H334 - Charter School & Other Education Laws Changes

• Establishes the North Carolina Office of Charter Schools as a new agency within the Department of Public Instruction with an executive director appointed by the State Board of Education.

• Increases minimum student enrollment for charter schools from 65 to 80 students, with exceptions allowed for geographically remote or small populations.

• Allows charter schools to conduct weighted lotteries reflecting school missions, subject to State Board approval as part of the charter application.

• Requires charter school boards to adopt conflict of interest and anti-nepotism policies, with disclosure and approval required before hiring immediate family of board members or supervisory staff.

• Changes charter renewal standard from discretionary "may renew" to "shall renew" for 10-year periods unless school fails to meet financial, academic, or compliance standards.