Lawmakers Lift Cap on Charter Schools

 Lawmakers have overwhelmingly approved a measure that would lift the cap on charter schools in the state. 

The legislation is the result of nearly two months of negotiations between Democrats and Republicans. Democrat Joe Hackney is the House Minority Leader. 

Joe Hackney: "Many of us rebelled at many of the provisions of what I'll call the long version bill of earlier in the session. So for many on our side this bill comes as a relief."
This measure would lift the cap but it would keep the oversight of the schools under the Department of Public Instruction. A previous version earlier this session would have weakened DPI's control over the schools. Some Democratic legislators expressed objections over a lack of penalties for low-performing charters. Governor Perdue is likely to sign it into law.