CONCORD The Cabarrus County Board of Education discussed a proposed virtual charter school Monday that, if approved, would be based locally.

Joseph Chisholm, vice president of school development for K12 Inc., a technology-based education company that provides curricula, presented a proposal for the school.

If approved, the virtual charter school would be based in Cabarrus County but would enroll students statewide. If it is approved to open in the fall, it would initially serve students in kindergarten through 10th grade, but it would grow to include 11th and 12th-grade students, Chisholm said.

The initial enrollment would be 2,750 students, with about 250 students per grade.

It would have North Carolina-certified teachers, and students would have online and hard-copy school materials, he said.

Teachers and students would work from home and stay in touch regularly, Chisholm said. Parents would oversee the students' work.

The board's attorney, Sarah Stone, told members about the process for review. Stone told the board that it needs to make a decision by Feb. 1.

The N.C. General Assembly recently eliminated the cap on the number of charter schools allowed in the state. Superintendent Barry Shepherd said he was contacted by former state Rep. Jeff Barnhart to see if the district would be interested in sponsoring the virtual charter school.

If the system decides to partner with the virtual charter school, board member Holly Blackwelder said Tuesday that there appears to be no type of funding that would have to be provided by the school system, but it would require some administration and staff time.

Chisholm told the board that the charter for this new school would be submitted by North Carolina Learns, Inc., a proposed nonprofit group. Using a school district to partner with is one way for a charter school to receive initial approval, he said.

"(The) nonprofit group was looking for a forward-thinking (school district) to partner with," Chisholm said. "The board looks forward to presenting the full proposal after it is fine tuned ... according to whatever rubric you select."

Chisholm said there is a lot of interest in the state for such a school, and the students who could benefit would include those who are struggling, advanced learners, home-bound students, students who are suspended long-term and gifted and talented students.

As for Cabarrus County Schools, Chisholm said that the benefits would include access to hundreds of courses and resources, and the district would continue to be a leader in world-class educational services.

"The superintendent mentioned highly innovative forms of education you're delivering," Chisholm said. "This would be one more."

The board will continue to discuss this proposal at its meetings next month.