The State Board of Education meets Wednesday and Thursday this week, and charter schools occupy much of the agenda.
The board will vote on a policy that cuts newer charter schools some slack in meeting student performance standards. Current policy requires the state board to initiate revocation of a charter if for two out of three consecutive years the school does not meet or exceed expected growth on state standardized tests and has had a proficiency rate below 60 percent.
The proposed change would allow the state board to direct underperforming schools that have been open less than five years to create a strategic plan rather than initiate closing.
Members will also discuss a policy that would create a shorter application and planning process for charter school boards and charter management companies that want to replicate successful schools the groups already run. The General Assembly directed the board to create the fast-track process in a 2014 law.
In addition, members will review 11 charters set to expire at the end of the school year. The state's charter school advisory board recommended two of those charters not be renewed because of poor performance and financial problems. The two schools, Kennedy Public Charter School and Crossroads Charter High School, are both in Charlotte.
