Commissioners on Monday, May 2nd in celebration of National Charter Schools Week.
Dr. Julie Jailall, Executive Director of Neuse Charter, brought forth thanks to the Commissioners
and stakeholders from the school body. The history of the county’s first charter school was
shared with the Commissioner by Chris Johnson, a current member of the school’s Board of
Directors. Mr. Johnson also spoke of the current enrollment numbers and wait list, as well as the
difference in charter school and traditional public school funding. The collaboration between
Johnston Community College and Neuse Charter, as well as developing relationships with new
charters in the area, was also expressed by Johnson.
Commissioner Allen Mims questioned Mr. Johnson on student selection and enrollment, with
Mr. Johnson referring to North Carolina General Statute 115C-218.45, which details charter
school operations. Commissioner Cookie Pope asked about other charter schools who have
applied to open in the county, and Commissioner Tony Braswell asked for clarification on sibling
enrollment procedures.
May 1 marks the beginning of National Charter Schools Week, and students, parents, teachers
and communities across the country are celebrating the many successes of public charter schools.
To kick off this week’s national celebrations, here are a few facts about charter schools:
Charter Schools Are Public Schools. Public charter schools are independent, tuition free public
schools open to all students. Public charter schools are given the flexibility to be more innovative
while being held accountable for improved student achievement. Public charter schools must
adhere to federal and state education standards, as well as federal and state civil rights laws.
Charter Schools Increase Student Achievement. Since 2010, several independent research
studies have found that students in charter schools do better than their traditional school peers.
The most recent of those studies, by the Center for Research on Educational Outcomes at
Stanford University, found that charter schools do a better job teaching low income students,
minority students, and students who are still learning English than traditional schools. Separate
studies by the Center for Reinventing Public Education and Mathematica Policy Research have
found that charter school students are more likely to graduate from high school, go on to college,
stay in college and have higher earnings in early adulthood.
Charter Schools Give Parents Public School Options. Parents want the best education possible
for their children. Charter public schools give parents options within the public school system so
they can find a school that best meets the needs of their child.
National Charter Schools Week is May 1-7, 2016. For information on charter public schools in
North Carolina, please visit NCAlliance for Public Charter Schools (www.nccharters.org). For
national information on public charter schools, please visit the National Alliance for Charter
Public Schools website at www.publiccharters.org.