Legislators in North Carolina are considering legislation that would dramatically increase school options in the state.  Creating a free-market education model, the proposed legislation would eliminate the 100-school cap on charters, opening myriad educational options to families. 

While the legislation may seem like a win for North Carolina students looking to enroll in a school better suited for their needs, it has received pushback from some legislators. 

Some of the arguments made against the legislation are misinformed.  For example, some legislators believe that by opening additional charter programs, the education system in the state will shift to a two-tier system: one for students with means, and the other for poor children.  This argument is rather flawed considering these charters would be public schools.  Students from all different economic backgrounds would be able to take advantage of the schools, just as they do with traditional brick and mortar public schools.  By incorporating more charters, traditional public schools will not be put out of business, there will just be more options in the state for students looking for an education model that works best for their needs.

Rep. William Wainwright called the legislation "a return to Jim Crow," stating that increasing public school options in the state would just be another way for affluent kids to opt out of traditional schools.  Looking at successful charter school programs across the country, this isn't the case.  Recent data released by Friends of Choice in Urban Schools examined the scores of students at secondary schools with more than 50 percent of the students considered "economically disadvantaged."  The data revealed that 40 percent of charter school students in our nation's capital scored proficient in math, versus 14 percent of D.C.'s public school students.  This also held true in regards to reading, where 39 percent of charter students scored proficient or above, compared to 17 percent to traditional brick and mortar students.  

It is important that the state attract quality charter programs, and consider innovative options like online public schools to help its students succeed.  Legislators cannot continue to debate school options on the grounds of political ideology.  It is time they join together and do what is best for students, and create educational options for families.