Thinking About Starting a Charter School? Read This First.
Have you ever wondered what it would actually take to start a charter school?
Great Schools North Carolina is hosting an upcoming webinar, “Launching a High-Quality Charter School in NC,” designed for educators, school leaders, and community members who are curious about charter school founding and want an honest look at the journey ahead.
At some point, many educators have the same thought. It may come after years in the classroom, after serving as a principal, or sometimes after watching students struggle in a system that wasn't designed to meet their needs. Whatever the motivation, the thought is often the same: "What if we built something different?"
For some, that idea grows into a vision for a new public charter school. But while many people dream about starting a school, far fewer understand what the process actually requires.
Today, more than 200 charter schools serve over 150,000 students across North Carolina, providing families with additional public school options and educational models designed to meet a variety of student needs. As interest in charter school founding continues to grow, more educators and community leaders are asking whether they have the vision, leadership, and commitment needed to launch a school of their own.
Launching a charter school is both inspiring and incredibly demanding. It requires much more than a compelling idea or passion for education. Founders must build a leadership team, develop a strong academic model, engage the community, establish governance structures, navigate the charter application process, secure facilities, create operational systems, and prepare to lead an organization from the ground up. The work is significant, and that's exactly why it matters.
"People often see the end result, a school serving students, and assume it started with a great idea," said Shea Reeder, Managing Director, Schools & Partnerships. "What they don't always see is the years of planning, collaboration, problem-solving, and commitment required to get there. We want aspiring founders to understand both the opportunity and the responsibility that comes with opening a school."
For some prospective founders, the challenge isn't a lack of passion; it's knowing where to begin and understanding what the journey actually requires.
That’s exactly why Great Schools North Carolina created this webinar.
This webinar is designed for people who are curious about charter school founding and want an honest look at the journey ahead. The goal is to demystify the process and be transparent about the bar.
Participants will learn:
What it takes to launch a high-quality charter school in North Carolina
What GSNC looks for in prospective founders, the Founder’s Fellowship opportunity, and available supports
The realities and responsibilities of school founding
The North Carolina charter application process
How to determine whether charter school founding is the right path for you
This webinar is about helping them determine whether founding a charter school is the right path for them and equipping them with a realistic understanding of what success requires.
The strongest founders aren't necessarily the people with the biggest ideas. They're the people who are willing to do the hard work behind those ideas. They are committed to building strong teams, engaging communities, solving problems, and keeping students at the center of every decision.
If you've ever wondered whether your idea could become a school, if you've found yourself imagining a different educational experience for students, or if you're simply curious about what charter school founding entails, this conversation is for you.
Starting a school begins with a vision, and this webinar is designed to help you determine what it takes to turn that vision into reality.
Webinar Details:
Launching a High-Quality Charter School in NC
Date: July 7, 2026
Time: 4 - 5:30 P.M.
Location: Virtual