NC S222

Establishes mandatory approval criteria for charter school applications that the State Board of Education must use, prohibiting additional criteria beyond those specified in the law.

Requires applicants to demonstrate need for a proposed charter school by showing 75% parental interest in enrollment, projected enrollment achievement, absence of existing charter schools in the zip code, or an existing charter school waitlist in the area.

Requires applicants to meet at least one academic and programmatic criterion, including location in low-performing school areas, equivalent curriculum availability, or demonstrated student achievement by affiliated education management entities.

Requires applicants to demonstrate parental and community support through letters of support, confirmed student waitlists, or positive student retention statistics from affiliated charter management entities.

Allows charter applicants denied after September 1, 2022, to request immediate reconsideration under the new criteria, and voids State Board rules inconsistent with these approval standards.