RALEIGH, NC --The state's almost 100 charter schools could soon face penalties if the number of certified teachers on their faculty falls below a state requirement.

The state board of education is set to vote Thursday on the requirements after a committee gave the proposal the OK after a lengthy debate.

"I just want to make sure schools are given plenty of time to comply," said board member Stacey Shepherd.

"So tell me, based on this what is the timetable," board member Wayne McDermott asked the director of the charter school office, Jack Moyer.

"Any school, out of compliance as of October first, will get a letter," replied Moyer. "They have time after that to fix the numbers, but the clock will start ticking."

The policy calls for charter schools to have 75 percent of their teachers certified for grades K-5, 50 percent of teachers certified for grades 5-12. Charter schools would be required to report the number of certified teachers on staff at the beginning of the school year. The state would verify the numbers. Schools would be given time to comply with the policy but would face financial penalties if they don't.

Charter school administrators watching the committee meeting complained the penalties are too harsh because their schools are already struggling financially.

"They're requiring charter schools, who already pay less than traditional schools and have trouble attracting teachers because of a lack of funding, to meet a percentage requirement," said Todd Havican, the director of the North Carolina Charter School Association. "We don't mind the requirement as all, as long as schools are given the tools and funding to meet them."

It is unlikely charter schools will get more money. However the board did agree to give charter schools more time in the school year to meet