Across Wake County this week, parents (myself included) scrambled to find transportation and care for children who were sent home from at least eight schools over two days that let […]
Private School Vouchers are Unpopular, Failed Policy
On November 5th, voters in three states rejected private school voucher measures on their ballots. A majority (58 percent) of voters in Nebraska chose to repeal a recently passed voucher […]
2024 General Election Results
This week Americans selected the next set of leaders who will make the decisions that shape the coming years for our communities, our state, and our country. Though this may […]
Local Public Schools Are on the Ballot in Nearly Every Race
Regardless of the election results, North Carolina will have a new Governor, Lt. Governor, Attorney General, Treasurer, and State Superintendent of Public Instruction in January. And, every single state senator […]
Local Public Schools are Vital to Community Resilience
Local public schools are more than a collection of classrooms and hallways lined with lockers. Our public schools provide a space for connection, bringing people together through sports, arts, and […]
Questions to ask Yourself this Election Season
Early voting in North Carolina begins next month, giving voters the power to decide the outcomes of this year’s federal, state and local elections. These elections, particularly at the state […]
2024 State Budget Proposal Analysis
Budget Status According to the latest General Fund Revenue Forecast, North Carolina has an estimated $987 million revenue surplus for the 2024-25 fiscal year. At this time, the North Carolina […]
School Choice? Or Schools’ Choice?
Decisions about education are some of the most important decisions families – and therefore state leaders – make. Just as parents consider the many school choices available in North Carolina, […]
School Districts and County Governments: Helping Each Other Protect the Economic Vitality of North Carolina Counties
Historical Context North Carolina’s traditional public schools are represented by 115 county and city school districts. For almost 100 years since the Great Depression and the Machinery Acts of 1931 […]
Removing Diversity Equity and Inclusion is Not Neutral
On May 23 the University of North Carolina System Board of Trustees voted to repeal its Diversity & Inclusion Policy in favor of “institutional neutrality.” This new policy, which was […]
A Request from a North Carolina Public School Graduate
In 1993 Robeson County residents had a median income of approximately $21,000. Respectively, in 2022, residents of Robeson County, NC had a median income of approximately $35,000. This is the […]
Celebrating Afterschool Professionals by Advocating for their Wellbeing and Advancement
This week – April 22nd through 26th – marks Afterschool Professionals Appreciation Week, a time to recognize, appreciate, and advocate for those who work with children and youth in diverse […]
NC, Your Legislators – Who Work for You – Will Soon Have the Opportunity to Decide How to Spend the $1 Billion Surplus
NC Has a Surplus The Office of State Budget Management recently announced that North Carolina likely will have a $1 billion surplus over the initial revenue expected for the second […]
If The NC Supreme Court Sinks Leandro, Then Most NC Public Schools And Schoolchildren Will Go Down With It
SNL Weekend Update joked recently that the menu on the Titanic – the infamous, ill-fated luxury ocean liner – included not only gourmet foods, but also ‘bottomless water’! Perhaps innocent […]
The Imperative of Science Education in North Carolina
In our rapidly evolving world, marked by scientific breakthroughs and technological advancements, the role of science education extends beyond traditional academic curricula. It becomes a fundamental pillar for societal progress […]
2023 Conference Budget Analysis
BUDGET STATUS: At time of publishing, the 2023 North Carolina state budget has passed both chambers of the NCGA, and the Governor has stated that he will allow the budget […]
6 Recommendations to Bring Accountability and Transparency to North Carolina’s School Voucher Program
The Opportunity Scholarships program in its current or expanded form represents significant investment of taxpayer dollars to support private and parochial schools. Similar to public schools and public charter schools, […]
NC Has Money — Just Not for Public Education
The State of North Carolina has money. In 2022, North Carolina had over $6 billion in unappropriated funds. This year, North Carolina is expected to have at least $3 billion […]
Public School Forum of NC Analysis of House Budget Proposal
The NC House released its budget proposal on Wednesday. We were pleased to see that the budget includes many of the items called for in our 2023-24 Top Education Issues, […]
$1B Out of Public Schools Will Hit Rural Communities Hardest
Last week legislation was introduced to provide $1 billion of your tax dollars to pay to send children, regardless of a family’s financial or educational need, to any private school […]
Teachers Never Quit Because of Kids
Last November, three weeks before I resigned, some students in a class I was covering asked, “Why doesn’t anyone want to teach anymore, Ms. Jackson?” (they had no regular teacher […]
Final Word: Choosing Students Over Politics
The polarization of the last few years is undeniable. Many people have chosen vehement support of their own side over any alternative without even exploring those alternatives, but that should […]
5 Actions We (NC) Can Take Now for our Kids, our Teachers, and our Schools
If you talked to a parent or educator in the past month, along with the enthusiasm for back to school, you probably heard about the shortages of teachers and staff […]
North Carolina’s Schools are in Crisis, We Must Adequately Fund Them
“We don’t have any teacher applicants for our vacancies,” said two superintendents from rural North Carolina public school districts. Think about that. If they do not find qualified replacements or […]