There is a lot to get to in this document, but here are a few highlights:

Glossary

State Board-chartered school = real charter school

Charter-like schools without charters = Early College or Redesigned high school

Charter-like innovative, autonomous schools = converted low performing district school, aka LEA Restart Schools

Charter-like school settings = STEM “cluster” high school networks (?)

Quotes

– “When existing innovative schools are included in the count of ?charter-like schools,? 8.3% of NC?s schools are either charter or charter-like innovative schools.” (p. 235)

– “Evidence shows that, under State Board direction, the NC Office of Charter Schools has helped 50 charter schools increased their overall student performance composites between 2007-08 and 2008-09 (up from a total of five over the prior four years).” (p. 236)

– “State Board regulations favor award of charters to applicants who have a sound marketing plan that promotes a diverse student population.” (p. 238)

– “As noted above, any LEA, either in partnership with an institution of higher education or with State Board approval in cases of continually low-performing schools (G.S 115C-105.37B), may establish an autonomous, innovative school that has all the hallmarks of a charter school (see, Sections E2, F2.i, and F2.v).” (p. 247)

– “Charter schools will participate in and receive any funding generated as a result of the NC RttT effort.” (p. 240)

– “North Carolina has a vigorous program for encouraging innovative and autonomous public schools. In additional to charter schools, 106 such schools, each of which meets the RttT definition of ‘innovative autonomous public schools,’ currently are operating in North Carolina.” (p. 241)