.
Interestingly, Haliwa-Saponi Tribal School in Halifax County received a three-year renewal despite its low academic performance. The board recognized the school’s cultural importance to the community, which played a big role in their decision.
Board member Bartley Danielsen highlighted how vital this school is for the tribal community, showing that cultural significance can influence these decisions.
