After reading and hearing comments by legislators about virtual charter schools, there appears to be a lot of confusion about funding.
First, how much does it cost to operate a virtual charter school? According to iNACOL, the average per pupil expenditure is $6,500, but it may be slightly more depending on various factors. This is less than the average per-pupil expenditure for traditional public schools ($8,436) and charter schools ($7,814) in North Carolina. Thus, while virtual charter schools save taxpayers money, they cannot operate for pennies on the dollar. After all, the school must maintain a sophisticated technological infrastructure and develop curricula to complement it.
Second, how do we fund charter schools in North Carolina? The system in place has been around, more or less, for the last fifteen years.
According to the NC General Statute 115C?238.29H, the state is required to allocate “An amount equal to the average per pupil allocation for average daily membership from the local school administrative unit allotments in which the charter school is located.”
Localities have a similar requirement. “If a student attends a charter school, the local school administrative unit in which the child resides shall transfer to the charter school an amount equal to the per pupil local current expense appropriation to the local school administrative unit for the fiscal year. The amount transferred under this subsection that consists of revenue derived from supplemental taxes shall be transferred only to a charter school located in the tax district for which these taxes are levied and in which the student resides.”
Charter schools do not receive capital funds.
