RALEIGH (June 4, 2025) – I recently read an opinion piece from a noted North Carolina columnist essentially blaming former governor Roy Cooper for the sharp decline in North Carolina student test scores during and after the COVID pandemic. It asserted that Cooper closed North Carolina public schools too soon and left them closed too… READ MORE
Budgetary storm clouds
RALEIGH (June 4, 2025) – Which would you believe – a nonpartisan staff or a politician? In February, a consensus forecast between the General Assembly’s Fiscal Research Division and the governor’s Office of State Budget and Management projected a slight increase (0.5%) in state revenues for 2025-26 – but an $823 million (2.4%) decline in… READ MORE
House budget shows promise for teacher pay
RALEIGH (May 22, 2025) – For more than a decade, North Carolina has neglected the folks who teach our children. Average teacher pay in the state now ranks 43rd in the nation, and starting teacher pay ranks 39th.1 The state has seen thousands of teachers leave the classroom and has increased hiring of uncertified teachers. Starting… READ MORE
A new chancellor, a big raise and a new accreditor?
RALEIGH (May 16, 2025) – The UNC System’s governing board hired a new chancellor for Elizabeth City State University this week. It gave the System President a big raise. And the President raised the prospect of creating a new accrediting agency. The UNC Board of Governors named Dr. S. Keith Hargrove, formerly the provost at… READ MORE
NC House lowers math requirements
By Heather Koons Public Schools First NC RALEIGH (May 10, 2025) – In another blow to public schools, a majority of House members voted this week to lower the high school mathematics graduation requirements for all public schools. Because the new, lower standards fall below the minimum admissions requirements for UNC system schools, the bill… READ MORE
Paltry
RALEIGH (April 17, 2025) – At a time when North Carolina is hemorrhaging teachers – when 1 in 10 teachers quit last year1 – the budget proposed by the state Senate offers them paltry raises. More than 10,000 North Carolina teachers left the classroom in 2023.2 And the state is hiring more and more uncertified teachers.3… READ MORE
Stein’s proposed budget: A good first step
RALEIGH (March 26, 2024) – It’s a very good first step in the state’s budget process. Gov. Josh Stein’s recommended budget for 2025-27 makes numerous proposals that are good for public education. How the General Assembly responds will be crucial to what this state wants to be: Does it want to be the education state… READ MORE
Stein: Invest in North Carolina’s people
RALEIGH (March 12, 2025) – In his first State of the State address, Gov. Josh Stein called for investments in students, teachers, public schools and the recovery of Western North Carolina from Hurricane Helene. “The people of North Carolina are our greatest asset,” Stein said to a joint session of the state House and Senate…. READ MORE
Legislators step forward for teachers
By Paul Fulton, Don Martin and Doug Shackelford WINSTON-SALEM (March 12, 2025) – Last week, Public Ed Works published a piece that described a “glimmer of hope” for our public-school teachers. It covered a bill filed by Rep. Erin Pare’, R-Wake, that would invest $1.6 billion in increased pay for North Carolina teachers. The bill… READ MORE
Outrageous
RALEIGH (November 21, 2024) – Western North Carolina faces $53 billion in damage from Hurricane Helene. Yet state legislators voted this week to send $655 million in tax dollars to private schools this year and $6.5 billion through 2032-33.1 That’s outrageous. To think it won’t divert funds from public schools – especially schools in rural… READ MORE
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