North CarolinaSB 2542025-2026 SessionSenate

Charter School Changes.

Sponsored By: Buck Newton (Republican), Danny Earl Britt, Jr. (Republican), Warren Daniel (Republican)

Became Law

BOARDSBUDGETINGCHARTER SCHOOLSCOUNCIL OF STATECRIMESEDUCATIONEDUCATION CABINETEDUCATION, STATE BOARD OFEXPLOSIVESFUNDINGHAZARDOUS SUBSTANCESPRESENTEDPUBLICPUBLIC INSTRUCTION DEPT

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

6 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 5 mixed.

Low-performing charters must file plans

Beginning July 29, 2025, charter schools labeled low‑performing or continually low‑performing must prepare and report plans to raise performance. This applies starting with the 2025–2026 school year.

Charter Review Board gets more power

Beginning July 29, 2025, the Charter Schools Review Board must approve any State Board rule about charters. The Board also approves each charter’s written terms, can make and approve charter rules, and runs required federal and state hearings. It can hire private lawyers and handle litigation. The Office of Charter Schools’ Executive Director reports to the Board, and the Board sets that salary within approved funds. For 2025–2027, DPI uses $82,100 each year from lapsed salary funds to cover Board meetings, travel, and legal services. These changes apply starting with the 2025–2026 school year.

Remote charter academies options and checks

Beginning July 29, 2025, a remote academy with 250 or more students can request its own charter through an expedited review, with no planning year. If a charter runs both in‑person and remote programs, the remote academy gets a separate performance grade and is treated as a separate school. The State Board evaluates remote charters each year on test scores and grades, retention, attendance, and for grades 9–12, completion and dropout rates, and reports by November 15. These changes apply starting with the 2025–2026 school year.

Standard charter funding and new withholds

Beginning July 29, 2025, the Review Board creates one standard enrollment and transfer form that all charters use. It also sets a standard process for moving local per‑pupil funds, with electronic transfers when possible. DPI gives new charters free first‑year access to required financial reporting platforms. The State Board must withhold or reduce charter funds after enrollment or general allocation adjustments, or when the Review Board reports material charter violations, termination or nonrenewal, fiscal mismanagement, or fund receipt violations. These rules apply starting with the 2025–2026 school year.

Charter transcripts and nearby moves

Beginning July 29, 2025, a charter school may move up to 10 miles from its approved site without Board approval if it stays in the same district. Charter schools are not required to list class rank on official transcripts. These rules apply in the 2025–2026 school year.

Charters can set teacher evaluations

Beginning July 29, 2025, a charter school may use its own teacher evaluation tool. The tool must include standards like the North Carolina Professional Teaching Standards and the state Teacher Evaluation Process, or other required standards. This applies in the 2025–2026 school year.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Cosponsors

Jim Burgin
Republican • Senate
David W. Craven, Jr.
Republican • Senate
Norman W. Sanderson
Republican • Senate