Amends Article 14A, Part 2 of GS Chapter 115C (Operation of Charter Schools) to prohibit charter schools from being managed or serviced by for-profit education or charter management organizations. Authorizes management or services by nonprofit education or charter management organizations. Applies to contracts entered into on or after July 1, 2026.

Amends GS 115C-218.122(c) to provide that remote charter academies shall (was, may) require in-person attendance to fulfill state mandated student assessments in accordance with new GS 115C-174.17. Makes organizational changes. 

Enacts GS 115C-174.17 directing the Department of Public Instruction to develop an in-person testing program for remote charter school students to complete all State-mandated assessments. Sets out minimum program requirements.

Amends GS 115C-218.123(b) to require Review Board approval of charter or charter modification to create a remote charter academy every year (was, five years).

Amends GS 115C-218.124 to require a nonprofit with a school code for in-person instruction in addition to a school code for a remote charter academy to provide separate financial reports for each school code (was, jointly). Requires remote charter academies to submit a financial audit of the previous year with its renewal application. Reduces the renewal term to one year (was, five years) and provides that a remote charter academy identified as low-performing is not eligible for renewal.

Applies to applications for new charters or renewals submitted on or after July 1, 2026.

Appropriates $100,000 in recurring funds for 2026-27 from the General Fund to the Department of Public Instruction to hire High-Performing Placement Coaches to counsel families through school transitions for students at remote charter academies not renewed for being low-performing.

Appropriates $62,000 in recurring funds for 2026-27 from the General Fund to the Department of Public Instruction to establish the in-person assessment program.

Effective July 1, 2026.