CHARLOTTE -- Hundreds of educators from across North Carolina were in Concord Monday and Tuesday for the third annual Charter Schools Conference. Breakout sessions include teacher workshops and seminars about the challenges the independently run institutions face.

Organizers say their schools are held to a higher standard.

"If many traditional schools had to run like charter schools, you would find traditional schools shutting down as charter schools get their charter pulled from them," said Dr. Robert Landry, the chair of the NC Alliance Board.

Both candidates for state school superintendent, June Atkinson and John Tedesco, attended Monday's program.

Tuesday, the conference wrapped up with a speech from Republican candidate for governor, Pat McCrory.