{"id":2511523,"date":"2025-11-17T15:11:01","date_gmt":"2025-11-17T20:11:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/tighter-standards-considered-for-approving-charter-school-openings\/"},"modified":"2025-11-17T15:13:24","modified_gmt":"2025-11-17T20:13:24","slug":"tighter-standards-considered-for-approving-charter-school-openings","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/tighter-standards-considered-for-approving-charter-school-openings\/","title":{"rendered":"Tighter standards considered for approving charter school openings"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">16<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Ftighter-standards-considered-for-approving-charter-school-openings%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2511523&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>North Carolina is considering tightening the standards for approving new <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/how-texans-can-honor-veterans-in-thanksgiving-season\/\" title=\"How Texans can honor veterans in Thanksgiving season\">charter school openings<\/a> due to notable discrepancies between projected and actual student enrollment, with some schools enrolling up to 40% fewer students than expected. Ashley Logue, executive director of the state&#8217;s Office of Charter Schools, noted that some charter sponsors have &#8220;unrealistic optimism&#8221; about enrollment figures. Historically, <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >summer enrollment numbers reliably predicted fall attendance<\/a>, but with the introduction of expanded school choice-including a $463 million Opportunity Scholarship program and global school choice enacted in 2023-enrollment trends have shifted, leading to lower numbers for some charters. This decline poses financial challenges for schools, as state funding is tied to enrollment.in 2023, one school closed mid-year after failing to meet minimum student requirements. In response, the North Carolina Charter Review Board will consider proposals for stricter &#8220;ready to open&#8221; criteria, including moving up the final approval review date from June to May, to better monitor and support new charter schools before opening. The state currently has 213 charter schools, with about 15 new applications annually, and education remains the largest component of North Carolina&#8217;s state budget at $17.9 billion for fiscal year 2024-25.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Tighter standards considered for approving new charter school openings<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2404366\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>(The Center Square) &ndash; <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/north-carolina\/\">North Carolina<\/a> is considering tighter standards for approving new <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/charter-schools\/\">charter<\/a> school openings after enrollment in some schools has fallen 40% below projections.<\/p>\n<p>School charter school sponsors in some cases have &ldquo;unrealistic optimism&rdquo; over how many students will enroll, Ashley Logue, executive director of the state&rsquo;s Office of Charter Schools, told The Center Square.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/3889449\/acting-fema-chief-steps-down-before-expected-ousting\/\">Acting FEMA chief steps down before expected ousting<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/3889575\/governor-doubtful-about-wisconsin-anti-grooming-legislation\/\">Governor doubtful about Wisconsin anti-grooming legislation<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/house\/3889356\/eric-swalwell-supports-fbi-security-kash-patel-girlfriend-asks-for-own\/\">Swalwell supports FBI security for Patel&#8217;s girlfriend and asks for his own<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s one of those things you can&rsquo;t necessarily measure,&rdquo; she said of a school&rsquo;s opening enrollment numbers.<\/p>\n<p>In previous years, the number of students enrolled over the summer was usually an accurate indicator of how many students would attend in the fall.<\/p>\n<p>But now with more choices for students, the final enrollment numbers in charter schools are trending lower in some cases, Logue said. The appropriation of&nbsp;<a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thecentersquare.com\/north_carolina\/article_5f0e2e6e-a780-11ef-a71c-47c6f76b1fe9.html\">$463 million to the Opportunity Scholarship program became law<\/a>&nbsp;a year ago in November when the General Assembly rejected a gubernatorial veto. This move cleared a waiting list of about 55,000 students.<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thecentersquare.com\/north_carolina\/article_fdba69ec-5984-11ee-be07-d35a72f1d88d.html\">Universal school choice<\/a>&nbsp;&ndash; North Carolina became the 10th state to implement, and first without a state government Republican trifecta &ndash; was enacted Oct. 3, 2023, as part of the&nbsp;<a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ncleg.gov\/BillLookUp\/2023\/h259\">2023 Appropriations Act<\/a>. Also known as the state budget, it became law after a 10-day period without then-Gov. Roy Cooper signing it. The biennial spending plan was also tied to expansion of Medicaid.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;What we&rsquo;re seeing is that schools are not able to gain the number of students in the summer months as they previously were able to,&rdquo; Logue told the Charter Review Board. &ldquo;Schools are really going to have to pivot and figure out ways of managing that.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>With lower enrollment comes less state funding, which means a charter school opening with fewer students than expected could <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/us-birthrate-continues-decline-should-government-encourage-having-babies\/\" title=\"US Birthrate Continues Decline; Should Government Encourage Having Babies?\">face financial troubles<\/a>, Logue said.<\/p>\n<p>In 2023, one charter school, the School of the Arts for Boys Academy in Chatham County, had to close halfway through its first year after its enrollment dropped below the required state minimum of 80. On average, charter schools end up enrolling about 13% fewer students than projected but some are as high as 40%-50% less.<\/p>\n<p>Next month, the North Carolina Charter Review Board will discuss tighter standards for granting schools &ldquo;ready to open&rdquo; status, Logue said.<\/p>\n<p>The state has 213 charter schools and has been averaging about 15 new applications each year.<\/p>\n<p>Seven charters have been revoked since 2015, with low enrollment an issue in three of those.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Nine schools are scheduled to open in the fall of 2026.<\/p>\n<p>Logue plans to present proposals next month to the Charter Review Board on possible changes to the ready-to-open review standards to account for possible enrollment drops.<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/supreme-court\/3877491\/democrats-hard-fought-redistricting-wins-may-be-for-naught\/\"><strong>WHY DEMOCRATS&rsquo; HARD-FOUGHT REDISTRICTING WINS MAY ALL BE FOR NAUGHT<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>One possible change is moving up the review for final ready-to-open approval from June to May.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;It would give us more time to get those schools in front of you, for you guys to help the schools understand if there are red flags that you are concerned about,&rdquo; Logue told the Review Board.<\/p>\n<p>Taxpayers provide more money for education than any other part of the state budget. For fiscal year 2024-25, the figure was $17.9 billion.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>NC may tighten rules for new charter school approvals<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2869,"featured_media":2511526,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Feat.MagnoliaState3.101525.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651,538],"tags":[54363,5152,49813],"class_list":["post-2511523","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","category-washington-examiner","tag-charter-schools","tag-education","tag-school-policy"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Feat.MagnoliaState3.101525.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2511523","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2869"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2511523"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2511523\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2511528,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2511523\/revisions\/2511528"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2511526"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2511523"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2511523"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2511523"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}