Identical to H 1041, filed on May 14, 2014.

Reenacts and amends GS 115C-238.29C which was repealed in Section 1.(c) of SL 2013-355. Authorizes chartering entities to provide preliminary approval of applications to develop and operate a charter school. Permits the following to be a preliminary chartering entity: (1) a local board of education of the school administrative unit in which the charter school will be located; (2) the board of trustees of a constituent institution of the University of North Carolina, providing that the constituent institution is involved in the planning, operation, or evaluation of the charter school.

Specifies that regardless of which chartering entity receives a request for preliminary approval of a charter school, the State Board of Education has final approval of the charter school as provided in GS 115C-238.29D. Makes conforming changes to reference the chartering entity as a preliminary chartering entity.

Provides that the preliminary chartering entity is to give preliminary approval to a charter school application if the preliminary chartering entity finds that the information in the application meets the requirements set out in this Part and other such requirements as may be adopted by the State Board of Education (SBE). Directs the SBE to consider an applicant's appeal from a denial from a preliminary chartering entity by April 15. Requires the SBE to review and consider the application as if it were made directly to the SBE if the SBE finds that the preliminary chartering entity acted in an arbitrary or capricious manner in denying the application, failed to appropriately consider the application, or failed to act within the time frame set out in GS 115C-238.29C. Makes additional conforming and/or technical changes. Provides that a charter school authorized by the SBE to operate within an adjacent local school administrative unit for one year due to lack of a suitable location within its local school administrative unit, cannot operate for more than one year unless it reapplies under this section or by direct application to the SBE and receives final approval from the SBE.

Makes technical changes to GS 115C-238.29D. Directs the SBE to make final decisions on the approval or denial by June 15 on all the applications it receives prior to a date established by the Office of Charter Schools as the deadline for receipt of applications in the previous calendar year. Permits the SBE to renew a charter for a period of no more than 10 years upon request from the charter school or the preliminary chartering entity. Provides that if a charter school received preliminary approval from a preliminary chartering entity, the preliminary chartering entity and the SBE are to review operations of each charter school at least once every five years to ensure that the charter school is meeting the expected academic, financial, and governance standards.

Makes conforming changes to GS 115C-238.29F(c)(2), GS 115C-238.29F(f)(3), GS 115C-238.29G(a), and GS 115C-238.29G(b).

Effective when this act becomes law and applies beginning with the 2014-15 school year.