North Carolina municipalities now have the authority to apply for and operate charter schools following final approval last week by the state legislature.
The measure gives the option to four Charlotte-area communities whose officials sought it, citing complaints about overcrowded public schools in their areas and the lack of new school construction. The bill isn’t subject to Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper’s veto.
Critics have threatened a legal challenge. They argue the measure sets a precedent for other majority-white towns to seek the same authority, leading to the exacerbation of racial segregation in schools.
