We’re so pleased to share two new videos filmed during our recent 2026 Charter Advocacy Summit! Many thanks to the speakers and school leaders whose remarks or interviews are reflected in these videos.
We’re grateful to Aaron Griffin of Griffin Wing Productions for his work producing these videos!
Read our full Summit recap here.
The color guard team from Paul R. Brown Leadership Academy performs at the beginning of the 2026 Summit.
It was wonderful to see so many of you at our Charter Advocacy Summit this week at the Raleigh Marriott Crabtree Valley Hotel! We had a great time talking with you at the kick-off reception on Tuesday as well. 
(You can see Dave Machado, the Coalition’s executive director, making remarks at that event in the photo at the left.)
The next day at the Advocacy Summit, we heard from a fantastic line-up of speakers and panelists. We’ll share a more comprehensive update in the coming days–along with videos capturing event footage and interviews–but we wanted to share a few rapid turnaround highlights below.
We had another sold-out crowd this year, with around 300 people registered for the Summit (including attendees, speakers, sponsors, and staff/volunteers). This is a new Summit record! We’re so grateful so many of you wanted to come out this year and hear about the importance of charter school advocacy.
It was remarkable to see so many charter schools represented in Raleigh this year at our Summit. Last year, 89 charter schools were represented at the Summit. We celebrate this impressive growth and expanded reach of the charter advocacy message to more North Carolina charter schools.
North Carolina Lt. Governor Rachel Hunt speaks at the Summit.
Hayley Sanon of the U.S. Department of Education shares opening remarks.
… as well as numerous other talented speakers, panelists, and moderators. See them listed out by session in the Summit agenda.
We also want to thank our hard-working volunteers who helped with set-up, registration, and other event logistics. This year’s volunteers included Kim Campbell, Amelia Schneider, Shae Faraday, and Tammy Heuts.
Attendees gather at the kick-off reception on Tuesday, March 24.
Attendees listen to a Summit session on Wednesday, March 25.
The regulatory/legal panel addresses the Summit. From left to right: Moderator Jonathan Bryant and panelists Steven Walker, John Eldridge, Bruce Friend, and Matthew Tilley.
Finally, we share some Summit resources below.*This post has been updated since publication.
The Coalition is pleased to welcome GoodLife Communications as a 2026 Champion sponsor of our upcoming Charter Advocacy Summit. GoodLife provided us with critical communications/ audio-visual assistance at last year’s sold-out Charter Advocacy Summit, and they plan to do so again this year. They are an important part of our Summit team!GoodLife Communications in Ladson, South Carolina, assists with technology integration and network infrastructures like wireless WiFi, laptops, firewall security, video surveillance, smart boards, and VOIP. Our company works with schools and universities as well as public and private companies to provide innovative technology solutions that allow them to do more work with greater efficiency.
Contact GoodLife Communications today for technology solutions that can benefit your charter school! Reach them at 800.295.7202 or info@
We’re continuing our deep dive segments around panels at our upcoming Charter Advocacy Summit on March 25. Today, we share an overview of our panel on Charter Schools Review Board (CSRB) trends and your school.
You won’t want to miss this important and informative panel featuring three CSRB members as panelists, along with Ashley Logue, the head of the Office of Charter Schools (OCS). Another CSRB member, Shelly Shope, will moderate the panel. We share more details about what you can expect below!
What are Charter Schools Review Board (CSRB) members seeing as they speak with and hear from the state’s charter leaders? In this highly informative panel, leaders from the CSRB and the North Carolina Office of Charter Schools (OCS) will spotlight and discuss recent charter school trends in North Carolina.
Our panelists will also share what YOU can expect for your school and the state’s charter movement regarding renewals, applications, expansions, remote academies, and more.
Panelists include:
Moderator: Shelly Shope, Vice Chair, Coalition Board of Directors; Member, CSRB; CEO, Pinnacle Classical Academy
You won’t want to miss this timely and informative discussion with the state leaders who discuss and approve charter school renewals and amendments!
Above photo: Shutterstock
Attendees at last year’s Summit
This week we’re sharing deep dive segments around panels at our upcoming Charter Advocacy Summit on March 25. In this post, we share an overview of our panel addressing local funding challenges and opportunities–featuring some of the state’s most resourceful charter school leaders.
Local funding issues continue to present challenges, but recent developments—including a 2023 law that the Coalition worked to pass (House Bill 219/Session Law 2023-107)—are opening up promising funding opportunities for charter school operators.
House Bill 219, for instance, allows charter schools to request facility funding by direct appropriation from county commissioners. Funding purposes, according to the law, can include the “acquisition, construction, reconstruction, enlargement, renovation, or replacement” of buildings, libraries, auditoriums, and gymnasiums. Did you know that county funds can also go to acquire or replace items such as furniture, technology, or data processing equipment?
Since the law’s passage, some charter leaders have worked successfully to build relationships with their county commissioners and secure county funding for their schools.
In this Summit panel, several innovative charter leaders will share their approach to addressing local funding challenges—and maximizing it for approved charter purposes. They’ll outline ways you can build relationships with your county commissioners, request facility funding, and optimize your school’s appropriated fund balance.
Moderator: Gregg Sinders, North Carolina Development Director for Charter One; Board Member, Pine Springs Preparatory Academy; Treasurer, Coalition Board of Directors
Book your hotel room here ($169/night). Early bird registration ends in one week, so don’t wait to register!
Dave Machado, the Coalition’s executive director, speaks at last year’s Summit.
We’re sharing deep dive segments around panels at our upcoming Charter Advocacy Summit on March 25. Today, we share an overview of our panel explaining the new regulatory and legal landscape for charter schools. We’re so pleased to offer this panel at this year’s Summit–and provide expert input from the state’s top charter school legal and policy experts.
Recent laws have reconfigured the regulatory and legal landscape for North Carolina charter schools. What has changed for charter schools—and how can school leaders ensure compliance in this evolving regulatory environment?
During this panel, you’ll gain important insights directly from the state’s top legal minds and charter policy experts. Our panelists will interpret law and policy for you, sharing how you can ensure compliance and understand what has changed in the new regulatory environment. You’ll learn which policies and regulations pertain to charter schools, and which do not.
Summit attendees will also hear a deep explainer about new session law (Senate Bill 254/Session Law 2025-80), which requires Charter Schools Review Board (CSRB) approval for any rule or policy impacting charter schools. This law represents a huge win for charter school oversight and autonomy, and our panelists will help you understand how it benefits charter schools.
Moderator: Jonathan Bryant, Chair, Coalition Board of Directors; Chief Administrator, Lincoln Charter School
Book your hotel room here ($169/night). Early bird registration ends in one week, so don’t wait to register!
Over 240 charter stakeholders convened last February for the Coalition’s most recent Summit.
We’re very excited to share our new 2026 Summit invite with you. Access it here or by clicking on the invite image below. We’re pleased to see spots filling up–so don’t wait to register!
You’ll also hear from state policymakers, industry experts, and the Coalition’s own Government Relations Team. Below, we share bios for two confirmed Summit speakers.
Rachel Hunt began her career as an attorney in domestic law, helping families navigate complex challenges through mediation and practical problem‐solving. Seeing a need for greater support in education, she later founded Hunt for College, LLC, a consulting firm that guided students and parents through the college application process.
During the years she stepped back from full‐time work to focus on raising her children, Rachel remained deeply engaged in her community. She spent more than a decade volunteering with Charlotte‐Mecklenburg Schools and serving on the boards of several nonprofit organizations.
Her commitment to public service led her to seek elected office, where she served in the state legislature and worked to support the people and communities she represented in Charlotte. Today, as the 36th Lieutenant Governor of North Carolina, she brings forward the values instilled in her by her parents, former Governor Jim and Carolyn Hunt—service, integrity, and a belief in the power of education.
Rachel’s career reflects a lifelong dedication to strengthening schools, supporting families, and building thriving communities. As Lieutenant Governor, she has launched her Future‐Ready North Carolina agenda to address the child care crisis, bolster community colleges, and invest in workforce development—ensuring a strong and prosperous future for our state.
As you likely know, Lt. Governor Rachel Hunt also serves on the North Carolina State Board of Education. What you may not know is that she served on the board of her son’s charter school. You can see a longer bio for Lt. Governor Hunt here.
Hayley Sanon most recently served as the K-12 Education Policy Advisor for the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee. Previously, she was the Program Manager of the American Enterprise Institute’s Conservative Education Reform Network. She started her career in education as a 7th grade math teacher in Greensboro, NC. She holds an M. Ed. in Education Policy and Management from the Harvard Graduate School of Education and a B.A. in Public Policy and Political Science, with a minor in Education, from Duke University. She is a proud North Carolina native, born and raised in Winston-Salem.
In addition to sharing remarks, Ms. Sanon will also take questions from the audience. You won’t want to miss this opportunity to hear more about the national K-12 landscape and what’s next for charter schools–as well as where charter schools fit, given the recent restructuring of the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education with the U.S. Department of Labor. We’re also so pleased that Ms. Sanon is a former teacher and North Carolina native!
See the Department of Education’s fact sheet outlining the interagency agreement with the Department of Labor.
*Multiple attendee discount: For every two leaders who register from each member school, a third leader may attend for free.
*Membership incentive: Charter schools that join the Coalition before February 24 will receive the member discount on registration.
Learn more about the Advocacy Summit or the Coalition.
The Coalition is proud to welcome Durham-based Hubrich Contracting as a 2026 Champion-level Summit sponsor! We share an introduction from Hubrich below.Hubrich Contracting is a charter school–focused real estate development and construction firm specializing in full-service facility delivery. Known for innovation in the construction industry, Hubrich streamlines financing, design, and construction into a cohesive, efficient process that prioritizes quality, speed to market, and cost-effectiveness. From early infrastructure planning through final occupancy, their team partners with school leaders to deliver functional, future-ready educational spaces.
Research consistently shows a strong connection between well-designed school facilities and improved student outcomes. Factors such as lighting, air quality, and thoughtful classroom environments contribute to stronger academic performance and positive student behavior. Hubrich works closely with school leadership teams to design and construct facilities that not only meet enrollment and operational needs but also foster optimal learning conditions.
Durham Charter School’s new campus. Courtesy of Hubrich Contracting.
The Coalition’s 2025 Charter Advocacy Summit (pictured above) featured a sold-out crowd of over 240 attendees.
Please plan to join us for the Coalition’s upcoming Charter Advocacy Summit, taking place in Raleigh, NC, on March 24-25, 2026. This year’s Summit theme is “From Policy to Possibility: Navigating the New Charter Landscape.”
Summit registration is open now! We encourage you to register soon: Last year’s Summit sold out. REGISTER HERE.
Charter schools face a new policy landscape in North Carolina, and we’re here to help you navigate it! Join other charter leaders, industry experts, vendors, and lawmakers for the Coalition’s fourth annual Charter Advocacy Summit. We’ll bring the experts directly to you, helping you position your school for continued success!
Evening Reception with State Lawmakers
5:30 to 7:30 PM, Tuesday, March 24, 2026
2026 Charter Advocacy Summit
8:00 AM to 3:30 PM, Wednesday, March 25, 2026
Event Venue for the Reception and Summit
Raleigh Marriott Crabtree Valley Hotel – Raleigh, North Carolina
Coalition Member Schools
*Multiple attendee discount: For every two leaders who register from each member school, a third leader may attend for free.
Non-Member Schools
*Membership incentive: Charter schools that join the Coalition before February 24, 2026, will receive the member discount on Summit registration.
The Coalition is delighted to welcome Creovia as a Champion sponsor of our 2026 Summit. We share an introductory article from Creovia, a K-12 education technology provider, about its services below.
Creovia: Data Clarity for K-12 Leaders
You have enough data. The real challenge is that critical information sits disconnected in separate systems, from Infinite Campus and state testing to behavior platforms and finance software. This fragmentation makes it difficult to spot at-risk student trends early and support your teachers with confidence.
The Solution is Connection
Creovia is K-12 software built to connect your data. We unify your student, academic, and financial information in one platform. This means you gain clear, actionable insight and visibility into what’s working, where support is needed, and how to improve outcomes.
Meet the Creovia Ecosystem
- Magnify: Custom dashboards that reveal trends and risk indicators using all your connected data.
- Perform: Streamlined employee evaluations and centralized feedback.
- Directory: A customizable staff and student directory with permission management.
- Ride: Simplify carline and dispatch with live dismissal tracking and smart routing.
- Announce: Send targeted messages to families or staff in seconds.
- XLCompare: A data reconciliation tool for essential reporting (like ADM to NCDPI).
At Creovia, our mission is to empower your schools with technology to help you focus on what matters most: the student. Learn more by calling 480.452.2470 or contacting Cody Pride at cody@creovia.io.
© 2026 North Carolina Coalition for Charter Schools.
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