Task force will examine ways to keep Governor's School open

The committee, which will report to the board in September, could consider scaling back the six-week residential summer program that provides academic and arts courses for academically gifted high school students.

Another option could be eliminating one of the program's two campuses – Salem College in Winston-Salem or Meredith College in Raleigh.

The General Assembly cut all funding for the school, approximately $850,000, in the new state budget.

The state school board could charge about $2,000 in tuition to keep the school running, but members say that charging full tuition would make it unavailable to many students who qualify.

Until last year, the program was free, but budget cuts for 2010 forced the school board to charge $500 this summer.

State schools Superintendent June Atkinson has mentioned the possibility of putting the program on hold until the state can fund it again.

More than 31,000 students have gone through the program since 1963.