NC Board of Education approves 12 new charter schools
The State Board of Education gave initial approval Thursday to 12 new charter schools to open next year, while rejecting two applicants and requesting further review of another four applicants.
The new charter schools, which still need final approval to open in the 2016-17 school year, include three in Wake County – Cardinal Charter Academy at Knightdale, Central Wake Charter High School and Peak Charter Academy.
Charter schools receive tax money but are exempt from some regulations traditional public schools must follow. There are 146 open now in North Carolina, with 15 more slated to open in August.
The state board rejected applications from Charlotte Classical School in Mecklenburg County and Town Center Charter High in Gaston.
The state board referred Pine Springs Preparatory Academy in Wake County and Cape Fear Preparatory Academy in New Hanover County to the Charter School Advisory Board to investigate allegations of grade tampering in Florida surrounding both schools’ management company – Newpoint Education Partners.
Capital City Charter High School in Wake County and Unity Classical School in Mecklenburg County were also referred to the advisory board. The advisory board had wanted to delay an official recommendation on Capital City Charter until January, but state board members say they can’t wait that long.
The advisory board will make recommendations on the four schools in June; the state board, in August.
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This story was originally published June 4, 2015 at 1:23 PM with the headline "NC Board of Education approves 12 new charter schools."