Local Council of Chambers: a part of North Carolina Citizens for Business & Industry, brings local Chamber executives together approximately four times per year to discuss governmental and legislative issues. The participants are also on the front line of economic development and education issues. They realize the tremendous value of having a strong system of public education.
NC Association of School Administrators (NCASA): the single umbrella organization serving the entire school administrative leadership team, including superintendents, central office administrators, principals and assistant principals. In recent years, NCASA has issued strong positions on policy changes needed if school reform is to become a reality. NCASA also maintains communication programs and conducts regional and statewide meetings designed to keep its members abreast of changes impacting local schools.
NC Chamber represents over 1,800 of the state’s largest employers. The North Carolina Chamber made education a major organizational priority and created a standing committee on education. They also feature hard-hitting education coverage and analysis in their statewide publications, and utilize regional and statewide meetings to bring business leaders into the debate about stronger schools. More recently, the Chamber has played a major coordinating and leadership role in the Education: Everybody’s Business Coalition.
NC School Boards Association (NCSBA): representing every school board member in North Carolina, the NCSBA has long been an outspoken proponent for school reform and accountability. An early member of the Education: Everybody’s Business Coalition, NCSBA also has focused its publications and meetings on Coalition priorities, and has harnessed its membership to advance Coalition goals on the local and statewide level.
Public School Forum of NC: a public policy center focused exclusively on public schools, the Forum has conducted major studies on issues as diverse as how effective recent school reforms have been, to the state of technology in the state’s schools. These studies have helped frame Coalition positions on education issues. The Forum also coordinates innovative educational pilot projects, administers the Teaching Fellows Program, and maintains a school-business partnership clearing house. The Forum has coordinated the communications program for the Education: Everybody’s Business Coalition since its creation.