RALEIGH, N.C. -- Lift the cap on charter schools in North Carolina.

 

That was the message some people sent to state to lawmakers Wednesday as they rallied outside the legislative building.

 

Currently, only 100 of charter schools are allowed in North Carolina. There are 99 right now. Charter schools are privately run, but must meet state standards. And charter schools can only grow in enrollment by up to 10 percent each year.

 

The lesson at Hope Elementary Charter School on this day is civic action.

 

"We think we should be allowed to go to the school we want and children should have a voice of opinion," said Zada Foy, a sixth-grader.

 

It's charter school lobbying day at the General Assembly. They call it raise the cap day.

 

"What we're looking for is to allow charter schools to grow as they see fit," said Norman George, a school principal. "But more importantly it's to add more charter schools."

 

Charter schools are privately built and operated. But they receive state funding. Opponents say losing that money hurts public schools.

 

The message on Jones Street from students, parents and teachers Wednesday is that charter schools can ease the growth crunch in public schools and offer parents a choice.

 

"We can build them one and a half times faster so they are a tremendous deal not just to people but charter schools are teaching kids and that's the bottom line," said Philip Adkins of the North Carolina League of Charter Schools.

 

Charter schools were approved in North Carolina 10 years ago. A few years after the push began to raise the cap to allow more schools. There are five bills in legislature dealing with charters. The lobbying is more intense than ever.

 

Rep. Winkie Wilkins wants more study on charter schools and whether lottery money could help build them.

 

"I want to see that before I vote to raise the cap," Wilkins said.

 

Lesson learned. Change takes time.

 

"I want to tell them to keep charter schools up and running so kids can get a better education," said Jordan Scurlock, a sixth-grader.

 

Charter schools enroll about 30,000 students. That's up about 50 percent over the last five years.

 

Currently about 5,000 students are on charter school waiting lists.