The bill to eliminate the charter school cap in North Carolina passed with bi-partisan votes in the House and Senate on Thursday. Senate Bill 8 (No Cap on Number of Charter Schools) passed the Senate in a 45-0 vote and the House in a 108-5 vote. It is now on it’s way to Gov. Beverly Perdue’s desk to be signed into law.

The measure eliminates the state’s 100 charter school cap, requires yearly reporting from the Department of Public Instruction regarding the number of charters approved and denied and sets performance standards for charters.

Sakari Mayfield, a Charlotte mother whose 11-year-old son is currently on a charter waiting list, believes more charters will allow her son and others to receive the classroom attention they need.

“I would like my child to be in a charter school because classroom sizes are smaller, which allows teachers to better focus on student needs,” she said. “With so much happening in the school system, a charter school would be a better environment for my child so he can receive the special academic attention he needs.”

Darrell Allison, president of Parents for Education Freedom and North Carolina said the passage of the bill is monumental, but the work is not complete. 

“I want to salute our state leaders for moving on this measure in a bipartisan effort," he said. "There’s still much work to be done, including equitable funding for charters and creating a better environment in which how charters are governed.”

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