Charter schools face new hurdle

By: Amy Kibler/Eyewitness News 9 | WNCT
Published: April 03, 2008

There are thousands of charter schools across the state. One group says a proposed rule may hurt some of those schools.

The policy says charter schools must have 75- percent of their teachers certified for kindergarten through fifth grade.

50 percent of teachers for fifth grade through twelfth would be certified.

Schools that don't meet those numbers could have funding cutbacks.

While charter schools say they support having certified teachers, they say the penalties are too severe.

Charter schools don't get state money for capital improvements or from the lottery.

"They're requiring charter schools, who pay less than traditional schools because of a lack of funding, they're requiring charter schools to meet a percentage requirement. We don't mind at all as long as we’re given tools and funding to do that," said Todd Havican of the NC Charter School Association.

“I want to make sure schools are contacted in a timely member, to make sure they have a chance to fix any of that,” said Stacey Sheperd of the NC School Board.

If the state board approves the new rules, they could take effect as early as this fall and sanctions could start in January.