CHARLOTTE, N.C. — In 2015, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools will ask state lawmakers to change the rules so it can charter its own schools and provide traditional public schools with some of the flexibility charters get.
"Certainly, I'm keenly interested in us being able to play by the same rules as a charter schools," said Ann Clark, CMS' deputy acting superintendent.
Unlike traditional public schools, charters do not have to follow all the same state rules.
Nine charter schools opened in the Mecklenburg County area this year, and CMS leaders say the district needs to stay competitive. But it's unclear if a CMS charter school would have to answer to the school board or the superintendent.
"When you're a chartering district, does your school leadership team take on additional advisory responsibility, what is that link back to board of education?" Clark said.
Clark says she's bringing in officials from Fulton County, Georgia, where that school district has chartered its own schools for three years.
At Wednesday night's meeting, board member Ericka Ellis-Stewart raised immediate concerns about the prospect of chartering schools, saying the district has enough to focus on without this.
Scott McCully, who heads up student placement for CMS, said charters are controversial because several in North Carolina have failed.
"I would say that is one of the more polarizing issues is just the quality of charter school programs," McCully said.
Mccully said 1,500 students instead of the 2,100 projected left CMS for charters this year, making it hard for the district to plan.
CMS said parents are looking for unique opportunities for their students, and that's why this push is important.
CMS leaders will meet with state lawmakers for a legislative breakfast in December where this issue will be discussed.
In the 2013-2014 school year, 10,800 students in the area attended a charter school.
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CMS to ask state to allow them to charter own schools
In 2015, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools will ask state lawmakers to change the rules so it can charter its own schools and provide traditional public schools with some of the flexibility charters get.
"Certainly, I'm keenly interested in us being able to play by the same rules as a charter schools," said Ann Clark, CMS' deputy acting superintendent.
Unlike traditional public schools, charters do not have to follow all the same state rules.
Nine charter schools opened in the Mecklenburg County area this year, and CMS leaders say the district needs to stay competitive. But it's unclear if a CMS charter school would have to answer to the school board or the superintendent.
"When you're a chartering district, does your school leadership team take on additional advisory responsibility, what is that link back to board of education?" Clark said.
Clark says she's bringing in officials from Fulton County, Georgia, where that school district has chartered its own schools for three years.
At Wednesday night's meeting, board member Ericka Ellis-Stewart raised immediate concerns about the prospect of chartering schools, saying the district has enough to focus on without this.
Scott McCully, who heads up student placement for CMS, said charters are controversial because several in North Carolina have failed.
"I would say that is one of the more polarizing issues is just the quality of charter school programs," McCully said.
Mccully said 1,500 students instead of the 2,100 projected left CMS for charters this year, making it hard for the district to plan.
CMS said parents are looking for unique opportunities for their students, and that's why this push is important.
CMS leaders will meet with state lawmakers for a legislative breakfast in December where this issue will be discussed.
In the 2013-2014 school year, 10,800 students in the area attended a charter school.
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