Renewals

Per NC General Statute 115C-218.6(b), the Review Board shall renew a charter upon the request of the chartering entity for subsequent periods of 10 years, unless one of the following applies: 

(1) The charter school has not provided financially sound audits for the immediately preceding three years. 

(2) The charter school's student academic outcomes for the immediately preceding three years have not been comparable to the academic outcomes of students in the local school administrative unit in which the charter school is located. For purposes of this section, if a school's charter results in it providing services to certain targeted subgroups, the school's academic performance shall be judged in comparison to the academic outcomes of students in the same subgroups in the local school administrative unit where the school is located.

(3) The charter school is not, at the time of the request for renewal of the charter, substantially in compliance with State law, federal law, the school's own bylaws, or the provisions set forth in its charter granted by the Review Board. 

If one of the conditions set forth in subdivisions (1) through (3) of this subsection applies, then the Review Board may renew the charter for a period of less than 10 years or not renew the charter. 

Charter School Renewal Process

The Renewal Process is outlined in State Board Policy CHTR-007. 

Schools Seeking Renewal

The charter school renewal process lasts two years beginning July 1st, two years before the Charter Agreement Expires. 

Schools that intend to seek renewal must notify the NCDPI Office of Charter Schools (OCS) of the request and be prepared to pay the renewal fee of $500. The renewal process is consists of a self-study, renewal site visit with interviews, and Charter Schools Review Board review before voting on the renewal term.

Self-Study

This self-study provides information describing how the school is successfully fulfilling the mission formally approved by the Charter Schools Review Board. The school is asked to prepare an executive summary, describe the school’s goals for the next five years, and describe the school’s education program. <Link to Template Coming July 2024>

Renewal Site Visit

OCS Personnel will complete a site visit (either in-person or virtual). OCS will tour the school and meet with focus groups during the site visit: (1) Administrative Team, (2) Board Committee, (3) Staff Committee, and (4) Parent Committee. Following the site visit the OCS Renewals Team will provide written feedback to the school. 

Current Renewal Cohorts

General Renewal Guidelines

To receive a recommendation for renewal, the school must meet the requirements outlined in G.S. 115C-218.6 and the general renewal guidelines below, absent exceptional circumstances as documented by the CSRB. The general renewal guidelines set forth below are used to determine renewal recommendations. For purposes of these guidelines:

  • The term “Compliance Issues” may include, but is not limited to, findings within the following programs and divisions: Exceptional Children, Federal Programs, Beginning Teacher Support Program, Child Nutrition, School Business, and Accountability.

  • The term “Comparable” is defined as a proficiency score that is no less than 5 points of the local school administrative unit’s Composite score based on the EOG/EOC courses offered;

  • A school's charter is considered to result in it providing services to certain targeted subgroups if the charter, as presented in its application or self-study, indicates an intent to target certain subgroups and its enrollment reflects this intent.

  • The local school administrative unit shall be assumed to be the local school administrative unit identified in the approved charter application, provided that the Charter Schools Review Board may consider additional factors such as where the charter school is physically located, its proximity to districts across county lines, and the base school district from which a majority of the school’s students are enrolled. The Charter Schools Review Board may consider more than one local school administrative unit, at its discretion, for purposes of this policy.

  • In the case of a charter school that has been designated as an alternative school for purposes of accountability pursuant to policy CHTR-020, the Charter Schools Review Board shall consider the charter school’s performance under the accountability model approved for the school pursuant to policy ACCT-038.

Renewal Term Renewal Criteria
10 Year Renewal 1. The charter school has provided financially sound audits for the immediately preceding three years; and 
2. The charter school's student academic outcomes for the immediately preceding three years have been Comparable to the academic outcomes of students in the local school administrative unit in which the charter school is located. If a school's charter results in it providing services to certain targeted subgroups, The Charter Schools Review Board may also consider the comparison to the academic outcomes of students in the same subgroups and in the local school administrative unit where the school is located. Comparability in grade level academic outcomes may also be considered; and
3. The charter school is currently in compliance, and has been in compliance for the immediately preceding three years, with State law, federal law, the school's own bylaws, and the provisions set forth in its charter granted by the Charter Schools Review Board.
7 Year Renewal 1. No evidence of Compliance Issues in the past 2 years that would show a pattern of unresolved or persistent issues; and 
2. The charter school has provided financially sound audits for the immediately preceding 2 years; and 
3. The school has not been on Financial Noncompliance Disciplinary Status at any time in the immediately preceding three years; and 
4. Academic outcomes have been Comparable to the local school administrative unit for the last 2 out of 3 years or has met or exceeded growth in each of the immediately preceding 3 years. If a school's charter results in it providing services to certain targeted subgroups, The Charter Schools Review Board may also consider the comparison to the academic outcomes of students in the same subgroups and in the local school administrative unit where the school is located. Comparability in grade level academic outcomes may also be considered; and 
5. The school is not currently designated as low-performing.
5 Year Renewal 1. No evidence of Compliance Issues in the past year that would show a pattern of unresolved or persistent issues; and 
2. The charter school has provided financially sound audits for the immediately preceding 2 years; and 
3. The school has not been on Financial Noncompliance Disciplinary Status at any time in the immediately preceding two years; and
4. Academic outcomes have been Comparable to the local school administrative unit for 1 out of the last 3 years or has met or exceeded growth in 2 of the past 3 years. If a school's charter results in it providing services to certain targeted subgroups, The Charter Schools Review Board may also consider the comparison to the academic outcomes of students in the same subgroups and in the local school administrative unit where the school is located. Comparability in grade level academic outcomes may also be considered; and
5. The school is not currently designated as continually low-performing.
3 Year Renewal 1. No Compliance Issues in the past year that shows a pattern of unresolved or persistent issues, or, if Compliance Issues exist, there is a strategic improvement plan in place and is making measurable progress toward meeting it; or
2. Inability to provide sound audits for the immediately preceding year, but the strategic improvement plan addresses this and there is evidence provided to convince the State Board of Education and Charter Schools Review Board that adequate and successful corrective measures are in place; or
3. Academic outcomes have not been Comparable to the local school administrative unit but the school has met growth in at least one of the immediately preceding 3 years or the charter school has a strategic improvement plan and is making measurable progress toward meeting it. If a school's charter results in it providing services to certain targeted subgroups, The Charter Schools Review Board may also consider the comparison to the academic outcomes of students in the same subgroups and in the local school administrative unit where the school is located. Comparability in grade level academic outcomes may also be considered.
Non- Renewal or Assumption 1. A Failure to meet the requirements for student performance contained in the charter and academic outcomes have not been Comparable to the local school administrative unit in any of the immediately preceding 3 years and the school has not met or exceeded growth in the last 2 years (with either no strategic improvement plan or measurable progress identified toward meeting that plan); or
2. A persistent pattern of failure to meet generally accepted standards of fiscal management and lack of financially sound audits in 2 of the preceding 3 years; or
3. A pattern of unresolved, persistent and/or intentional material violations of law; or
4. A pattern of unresolved, persistent and/or intentional material violation of any of the conditions, standards, or procedures set forth in the charter; or
5. Two-thirds of the faculty and instructional support personnel at the school request that the charter be terminated or not renewed; or 
6. Current and persistent patterns of material noncompliance with directives of the Office of Charter Schools, the Charter Schools Review Board and/or the State Board of Education; or
7. Other documented good cause identified.
Additional Factors That May Affect Renewal Recommendation 1. Feedback from Site Visits 
2. Declining or Increasing ADM 
3. Pattern of high, or low, student and/or staff attrition

*Any renewal of the Charter can be revoked according to SBE Policy CHTR-010.
*CSRB and NCSBE reserve the right to add stipulations to any renewal period.  

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Charter Schools Review Board may at any time initiate revocation proceedings of the charter of any school in accordance with 115C-218.6.

If you have any questions about the Renewal process, please email Jenna.Cook@dpi.nc.gov .