170 groups express interest in opening charter schools in North Carolina in 2015

As many as 170 new charter schools could open in North Carolina in 2015. That's how many groups met a deadline this month to submit letters of intent to be considered for opening in August 2015, The Raleigh News & Observer reports. The state's 100-school cap on charters was eliminated in 2011, and 127 now are open--serving as many as 65,000 students this year. The number of schools could grow to 153 next year; the state has given preliminary approval for 26 more charters to open in 2014.