North Carolina charter schools have nearly doubled since 2011. Some say it's time for a new cap.

RALEIGH -- The number of charter schools in North Carolina has nearly doubled since a state cap was lifted in 2011, prompting a debate about whether it’s time to put a new limit on these non-traditional public schools.

Public Schools First NC says the state should reset charter school growth instead of adding new schools or expanding existing ones. The group is asking people to sign an online petition that calls on state legislators to put a new cap on while a comprehensive review is done of charter student performance, fiscal management and the impact of charter-related policies on students, public schooling, and taxpayers.

“We can look at having a cap,” Natalie Beyer, a member of the board of Public Schools First and a school board member in Durham, said Thursday. “If there’s going to be charter schools, there can be a very limited number of high-quality schools as originally intended.”

But calls for a new cap are drawing opposition from charter school supporters who accuse their opponents of being scared of competition. The N.C. Association For Public Charter Schools is countering Public Schools First’s petition by urging people to contact state lawmakers to let them know how important charter schools are to them.

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