GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 2005

S                                                                                                                                                     1

SENATE BILL 490

Short Title:     Charter Schools Managed Growth Act.		(Public)
Sponsors:	Senators Shaw,  Goodall; Apodaca, Berger of Rockingham, Bingham, Brock, East, Forrester, Horton, Hunt, Jacumin, Pittenger, Presnell, and Stevens.
Referred to:	Education/Higher Education.

March 15, 2005

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT to enact the charter schools managed growth act.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.  The General Assembly finds that raising the cap of the number of charter schools would preserve eligibility for continued federal funding of six million two hundred thousand dollars ($6,200,000); therefore, G.S. 115C-238.29D(b) reads as rewritten:

"(b)      The State Board shall authorize no more than five charter schools per year in one local school administrative unit. The Prior to July 1, 2005, the State Board shall authorize no more than 100 charter schools statewide.statewide; beginning July 1, 2005, the State Board may authorize up to 10 additional charter schools each year. If more than five charter schools in one local school administrative unit or more than 100 the maximum number of schools authorized statewide meet the standards for final approval, the State Board shall give priority to applications that are most likely to further State education policies and to strengthen the educational program offered in the local school administrative units in which they are located."

SECTION 2.  G.S. 115C-238.29I(d) reads as rewritten:

"(d)      The State Board of Education may shall establish a Charter School Advisory Committee consisting of 15 members to assist with the implementation of this Part. Eight of the 15 members shall be selected from current charter school board members, current or former charter school administrators and teachers, and representatives of the League of Charter Schools, Inc. The Charter School Advisory Committee may (i) provide technical assistance to chartering entities or to potential applicants, (ii) review applications for preliminary approval, (iii) make recommendations as to whether the State Board should approve applications for charter schools, (iv) make recommendations as to whether the State Board should terminate or not renew a charter, (v) make recommendations concerning grievances between a charter school and its chartering entity, the State Board, or a local board, (vi) assist with the review under subsection (c) of this section, and (vii) provide any other assistance as may be required by the State Board."

SECTION 3.  The General Assembly finds that North Carolina could be eligible to receive millions in federal dollars designated for charter school facilities if counties were permitted to provide funds to charter schools to meet federal matching requirements; therefore, G.S. 153A-149(c) is amended by adding a new subdivision to read:

"(9a) Charter Schools. - To provide funds to charter schools located within the county that have operated for at least two years for the operations or capital expenses of the charter schools."

SECTION 4.  This act is effective when it becomes law.