Advocates of the state's charter schools say the schools should get a share of state lottery revenues just like more traditional public schools will receive once a lottery is in operation.

Representatives of about 20 schools plan to hold a news conference this week to promote their position. The first games in the new state lottery are expected to start in the spring.

"Our goal is to say that, as additional pots of money come along, charter schools are seen as legitimate recipients for public school money because we are public schools," said Jackie Williams, executive director of Evergreen Community Charter School in Asheville.

"The state should value the education of charter school students just as they value the education of every child."

Charter schools receive state money and are privately operated and don't have to abide by many rules governing other state secondary schools. There are 100 charter schools in North Carolina.

About $350 million of lottery proceeds are expected to go to public schools to pay for a preschool program and reduce class sizes.

Todd Ziebarth of the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools said North Carolina is the only state that treats charter schools differently in distributing lottery revenue.

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