Charter Schools Continue Nationwide Increase

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Charter Schools Continue Nationwide Increase

Special Report - September 26, 2006
The number of charter schools across the country this school year increased by 11 percent over the previous year according to a new survey by the Center for Education Reform. A total of 3,977 charter schools are educating an estimated 1.15 million students in 40 states and the District of Columbia. North Carolina again reached its arbitrary cap of 100 charter schools when the state Board of Education voted to approve six new charters in August. There are 27,949 students in charter schools across the state. Charter schools are public schools governed by independent boards of directors that are free from many of the burdensome regulations placed upon traditional public schools and parents are given more say in the type of curriculum taught to students.

The North Carolina Family Policy Council has been pressing the state legislature to lift the cap on charter schools because they offer parents an additional educational option for their children. The General Assembly, however, has refused to raise or remove the 100-charter cap, which has significantly hindered charter school growth in North Carolina. Bills have been introduced in the General Assembly for several years to increase or remove the cap, but none have been approved.

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