NC Alliance for Public Charter Schools » Press Releases http://www.nccharters.org Advancing Quality Education Thu, 02 Feb 2012 14:30:04 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Alliance Announces Regional Meetings Jan. 25-27; Members, prospective charter school leaders invited to attend free of charge http://www.nccharters.org/2012/01/alliance-announces-regional-meetings-jan-25-27-members-prospective-charter-school-leaders-invited-to-attend-free-of-charge/ http://www.nccharters.org/2012/01/alliance-announces-regional-meetings-jan-25-27-members-prospective-charter-school-leaders-invited-to-attend-free-of-charge/#comments Wed, 11 Jan 2012 14:00:34 +0000 flwilliams1970 http://www.nccharters.org/?p=3458 As part of our new regional approach, the Alliance is holding regional meetings throughout the state January 25 through 27; a schedule of meetings is listed below.  Alliance members and anyone interested in forming a new charter school are invited to attend at no cost.  Businesses and other organizations are invited to sponsor these regional meetings; please contact Karen Valiquett at  As part of our new regional approach, the Alliance is holding regional meetings throughout the state January 25 through 27; a schedule of meetings is listed below.  Alliance members and anyone interested in forming a new charter school are invited to attend at no cost.  Businesses and other organizations are invited to sponsor these regional meetings; please contact Karen Valiquett at communication@nccharters.org for more information.

The meetings will run from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., with a box lunch from 12 p.m. – 1p.m.

Schedule of Meetings:

  • Eastern NC :  Wednesday, January 25 at Charter Day School – 7055 Bacon’s Way, Leland, NC  (map here)
  • Piedmont Triad:  Wednesday, January 25 at Greensboro Academy – 4049 Battleground Ave., Greensboro, NC (map here)
  • Triangle Area:  Thursday, January 26 at East Wake Academy –  400 North M C Drive, Zebulon, NC (map here)
  • Western NC:  Thursday, January 26 at Thomas Jefferson Classical Academy - 2527 US 221a Hwy, Mooresboro, NC (map here)
  • Charlotte Metro:  Friday, January 27 at Union Academy - 675 N M L King Jr Blvd  Monroe, NC (map here)
  • Raleigh-Durham Urban:  Friday, January 27 at Carter Community School – 4100 N. Roxboro St., Durham, NC (map here)

Topics discussed at the meetings may include:

  • Board Governance, Leadership Programs
  • Being the Principal of a Charter School
  • How Does an EMO Work?
  • Financial Management, Accounting and SIMS services
  • Construction and Financing Options
  • Public Relations, Marketing & Website Development
  • Legal Issues
  • Insurance Issues
  • Core Curriculum
  • Interaction with DPI

RSVP REQUESTED:  Please RSVP to  communication@nccharters.org and let us know which regional meeting you plan to attend.

Please contact us with any questions!

]]> http://www.nccharters.org/2012/01/alliance-announces-regional-meetings-jan-25-27-members-prospective-charter-school-leaders-invited-to-attend-free-of-charge/feed/ 0 N.C. Alliance for Public Charter Schools announces new communication partner http://www.nccharters.org/2012/01/n-c-alliance-for-public-charter-schools-announces-new-communication-partner/ http://www.nccharters.org/2012/01/n-c-alliance-for-public-charter-schools-announces-new-communication-partner/#comments Tue, 10 Jan 2012 18:30:14 +0000 flwilliams1970 http://www.nccharters.org/?p=3452 RALEIGH, N.C. – The N.C. Alliance for Public Charter Schools has engaged Pioneer Strategies, Inc. as its new communication partner.  Pioneer Strategies will provide the Alliance with a full range of strategic communication and organizational development services. This new partnership frees the organization’s all-volunteer board to focus on the broad mission of assisting member schools, while delegating functions such as communication, event planning, managing the [...]]]> RALEIGH, N.C. – The N.C. Alliance for Public Charter Schools has engaged Pioneer Strategies, Inc. as its new communication partner.  Pioneer Strategies will provide the Alliance with a full range of strategic communication and organizational development services. This new partnership frees the organization’s all-volunteer board to focus on the broad mission of assisting member schools, while delegating functions such as communication, event planning, managing the Alliance’s online presence and coordinating public relations activities to a respected firm with years of experience handling such activities.  The firm will oversee planning details of the third annual charter school conference and manage the publication of the Alliance’s magazine.  Pioneer Strategies celebrated ten years in business in August 2011 and serves clients throughout North Carolina.

“Because the Alliance is moving toward a more regionalized structure to better serve our member schools, our board saw a need to bring in a strategic communication partner with a wide range of experience and skills,” says Paul Norcross, the Alliance’s Chairman of the Board.  “Pioneer Strategies jumped in head-first on day one, and they have already provided tremendous value to our organization.  Pioneer Strategies is a natural fit, and their team will prove to be a valuable resource to our members as well as those who are seeking to form new public charter schools throughout North Carolina.”

“Public charter schools are an important component of our state’s education system,” says Frank Williams, president and founder of Pioneer Strategies.  “The N.C. Alliance for Public Charter Schools is governed by a strong, capable board of directors, and we look forward to working with them to provide North Carolina’s public charter schools with the services, resources and information they need to excel.”

The N.C. Alliance for Public Charter Schools is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, non-partisan organization with a mission of advancing quality educational opportunities for all North Carolina children by supporting and expanding successful public charter schools.  The Alliance is composed of its member schools, who are served by a volunteer board of directors.  The current board has over a half-century of combined charter school experience and its directors oversee schools that educate more than 15% of all charter students in North Carolina.  For more information, please visit http://nccharters.org.

Pioneer Strategies is a public relations agency that provides businesses, associations and other organizations with strategic public relations counsel and communication services.  The firm’s services and expertise include strategic communication planning, public relations counsel, media relations, website design, social media marketing, corporate identity development, event planning, copywriting and speechwriting.  The agency’s work has been recognized by both the Sir Walter Raleigh Awards for Excellence in Communication and the MarCom Creative Awards.   The firm has worked with more than 90 clients throughout North Carolina since its founding in 2001.  For more information, visit www.pioneerstrategies.com or call 919-833-4345.

]]> http://www.nccharters.org/2012/01/n-c-alliance-for-public-charter-schools-announces-new-communication-partner/feed/ 0 N.C. Alliance for Public Charter Schools adds directors, regional offices; New structure strengthens organization’s ability to serve member schools throughout North Carolina http://www.nccharters.org/2012/01/n-c-alliance-for-public-charter-schools-adds-directors-regional-offices-new-structure-strengthens-organizations-ability-to-serve-member-schools-throughout-north-carolina/ http://www.nccharters.org/2012/01/n-c-alliance-for-public-charter-schools-adds-directors-regional-offices-new-structure-strengthens-organizations-ability-to-serve-member-schools-throughout-north-carolina/#comments Tue, 03 Jan 2012 22:23:34 +0000 Baker Mitchell http://www.nccharters.org/?p=3445 RALEIGH, N.C. – The N.C. Alliance for Public Charter Schools unanimously elected two new directors and made a number of structural changes at the December meeting of its board of directors.  The new directors are Baker Mitchell, a founder of two charter schools who will serve as secretary, and Dave Faunce, a CPA and also a founder of two charter schools, who will serve as [...]]]> RALEIGH, N.C. – The N.C. Alliance for Public Charter Schools unanimously elected two new directors and made a number of structural changes at the December meeting of its board of directors.  The new directors are Baker Mitchell, a founder of two charter schools who will serve as secretary, and Dave Faunce, a CPA and also a founder of two charter schools, who will serve as treasurer.   The Alliance’s volunteer board of directors now has over a half-century of combined charter school experience and has responsibility for educating 15% of charter students in North Carolina.

In addition to electing the two new directors, the Alliance is opening regional offices, adding regional coordinators, and has retained an experienced executive management group in lieu of full-time office personnel.

“We are a member-driven, member-focused organization, and our move toward a less centralized, more regionalized structure strengthens our ability to serve our member schools and respond to their needs,” says Paul Norcross, the Alliance’s Chairman of the Board.  “Our board of directors is excited about the future of public charter schools in North Carolina, and the Alliance looks forward to continuing to serve as the voice for our state’s charter school community.”

Members of the Alliance’s board of directors are:

  • Chair:  Paul Norcross, Phoenix Academy
  • Vice Chair:  Gail Scott Taylor, Carter Community School
  • Secretary:  Baker Mitchell, Charter Day School and Columbus Charter School
  • Treasurer:  Dave Faunce, CPA, Thomas Jefferson Classical Academy and Lake Lure Classical Academy
  • Todd Havican, Union Academy Charter School
  • George Wrenn Ragsdale, Mendenhall Country Day
  • Brandon Smith, East Wake Academy.

The Alliance’s Regional Coordinators are:

  • Eastern North Carolina:  Baker Mitchell
  • Triangle Area:  Brandon Smith
  • Raleigh-Durham Urban Areas:  Gail Scott Taylor
  • Piedmont Triad:  George Wrenn Ragsdale
  • Charlotte Metro:  Todd Havican
  • Western North Carolina:  Dave Faunce.

The Alliance’s Council Chairs are:

  • School Board Council:  Todd Havican
  • School Principal Council:  Brandon Smith

The N.C. Alliance for Public Charter Schools is a 501(c)(3), nonprofit, non-partisan organization with a mission of advancing quality educational opportunities for all North Carolina children by supporting and expanding successful public charter schools.

]]> http://www.nccharters.org/2012/01/n-c-alliance-for-public-charter-schools-adds-directors-regional-offices-new-structure-strengthens-organizations-ability-to-serve-member-schools-throughout-north-carolina/feed/ 0 Facebook Announces 2011 Rutherford Co. Grant Recipients http://www.nccharters.org/2011/10/facebook-announces-2011-rutherford-co-grant-recipients/ http://www.nccharters.org/2011/10/facebook-announces-2011-rutherford-co-grant-recipients/#comments Thu, 27 Oct 2011 14:36:03 +0000 Baker Mitchell http://www.nccharters.org/?p=3188 21 Nonprofits Receive Facebook-Rutherford Community Action Grants to Help County Residents Connect with New Opportunities

Press Invited to Thomas Jefferson Classical Academy at 9am, Rutherford Hospital at 2pm

(Rutherford Co.) – Oct. 27, 2011 – Facebook today announced the recipients of the 2011 Facebook-Rutherford Community Action Grants.  A total of $200,000 will be distributed to 21 county-based nonprofits.  Facebook data center manager George Henry will personally visit [...]]]> 21 Nonprofits Receive Facebook-Rutherford Community Action Grants to Help County Residents Connect with New Opportunities

Press Invited to Thomas Jefferson Classical Academy at 9am, Rutherford Hospital at 2pm

(Rutherford Co.) – Oct. 27, 2011 – Facebook today announced the recipients of the 2011 Facebook-Rutherford Community Action Grants.  A total of $200,000 will be distributed to 21 county-based nonprofits.  Facebook data center manager George Henry will personally visit the nonprofits to deliver a letter of recognition on Thursday and Friday.

“Facebook connects people all over the world, and right here in Rutherford County, it’s very important to us to connect to our community,” said Henry.  “Rutherford County has welcomed and supported us, and Facebook is thrilled to call it home.  Our goal with these grants is to help local organizations make a difference in this community that’s made such a difference to us.”

Members of the press are invited to two of Henry’s visits:

1.) Thomas Jefferson Classical Academy today (Thursday) at 9am: Please meet Headmaster Joe Maimone at the Academy’s high school office (the yellow building at the corner of Ellenboro/Henrietta Rd. and Hwy 221A).  The Academy’s address is 2527 Highway 221A, Mooresboro, NC, 28114.    $25,000 recipient

2.) Rutherford Hospital Foundation and Rutherford Regional Medical Center today (Thursday) at 2pm: Henry will deliver two grant awards to Rutherford County’s major hospital to foster connectivity and fund a fetal monitoring system (respectively). The hospital’s address is 288 S. Ridgecrest Avenue, Rutherfordton, NC  28139.   $25,000 recipient

A local committee helped review and evaluate the applications, including Commission Chair Bill Eckler, Forest City Mayor Dennis Tarlton, Outgoing Economic Development Director Tom Johnson, United Way Director Faye Hassell, Isothermal Community College President Myra Johnson and Main Street Financial’s Diane Warner.

Information on the next cycle of Facebook community grants will be announced in the first half of 2012.  All eligible organizations are welcome to apply, whether or not they received grants in this round.

The 2011 grant recipients — which will each be showcased on Facebook’s Rutherford County data center page starting the first week of November — are:

Bill’s Creek Volunteer Fire Department
Communities in Schools of Rutherford County, Inc
Family Resources of Rutherford County
Forest City Fire Department
The Foundation Performing Arts & Conference Center, Isothermal Community College
Hickory Nut Gorge EMS
Isothermal Basic Skills Program
KidSenses Children’s Interactive Museum
Lake Lure Classical Academy
Lake Lure Fire and Rescue
Norris Public Library
Pinnacle Elementary School
Rutherford Early College High School
Rutherford County Library
Rutherford Hospital Foundation
Rutherford Regional Medical Center & PANGAEA Internet
Shiloh-Danieltown-Oakland Volunteer Fire Department
Sunshine Elementary School
Technology Enhanced Learning, Isothermal Community College
Thomas Jefferson Classical Academy
Union Mills Learning Center

]]> http://www.nccharters.org/2011/10/facebook-announces-2011-rutherford-co-grant-recipients/feed/ 1 Note for high schools…”Career & College Promise” http://www.nccharters.org/2011/10/note-for-high-schools-career-college-promise/ http://www.nccharters.org/2011/10/note-for-high-schools-career-college-promise/#comments Tue, 11 Oct 2011 19:14:46 +0000 Baker Mitchell http://www.nccharters.org/?p=3121 Governor Perdue’s Career and College Promise initiative, which was adopted by the General Assembly and begins in January 2012, will provide students with a remarkable opportunity to accomplish up to two years of college credit while in high school. In detail, the initiative will provide eligible high school students an opportunity to achieve 30 hours of college transfer credit through North Carolina’s Community Colleges while [...]]]> Governor Perdue’s Career and College Promise initiative, which was adopted by the General Assembly and begins in January 2012, will provide students with a remarkable opportunity to accomplish up to two years of college credit while in high school. In detail, the initiative will provide eligible high school students an opportunity to achieve 30 hours of college transfer credit through North Carolina’s Community Colleges while in high school or 18-48 hours of CTE credit leading to an entry-level job credential or an associate’s degree or two years of college credit. The State Board of Education approved policies regarding this initiative at its meeting last week. The State Board of Community Colleges will take action on its part later this month. For many North Carolina students who may see college as out of reach, this initiative will show them that college is in reach. This is exciting news for our state and our public school families. Regards, June Atkinson

]]> http://www.nccharters.org/2011/10/note-for-high-schools-career-college-promise/feed/ 0 Have charter educators applied for the The Kenan Fellows Program? http://www.nccharters.org/2011/09/the-kenan-fellows-program-for-curriculum-and-leadership-development/ http://www.nccharters.org/2011/09/the-kenan-fellows-program-for-curriculum-and-leadership-development/#comments Mon, 26 Sep 2011 14:05:52 +0000 Baker Mitchell http://www.nccharters.org/?p=3010 To learn more about the program, available for all of NC’s public school teachers, please click this link to view the PDF: About the Program2010-07-07 or call Eddie Goodall at 704-236-1234.

]]> To learn more about the program, available for all of NC’s public school teachers, please click this link to view the PDF: About the Program2010-07-07 or call Eddie Goodall at 704-236-1234.

]]> http://www.nccharters.org/2011/09/the-kenan-fellows-program-for-curriculum-and-leadership-development/feed/ 0 “Prime Time Charter School” http://www.nccharters.org/2011/09/prime-time-charter-school/ http://www.nccharters.org/2011/09/prime-time-charter-school/#comments Sun, 25 Sep 2011 16:36:53 +0000 Baker Mitchell http://www.nccharters.org/?p=3000 Newly enshrined Pro Football Hall of Famer Deion Sanders wants to take a different approach with campuses that merge academics and athletics from the start. State officials are expected to decide Friday whether Prime Prep Academy, a reference to Sanders’ “Prime Time” nickname, will be among the new batch of Texas charter schools… Josie Duckett, vice president for public and government affairs at Texas Charter [...]]]> Dionne SandersNewly enshrined Pro Football Hall of Famer Deion Sanders wants to take a different approach with campuses that merge academics and athletics from the start. State officials are expected to decide Friday whether Prime Prep Academy, a reference to Sanders’ “Prime Time” nickname, will be among the new batch of Texas charter schools… Josie Duckett, vice president for public and government affairs at Texas Charter Schools Association, said there is an Austin charter school that has a strong focus on athletics, but those appear to be rare. Duckett said it’s no surprise that someone would start another charter school with a “sports culture,” which she said could help develop leadership skills. “We [charter schools] have the ability to be flexible in the way we deliver curriculum,” she said. “You can be innovative.” 

Read the article

]]> http://www.nccharters.org/2011/09/prime-time-charter-school/feed/ 0 NC charters’ share $9 million (and change) per year for 6 years? http://www.nccharters.org/2011/09/nc-charters-share-9-million-and-change-per-year-for-6-years/ http://www.nccharters.org/2011/09/nc-charters-share-9-million-and-change-per-year-for-6-years/#comments Sat, 24 Sep 2011 15:17:55 +0000 Baker Mitchell http://www.nccharters.org/?p=2996 National Charter School Resource Center  1000 Thomas Jefferson Street NW Washington, DC 20007-3835 Phone: 877-277-2744 • 202-403-6222 E-Mail: charterschoolcenter@air.org Website: charterschoolcenter.org

 

Bill Passed by U.S. House Would Provide $300 Million per Year for Charter Schools Support   

The U.S. House of Representatives has passed a bill that would provide $300 million for 2012 and each of the five succeeding years to aid the development and the expansion of successful charter [...]]]> National Charter School Resource Center 
1000 Thomas Jefferson Street NW
Washington, DC 20007-3835
Phone: 877-277-2744 • 202-403-6222
E-Mail: charterschoolcenter@air.org
Website: charterschoolcenter.org

 

Bill Passed by U.S. House Would Provide $300 Million per Year for Charter Schools Support   

The U.S. House of Representatives has passed a bill that would provide $300 million for 2012 and each of the five succeeding years to aid the development and the expansion of successful charter schools, including facility support, evaluating school impact, sharing best practices, outreach to special populations of students, and improved school transparency and performance management through stronger authorization.

The Empowering Parents Through Quality Charter Schools Act was passed on September 13, 2011, by a vote of 365 to 54 and now goes to the U.S. Senate for action. The website of the Education and the Workforce Committee, through which the legislation was developed, provides further information.

]]> http://www.nccharters.org/2011/09/nc-charters-share-9-million-and-change-per-year-for-6-years/feed/ 0 Early Achievers Losing Ground, Study Finds http://www.nccharters.org/2011/09/early-achievers-losing-ground-study-finds/ http://www.nccharters.org/2011/09/early-achievers-losing-ground-study-finds/#comments Fri, 23 Sep 2011 00:31:36 +0000 Baker Mitchell http://www.nccharters.org/?p=2993 “Is helping kids at the bottom improve hurting kids at the top?” he said, acknowledging that bringing up that point as a topic of discussion can be difficult, but arguing that it’s necessary. “Let’s be honest about the trade-offs. It doesn’t make you a bad person or a racist.” Read more here…

]]> “Is helping kids at the bottom improve hurting kids at the top?” he said, acknowledging that bringing up that point as a topic of discussion can be difficult, but arguing that it’s necessary. “Let’s be honest about the trade-offs. It doesn’t make you a bad person or a racist.” Read more here…

]]> http://www.nccharters.org/2011/09/early-achievers-losing-ground-study-finds/feed/ 0 Thomas Jefferson and “Sugar Creek” Appeals decision http://www.nccharters.org/2011/09/thomas-jefferson-and-sugar-creek-appeals-decision/ http://www.nccharters.org/2011/09/thomas-jefferson-and-sugar-creek-appeals-decision/#comments Wed, 21 Sep 2011 13:06:44 +0000 Baker Mitchell http://www.nccharters.org/?p=2983 The judges agreed unanimously with a trial court decision that the Rutherford County Schools owed Thomas Jefferson Classical Academy about $731,000 in back per-pupil funding over three years, based on funding levels in an account that all districts must keep for normal operating expenses. Read more here…

]]> The judges agreed unanimously with a trial court decision that the Rutherford County Schools owed Thomas Jefferson Classical Academy about $731,000 in back per-pupil funding over three years, based on funding levels in an account that all districts must keep for normal operating expenses. Read more here…

]]> http://www.nccharters.org/2011/09/thomas-jefferson-and-sugar-creek-appeals-decision/feed/ 0