Bill Summary: H800 - Charter School Law Changes

• Allows charter schools to contract with education management organizations or charter management organizations to employ and provide teachers, requiring at least 50% of teachers to hold licenses.

• Reduces charter school fast-track replication application decision timeline to less than 120 days from submission, with decisions due no later than October 15 of the year preceding the proposed school opening.

• Increases enrollment growth thresholds from 20% to 25% (and later to 30% starting July 1, 2018) for non-low-performing charter schools before requiring State Board approval as a material revision.

• Adds enrollment priority for students previously enrolled in other charter schools in the state, and for students who attended preschool programs operated by the charter school.

• Allows charter schools meeting specific criteria (operating 3+ years, not low-performing, fiscally sound, compliant with law) to participate in NC Pre-K programs and operate preschool classrooms with modified building standards.