NC H616

State Board of Education shall adopt a fast-track replication process for high-quality charter schools currently operating in North Carolina without requiring a planning year for selected applicants.

Charter school boards qualify for fast-track replication by demonstrating either that the majority of their schools have student academic outcomes equal to or greater than their local school administrative units over three prior school years and provide three years of financially sound audits, or by contracting with an education management organization meeting the same academic and financial criteria.

State Board of Education must complete decisions on fast-track charter applications within 120 days of submission and provide a decision no later than October 15 of the year preceding the proposed school opening.

Act becomes effective upon passage and applies to all fast-track replication applications submitted on or after that date.