Growth of Public Charter Schools Statewide
Since the charter school cap was lifted last year, North Carolina has seen significant interest throughout the state in new charter schools, as well as charter school leadership training. With 100 existing charter schools operating in the state, there has been an overwhelming number of charter schools applications submitted this year.
So far in 2012, 90 applications for charter schools have been submitted, including Fast Track and schools scheduled to open in 2012-2014 school year.
Applications Recommended to State Board
The North Carolina Public Charter Schools Advisory Council has recommended the following 25 charter applicants to the State Board for discussion at the August meeting and State Board final action at the September meeting:
Aristotle Preparatory Academy, Cabarrus Charter School, Cameron Creek Charter, Charlotte Choice Charter, Douglass Academy, Falls Lake Academy, Flemington Academy, Howard & Lillian Lee Scholars, Invest Collegiate, Island Montessori Charter, Langtree Charter Academy, Longleaf School of the Arts, Oxford Preparatory High School, Paul R. Brown Leadership Academy, Pinnacle Classical Academy, Southeastern Academy, STEM Education for a Global Society Academy (SEGS), StudentFirst Academy, Summerfield Charter Academy, The Expedition School, The Institute for the Development of Young Leaders, The North Carolina Leadership Academy, Uwharrie Charter Academy, Willow Oak Montessori, and Z.E.C.A School of Arts and Technology.”
NC Public Schools website
While all charter schools have different school year start times, the sentiment from charter school leaders at the 2012 Charter Schools Conference is that applications and enrollment in existing schools are up. And interest in new charter schools is expanding. We welcome the interest in charter schools as an educational choice for parents and encourage the growth of quality charter schools in the state of North Carolina.
We are the beginning of a whole new way of looking at education in North Carolina,” said Board Chair Dr. Robert Landry. “There was a palpable feeling that charter schools are on the cusp of a great new direction for better and quality education in our state. It’s exciting!”
Dr. Robert Landry, Board Chair - NC Alliance for Public Charter Schools
Dr. Robert Landry Board Chair of the North Carolina Alliance for Public Charter Schools speaks with Dana Reason Eveans, former Miss North Carolina after the keynote by Thom Tillis at the 2012 Charter Schools Conference in Concord, NC.
Please read the press release submitted by Charter Day School in Leland, NC:
Headmaster Mark T. Cramer welcomes students and parents as they arrive for the start of the new school year at Charter Day School in Leland, NC.
Year-round charter schools start the new academic year with excitement and growth.
As students arrived for the much anticipated first day of classes at Charter Day School in Leland and Columbus Charter School in Whiteville, a few changes on campus greeted them: a record number of students, continuation of major new curriculum enhancements, and a new Headmaster at Charter Day School.
Monday, July 23 marked the beginning on the new academic year, and Charter Day School topped previous attendance records with 922 students on that first day. Its sister school, Columbus Charter School also opened with an attendance record of 722 students.
“The reason for the excitement and enthusiasm of our teaching staff are several-fold,” said Superintendent Mark T. Cramer. “Last year was a challenge as we instituted major new curriculum changes in grammar, writing, and literacy,” Cramer explained.
While both schools usually scored exceptionally well on all of the year-end state tests, Cramer said the Charter Day School Board of Trustees felt these subjects needed to have even more rigor.
“Rather than introduce one new change each year, we changed all three areas last year; and the training and teacher adaption was a monumental challenge,” said Superintendent Cramer. “But by the third quarter, things smoothed out and the advantages of the new curricula were evident to all – students and teachers alike,” he added
CDS Teacher Brianna Cox starts the new year working with kindergarten students on the new grammar curriculum.
“The new grammar curriculum is incredible with my children learning the parts of speech and correct sentence structure,” said Kindergarten teacher Brianna Cox. She added that they can then begin writing with an understanding of the basic elements of style and correct grammar which are not traditionally taught that early.
The literacy elements also underwent a major revision last year with more advanced textual structure and instruction in reading comprehension strategies.
“Now that we have a year’s experience under our belts with these new programs, everyone is looking forward to a fun year of the children advancing their skills and showing what they are really capable of,” said Cary Andrews, Associate Superintendent for Reading and Literacy.
Superintendent Mark T. Cramer reprises his role as headmaster at Charter Day School in Leland, NC.
Superintendent Mark T. Cramer is returning to his role as headmaster as former Headmaster Jennifer Beamer moves back to her home state of Maryland. Mr. Cramer, a retired Marine Corp Major, was Charter Day School’s Headmaster from the school’s founding until 2008.
“The most important aspect of our schools is the students,” said Mr. Cramer as he helped kindergarteners find their rooms along Learning Lane. “And while I will continue my role as Superintendent of Schools, it gives me great pleasure to be back working on a day-to-day basis with the staff, teachers, and students at Charter Day School.”
Charter Day School and Columbus Charter School which are managed by The Roger Bacon Academy (RBA) are year-round schools where classes start earlier in the summer but have longer breaks throughout the year. Experience has shown that academic skill retention is higher with shorter summer breaks and a year-round schedule.
The Charter Day School Board of Trustees was recently recommended by the N.C. Charter School Advisory Council to be approved by the State Board of Education on their next charter school, Douglass Academy. “Now that the charter school cap is lifted, we are continuing to expand and add new schools,” said Barbra Jones, Coordinator of Community Relations and New School Development. “We are anticipating opening our downtown charter school for the 2013 school year and providing quality education to even more North Carolina students,” said Superintendent Cramer.
The Roger Bacon Academy schools are tuition-free, open enrollment public schools in southeastern North Carolina. Since 2000, RBA has focused on quality K-8 education and develops premier performance-driven year round schools. Widely recognized as a compelling choice to conventional public education, the organization has built a reputation for dedicated and highly qualified teachers that give students a strong and proven academic foundation. RBA schools have received numerous awards, including the designation of being a Top-25 School for Academic Growth and Excellence in the state of North Carolina.
www.rogerbacon.net - “Truth Survives”
Bradley S. Barth
Director of Public Affairs
The Roger Bacon Academy
3610 Thaddeus Lott Lane
Leland, NC 28451
Off 910-655-3600 ext. 224
Cell 910-599-4013
