CHARTER APPLICATIONS

APPLY TO OPEN A CHARTER SCHOOL

This page provides information on requirements to submit a public charter school proposal to the North Carolina State Board of Education.

NOTE: This application is not to enroll your child into an individual charter school. If you are seeking enrollment at a charter school, please refer to the schools webpage for a list of contact information for all charter schools in North Carolina.

Applying to open and operate a public charter school is a multiple step process.

TRAINING

Training Opportunities

APPLICATION PROCESS

For schools to open in Fall 2015

Letter of Intent
The Letter of Intent (LOI) is due via email to Deanna Townsend-Smith, Consultant, Office of Charter Schools, no later than 12:00 noon (EST) on September 6, 2013. Letters of Intent received after the deadline will not be accepted by the Office of Charter Schools. Applicants who fail to submit this required Letter of Intent by the deadline will not be permitted to submit a December 2013 application. Applicants, instead, must wait until the next application round opens.
- Letter of Intent
  (doc, 41kb)
  The LOI shall contain the following information:
  - Lead Contact Name
  - Mailing Address
  - Telephone Number
  - Email Address
  - Proposed County and Local Education Agency (LEA)
  - Proposed School Name
  - Proposed Mission Statement
  - Proposed Grade Structure
  - Proposed Student Projections

Online Application System
The online system will immediately shut down after the 5:00 pm (EST) December 6, 2013 deadline has passed. If the application is not complete it will not advance to the application evaluation phase.
Online Application System

CHARTER APPLICATION RESOURCES

Resource Manual (For charter school applications due December 6, 2013)
(pdf, 697kb)
Initial Screening
(pdf, 116kb)
Evaluation Rubric
(pdf, 263kb)
Presentation (From the September 2013 training sessions)
(pdf, 1014kb)

APPLICATION SUBMISSION

Online submission no later than 5:00 pm (EST) December 6, 2013.

APPLICATION TENTATIVE TIMELINE PROCESS

For schools to open in Fall 2015

September 6, 2013	Letter of Intent (LOI) – required for filing an application. A LOI must be emailed to Deanna Townsend-Smith, Consultant, Office of Charter Schools, no later than the 12:00 noon (EST) deadline.
December 6, 2013	Application and $500.00 per application fee due no later than the 5:00 pm (EST) deadline. Application fee is non-refundable. Applications lacking the fee will be deemed incomplete. NOTE: Checks must be made out to the NC Department of Public Instruction and mailed to The Office of Charter Schools, 6303 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-6303. A letter must also be included specifying which application(s) the enclosed check covers. Submitting the application and required fee prior to December 6, 2013 is strongly encouraged.
December 13, 2013	Application Timeline Change - (Optional) Applicant may provide a copy of the proposed application to the Local Education Agency in which the proposed charter school will reside. Applicant may provide evidence via email to Deanna Townsend-Smith, Consultant, Office of Charter Schools.
February - March 2014	Advisory Council review and interview.
May 2014	Recommendations to the State Board.
June 2014	State Board of Education preliminary approval.

If you have questions regarding the application process, please contact Deanna Townsend-Smith at 919.807.3263 or deanna.townsend-smith@dpi.nc.gov.