Carolina Journal’s Barry Smith reports on a proposal that seeks to unleash innovation in K-12 education.

While the Republican leadership is talking education reform — including offering more choices for parents and students — a freshman GOP representative is putting forth a new twist on charter schools.

Rep. Donny Lambeth, R-Forsyth, would like to give entire school districts the option of converting to charter school districts.

Lambeth, who was chairman of the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Board of Education for 18 years, said that school officials often discussed charter schools and their flexibility.

“It often came up that charter schools have an advantage because they don’t have to follow the same rules and regulations that we follow,” Lambeth said.

He said in his discussion with other educators, the concept evolved that traditional public schools and charter schools should cooperate more.

“Charter schools make public schools better,” Lambeth said. “Competition makes everybody better.”