State senators have tentatively approved a bill that would eliminate North Carolina's current cap on charter schools. The schools receive public money, but they function independently of local districts. Right now only one hundred charters are allowed to operate in the state at any given time. Democrats introduced a number of amendments on the Senate floor they said would help more at-risk children attend charters. But they were outvoted by the Republican majority.
Democrat Gladys Robinson is from Greensboro:
"I don't think that we really care about education for everybody. But we care about education for those of us who can make sure our kids get it. And about the others who will end up in poor public schools that will have to share their funds since we're not giving any extra money."
The bill is expected to get final approval in the Senate today before it heads to the House.