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North Carolina’s rapidly growing charter sector has garnered some media attention lately. In case you missed it, the Coalition compiled comments and coverage in a press release last week.
From the Coalition’s release:
… Carolina Journal published a story (“NC charter schools remain fastest growing K-12 segment”) with insights from a public charter school parent: “[My wife and I] saw increased parent engagement, which helped them to be more involved [with] their kids’ learning,” Jerry Cooper, a father of two from Raleigh, told the outlet. “We also found charters to be deeply connected to the community.”
… The News & Observer published a story about strong demand for public charter school facilities: “Statewide, charter school enrollment is expected to eclipse 145,000 students this year, according to the state Department of Public Instruction, as several schools are expanding to accommodate some of the more than 85,000 students on waiting lists. . .’There is demand like never before,’ said Bartley Danielsen, a member of the Charter [Schools] Review Board.”
Lindalyn Kakadelis, executive director of the N.C. Coalition for Charter Schools, said,
Public charter schools continue to surge in popularity, complementing traditional public schools by offering innovative curricula enabling students to specialize in certain fields. Charter schools are a successful piece of the school choice landscape because of the flexibility afforded them by legislators.
In 2023-24, charter school waitlists included over 85,000 students across North Carolina.
