Charter Leaders,
“That’s where the birthday present comes in. On that very same day, June 1, the state’s second “Race to the Top” federal funds application will contain news to the Arne Duncan team that our state will have finally passed a bill to increase the charter school cap! That number will be a minimum of 106, as in House Bill 856 passed by the House and sent to the Senate last year, but may be more to add some spice to the application.” (NC Alliance April 7, 2010)
As I told you in April we will lift the cap before June 1. Sen. Ed Jones, a Democrat, has filed SB 1227, which would lift the cap to 106. It also will require a minimum number of “free and reduced lunch” students be enrolled at each of the new charters.
This bill does not have the onerous academic thresholds regarding closure that 2009’s HB 856 did. The bill came out of a study committee and I discussed this with the committee co-chair a few months ago but I thought 856 would be the vehicle.
Of course the bill needs to be passed first but this is the first Democrat filed charter cap bill. I had filed many similar bills, but not means tested, each long session since 2005.
At any rate I’ll tell you more tomorrow.
