FAQ

What is a charter school?
Charter schools provide parents a choice in the education of their children -- and it is a public choice. Public tax dollars are the primary funding sources for charter schools. Local, state, and federal dollars follow the child to a charter school. The schools have open enrollment with no discrimination, no religious associations, and no tuition.

How do you enroll in a charter school?
Parents must contact each individual school to see if they have openings. If they have more applicants than available slots, an open lottery must be instituted to fill the remaining spots. For a list of schools, please visit http://www.ncpublicschools.org/charterschools/schools/.

How much does it cost to attend a charter school?
Charter Schools are tuition free. They are public schools and funding for the schools come from federal, state, and local taxes.

Do charter schools serve students with disabilities?
Yes. Since charter schools are public schools, they must provide special education and related services to all eligible students. For futher information please read the following documentation.
Right to Attend
(pdf, 105kb)

Are charter school teachers certified?
Yes, but with more leeway. The state requires 75% of charter school teachers in elementary school to be certified while 50% in middle and high school must be certified. However, charter school teachers must follow NCLB requirements for highly qualified staff.

Do charter schools take the state mandated ABCs tests?
Yes. All charter schools are required to take the state mandated tests. For charter schools test results please visit http://abcs.ncpublicschools.org/abcs.

What are the requirements for acceptance into a charter school?
The only requirement to get into a charter school is the availability at the school in the requested grade.
Additional Guidance
(pdf, 126kb)  UPDATED 09/06/13