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SB 371

Relating to transfer of federal public lands.

2025 Regular Session Introduced by David Smith

SB 371 tightens accountability for underperforming charters by limiting growth, revoking persistently low performers, shortening remote academy terms, and mandating visible perform

In committee upon adjournment.
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Bill Summary · SB 371

Summary — SB 371: "Stop Chronically Low‑Performing Charters"

Status: Passed 1st Reading (Introduced 2/13/2025)
Subject areas: Charter schools; education accountability; State Board of Education; charter review/renewal; remote (online) charter academies

Main purpose

SB 371 increases accountability for underperforming charter schools by (1) restricting growth and expansion of low‑performing charters, (2) establishing automatic consequences (including charter revocation) for schools that remain low‑performing over multiple years, (3) shortening initial/renewal terms for statewide remote charter academies, and (4) requiring transparency about charter performance on enrollment materials.

Key provisions

  • Definition and identification

    • The State Board of Education must annually identify "low‑performing" charter schools as those with an overall school performance grade of D or F and a school growth score of “met expected growth” or “not met expected growth” (G.S. 115C‑83.15 referenced).
    • A “continually low‑performing” charter is one designated low‑performing for at least two of three consecutive years.

  • Enrollment transparency

    • Charter schools must include the school’s performance grade (as determined by the State Board) for the previous five years on their enrollment application.

  • Restrictions on expansion

    • A charter school identified as low‑performing may not expand enrollment (even if expansion was approved in its charter) until it is no longer identified as low‑performing.

  • Revocation and remedies

    • If a charter is continually low‑performing for four consecutive years, the school’s charter shall be revoked.
    • If a school is continually low‑performing for the three years immediately preceding its charter expiration, the Review Board may permit operation for one additional year; if the school exits low‑performing status that extra year, the Review Board may renew the charter.
    • The Review Board may terminate or not renew a continually low‑performing charter, or seek a new operator through a competitive process. However, termination cannot be based solely on continual low performance if the school has met growth each of the prior three years or has an approved strategic improvement plan and is making measurable progress.

  • Remote charter academies (statewide)

    • The Review Board’s term for a remote charter academy is reduced from five years to three years.
    • Renewal consideration uses the prior three years (instead of five).
    • The Review Board must approve at least two qualifying statewide remote charter academies beginning in 2026–27.

Who is affected

  • Charter schools (especially those earning D/F grades), their students and families.
  • Charter authorizers: State Board of Education and the Charter Review Board (Review Board).
  • Prospective students and families (who will see five years of performance data on applications).
  • Potential new operators (through competitive assumption processes) when charters are revoked or reassigned.

Procedural / timeline aspects

  • The State Board will perform annual identifications of low‑performing and continually low‑performing charters.
  • The act applies beginning with the 2025–2026 school year.
  • Rules for assumption of a charter by a new entity (including handling of employees and public assets) are to be developed by the State Board.

Potential effects and considerations

  • Intended to accelerate intervention and remove persistently underperforming charters to limit long‑term student exposure to low achievement.
  • May displace students and require transition planning when charters are revoked; the statute contemplates asset transfer and rules governing employee status when a new operator assumes a charter.
  • Adds transparency for families but increases regulatory pressure on charters that serve high‑needs populations; statutory provisions allow some protections where measurable improvement is underway.

Statutory references: Amends/affects G.S. 115C‑218.45, 115C‑218.94, 115C‑218.95, 115C‑218.123, 115C‑218.124; effective upon becoming law and applies beginning 2025–26.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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