Charter school authorization under the NC Charter School Advisory Board (CSAB) has achieved:
- steadily increasing growth in schools and in enrollment,
- for all demographic groups improved student learning,
- over a $100 million in 2016 tax savings,
- non-performing or non-compliant schools to be closed
- North Carolina to receive national recognition.
An authorization system that has demonstrated a proven capability to accomplish the goals set by the General Assembly should be applauded!
Authorization under the Charter School Advisory Board
CSAB – steady, continuous enrollment growth
Data Source: http://apps.schools.nc.gov/ords/f?p=145:11:::NO:::
Authorization under the Charter School Advisory Board
CSAB – for all groups, improved student learning.
Figs. 1 and 2 compare the proficiency scores of charter students to traditional students in reading and math for 3rd grade and 8th grade.
Fig. 1 Reading EOG Percent Proficient by Demographic Group
For reading, the scores demonstrate that charter students score higher than traditional students for every demographic group. Note also that for Blacks, Hispanics, and Economically Disadvantaged (ED) students, their reading scores went up from 3rd to 8th grade while traditional students’ scores went down.
Fig. 2 Math EOG Percent Proficient by Demographic Group
Again, in 8th grade, charter students outscore traditional students in every demographic group.
Figs. 3 and 4 show the change in proficiency percentages from 3rd grade to 8th grade by demographic group. In every case, the change was worse for traditional students than for charter students.
Charter Black, Hispanic, and ED students in 8th grade reading were the only groups to outscore their 3rd grade contemporaries. For traditional students, no 8th grade group outscored their 3rd grade group.
Fig. 3 Reading Proficiency Percentage changes from 3rd to 8th Grade
Fig. 4 Math Proficiency Percentage changes from 3rd to 8th Grade
From the above data, there can be no question that charter schools are having a significant positive effect on the academic achievements of our state’s children – particularly minority students.
Data Source: SBE Charter Schools Annual Report to the North Carolina General Assembly: 2018
Authorization under the Charter School Advisory Board
CSAB – over a $100 million in 2016 tax savings
In 2015-16, charter enrollment was 85,216 and per pupil expenditures for operations was $724 dollars less for each pupil than for district students. In addition, districts spent $530 per pupil on capital expenses for a total of $1,254 less for each charter pupil. This totals $106,860,864 statewide.
Data Source: http://apps.schools.nc.gov/ords/f?p=145:38:::NO:::
Authorization under the Charter School Advisory Board
CSAB – non-performing/compliant schools closed.
Since 1997, a total of 60 charter schools have been closed due to operational, financial, or academic reasons. With improved authorization standards since 2011, 16 charters have been closed – four of which were closed for poor academic performance.
Data Source: SBE Charter Schools Annual Report to the North Carolina General Assembly: 2018
Authorization under the Charter School Advisory Board
CSAB – national recognition for excellence.
CSAB received the highest possible ranking for meeting all 12 criteria for essential practices listed in “Principles and Standards for Quality Charter School Authoring” in the most recent survey from 2015.
CSAB also was a true pioneer in meeting the National Alliance’s preferred model for a special-purpose state charter school commission with statewide chartering authority. They state in their 2016 model, “In a growing phenomenon across the country, 14 states and D.C. now have a special-purpose charter school board, with a number of other states seriously discussing the creation of such entities. The primary advantage of such boards is that their core mission is the authorization of charter schools. That, and only that, is what they do, allowing them to develop expertise on a tough task that is usually given inadequate attention in a state.”
In summary, authorization under CSAB has allowed
- steadily increasing growth,
- for all groups improved student learning,
- over a $100 million in 2016 tax savings,
- non-performing or non-compliant schools closed
- North Carolina to receive national recognition.
An authorization system that has demonstrated a proven capability to accomplish the goals set by the General Assembly should applauded!
