How Charter Schools in North Carolina Are Different from Traditional LEAs

• Increased Flexibility: Charter schools have greater freedom in curriculum design, staffing, and governance, allowing them to tailor programs to meet the needs of their students.

• Innovative Teaching Methods: With fewer restrictions, charter schools can implement creative and personalized learning strategies to engage students in new ways.

• Independent Governance: Charter schools are publicly funded but operate independently of traditional school districts, giving them more control over decision-making and day-to-day operations.

• Customized Learning Environments: The flexibility of charter schools allows for specialized programs that focus on student interests, strengths, and individual needs.

• Strong Accountability: While charter schools have more autonomy, they are still held to state standards and accountability measures, ensuring high educational quality.

• Community-Centered Focus: Charter schools often emphasize a close connection with families and the local community, creating a supportive and inclusive atmosphere for students.

• Publicly Funded, Tuition-Free: Like traditional public schools, charter schools are funded by state and local tax dollars and provide free education to all students within their service areas.

In North Carolina, charter schools do not receive funding for certain critical areas that traditional public schools (LEAs) typically have covered. These include:

• Facilities and Capital Funding: Charter schools do not receive state or local funding for purchasing or maintaining school buildings, grounds, or other facilities. They must use operational funds or private sources to cover these expenses.

• Transportation: While some charter schools may provide transportation, they do not receive dedicated funding for buses or transportation services and must allocate funds from their operational budget if they choose to offer this service. At Corvian, we do not provide transportation services.

• Child Nutrition Programs: Charter schools do not automatically receive funding for school meal programs. They may need to find alternative funding sources or participate in federal programs to offer breakfast and lunch to students. At Corvian, we offer assistance with a variety of expenses to students who qualify for needs-based assistance.

• Additional Support Services: Unlike traditional LEAs, charter schools may not have guaranteed funding for certain administrative or support services, such as custodial or security services, and may need to contract these out or manage them internally.

These funding gaps require charter schools to be resourceful in managing their budgets, often relying on fundraising, grants, or other external sources to cover these essential services.