North Carolina Review Board Renews Several Charter Schools Despite Concerns About Academic Performance

Piedmont: The North Carolina Charter Schools Review Board met recently and decided to renew 18 charter schools for a decade. This decision raised eyebrows, especially since some board members were worried about the academic performance of these schools.

One board member, Shelly Slope, expressed her discomfort with giving a 10-year renewal to schools that are performing at a D level. She mentioned that while they have to follow the law, it just doesn’t feel right. This isn’t the first time such concerns have come up; last year, another member questioned the need for such long renewals.

The board also pointed out that the renewal process can be pretty costly for both the schools and the state, especially with the number of charter schools on the rise. To get a 10-year renewal, schools need to show that their students’ academic outcomes have been on par with those in the local district for the past three years. They also have to pass financial audits and comply with state and federal laws.

Interestingly, Piedmont Classical High School in Guilford County was initially set for a 7-year renewal due to one year of underperformance. However, they ended up getting a 10-year term after showing consistent growth over the last three years.

The board decided to hold off on voting for Doral Academy in Raleigh and Washington Montessori in Beaufort County until the next meeting since those schools hadn’t submitted their required audits yet. A few other schools received shorter renewal terms, with some getting just three years due to ongoing issues.

In a notable decision, the board chose not to renew the charter for Durham’s Community School of Digital & Visual Art, citing financial management and compliance problems. They also discussed United Community School in Charlotte, which had defaulted on small business loans, raising concerns about its financial health.

Ultimately, the board decided to table the renewal for United Community School until they could get more information. They did grant a three-year renewal to Haliwa-Saponi Tribal School in Halifax County, despite its low academic performance, recognizing its cultural importance to the community. Board member Bartley Danielsen emphasized how vital this school is for the tribal community.

This whole situation shows the balancing act the board has to perform between academic standards and community needs. It’ll be interesting to see how these schools perform moving forward.