Consistent with our parent organization, the National Education Association, NCAE supports public school improvement initiatives that promote rigorous learning standards, shared decision making, diverse educational offerings, adequate educational funding and limited bureaucratic requirements.  NCAE also believes that this type of reform has the best opportunity to take root when it is initiated and cultivated at the local level -- not imposed from above. 

As it relates to public school systems, charter schools can become change agents by exploring a variety of innovative and creative ways of teaching and learning.  This type of exploration, while good for all children, is that much more important for children who have not been successful in the traditional public school setting, for whatever reason. Charter school legislation allows unprepared individuals to establish schools and undermine education.  Charter schools could also allow uninformed non-educators to make educational decisions for non-educational purposes.  NCAE further believes that charter schools can be a positive or negative force depending on how state charter laws are written and enforced. 

NCAE believes that charter school plans MUST meet the following conditions:

• LEAs should not experience a negative impact on any current educational programs.   NCAE does not believe that the creation of a charter school in any district should negatively impact the public schools that are already in the area.  Local and state educational officials must address any negative impact on the existing public schools in the area as soon as a concern has been noted.
• There should be no diversion of current funds from public schools.  NCAE does not believe that state funds in place at an existing public school should be diverted to a charter school.  Funds for the charter school should come from monies that have been set aside for the purpose of supporting a charter school.  Funds should follow the students: if a student returns to his/her traditional public school the funds allocated to the charter school should revert to the LEA accommodating the student transfer.
• Staff and student assignments to charter schools must be voluntary.   NCAE believes that the assignment to a charter school should be voluntary.  Coercion, threats, or bribes of any kind should not be used to assign students or staff to a charter school. This concern stems from charter schools that are currently under the enrollment minimum of 65 students.
• All affected school employees should have direct involvement in the design of the charter school’s curriculum, implementation of plans and governance structure.   NCAE believes that a school's success greatly depends on the amount of input that is received by the individuals who work in and attend the school.  Site-based decision making is a must for a charter school to be successful.  NCAE does not believe that issues relating to curriculum, scheduling, extra-curricular activities and staff development should be left up to a single governing body, who may have no education experience or knowledge.
• Adequate safeguards covering contract and employment provisions for all employees should be in place.  NCAE believes that employees in charter schools must have the same type of employment rights as people working in  traditional public schools.  Issues such as support for Initial Licensed Teachers, due process, retirement benefits, salary and tenure should be treated in charters the same way that they are in traditional public schools.
• Appropriate procedures for assessment and evaluation of charter schools must be in place at the beginning of the five- year charter. NCAE believes that charter schools should be held to the same accountability standards as traditional public schools; rewards and consequences included. NCAE believes that if a charter school is labeled as low performing for two or more years during the life of the charter, the charter should be revoked and the sponsoring organization should not be allowed to reapply for a new charter. 
• Protocols for equitable procedures on student admission and retention should be followed.  NCAE believes that admission standards should be fair and equitable in charter schools.  There should be no evidence that a school is being biased toward any race, gender, or nationality in its admission practices.  Any indicator of this should be cause for immediate removal of the charter.  Concerning retention practices, students at charter schools should be held to the same academic standards as students in traditional public schools.
• Licensed professional staff: NCAE believes that ALL professional staff at charter schools should be fully licensed in the area in which they work.  NCAE DOES NOT support the current legislation stating that elementary school staff need only seventy-five percent (75%) of the professional staff licensed and secondary school staff need only fifty percent (50%) of the professional staff licensed.  NCAE believes that this would not be acceptable for any other profession and it should not be acceptable for the profession that is responsible for educating our most important natural resource, our children.
• Appropriate safeguards to ensure against racial and ethnic segregation must be in place and implemented by the State Board of Education.  NCAE believes that safeguards need to be in place to ensure that charter schools are not places of racial segregation.  Policies should be created and enforced to make sure that no charter school in the state of North Carolina is set up to cater to only one race.  We believe that this practice is detrimental to all involved and takes away from the holistic education that children should be receiving.
• Health and safety standards for all students and employees must be adhered to.  Standards to ensure the safety and health of all children who attend charter schools must be implemented and enforced.  NCAE does not believe that charter schools should be operating in buildings that are questionable when it comes to health and safety standards.  In short, NCAE believes that charter schools should have the same standards as any traditional public school for safety and accessibility.
• Nondiscrimination and equal educational opportunities: NCAE believes that charter schools should receive the same type of educational opportunities as the traditional public schools.  Charter schools should be treated fairly in respect to all professional development opportunities and grant opportunities.
• Adequate safeguards to ensure fiscal accountability: NCAE believes that charter schools should be monitored very closely for their fiscal accountability.  Yearly audits should be conducted on all charter schools.  This is especially important since charter schools receive money that follows an individual child from a traditional public school to the charter.  If a charter is found to be misusing or abusing funds in any fashion, the charter needs to be revoked immediately.