More than 500 gathered for a rally at the General Assembly today to press state lawmakers to remove a cap that limits the number of charter schools in the state 100.

Backers, including students from Hope Elementary in Raleigh, said that allowing charter schools to flourish would alleviate overcrowding in traditional public schools and provide more and better specialized learning opportunities, including for at-risk, special-needs and minority students.

"One of the accusations constantly made by teachers unions is that charter schools don't educate a broad variety of children from different socio-economic backgrounds and races," said Dallas Woodhouse, a spokesman for the North Carolina chapter of Americans for Prosperity, a national group based in Washington D.C. that promotes conservative agendas such as limited government. "What we wanted to do today is to show people the truth."

The rally at the legislature followed an open-house tour for media and prospective parents at Hope Elementary, which specializes in educating at-risk children, most of whom are African American.

The day's events were organized by Hope Elementary and the North Carolina League of Charter Schools as part of the National Charter Schools Week.

There are about 29,000 charter-school students in the state, according the North Carolina League of Charter Schools, part of a national association.

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