RALEIGH, NC (February 23, 2024) – The Public School Forum of North Carolina has published a report aimed at identifying and amplifying actionable and replicable models for recruiting, preparing and retaining a diverse, highly effective educator workforce in North Carolina. This report was created with the input of the initial cohort of the North Carolina Educator Pipeline Collaborative which includes school districts, universities, and community colleges working in partnership to strengthen the educator pipeline in their communities.
Teachers are the most important school-related factor impacting students’ academic outcomes. To meet the needs and potential of all students, North Carolina must be able to recruit and retain high-quality teachers. North Carolina continues to experience challenges with vacancies and positions filled with teachers who are not fully certified in nearly all grade levels and subject areas.
“As we share in the report, teacher preparation partnerships across NC are doing incredible work to help rebuild the educator pipeline in our state. At the same time, partners engaged in the Educator Pipeline Collaborative made clear that long-term improvements will also require systemic changes to policy and practice,” said Public School Forum Senior Direcor of Policy & Research Dr. Lauren Fox. “Our report outlines several important recommendations that we developed in partnership with the experts engaged in the Collaborative. We encourage state and local leaders to take meaningful action – the futures of our students and schools depend on it.
Partnerships with school districts, community colleges, and four-year colleges and universities are a critical component of rebuilding the educator pipeline. As we go forward, we must prioritize this type of partnership at the local and state levels. North Carolina has an opportunity to move forward quickly with ongoing support for educator pipeline initiatives and collaboration across our state.
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About the Public School Forum of North Carolina
Since its founding in 1985 as a nonpartisan “think and do tank,” the Public School Forum of North Carolina has been a champion of better schools and one of the most trusted sources in the state for research and analysis on vital education issues. In order to provide meaningful action on the state’s most important public education issues, the Forum brings together leaders from business, education and government to study education issues, develop ideas, and ultimately inform and shape education policy. The Forum team conducts research and policy analysis, leads innovative programs, and advocates for high-quality, equitable educational opportunity for all children in North Carolina. Follow the Forum on social media at @theNCForum and visit our website at http://www.ncforum.org/
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