The current federal shutdown has become the longest in U.S. history, critically impacting the nation’s most effective tool for fighting hunger: the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). While partial benefits […]
October 31 Policy Updates
Next week, due to the ongoing federal government shutdown, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits are set to expire for 1.4 million North Carolinians, including more than 480,000 children. Meanwhile, […]
October 24 Policy Updates
Democracy, Representation, and Public Education This week, the NCGA reconvened for its scheduled October session. Instead of finalizing a long-overdue state budget, lawmakers approved a new congressional map for the […]
Participation in NC Afterschool Programs Holds Steady, But 4 in 5 NC Families Who Want Afterschool Still Can’t Access It
2025 America After 3 p.m. Report Shows NC Parents Support Public Funding to Help Meet Demand RALEIGH, NC (October 20, 2025) – Participation in afterschool programs in North Carolina is […]
October 17 Policy Updates
As North Carolina celebrates rising graduation rates, the state is also seeing an alarming increase in dropout rates among students with disabilities, landing a federal “needs assistance” rating for the […]
October 10 Policy Updates
Since the General Assembly overrode the governor’s veto of HB 805 this summer passing it into law, teachers across North Carolina have faced a difficult choice: maintain classroom libraries that […]
October 3 Policy Updates
Budget battles at both the federal and state levels are prolonging uncertainty for North Carolina school districts. The federal shutdown and the lack of a state budget limit districts’ ability […]
September 26 Policy Updates
This week highlighted deep budget uncertainty at both the state and federal levels: the General Assembly approved limited disaster relief for storms Helene and Chantal but failed to advance a […]
September 19 Policy Updates
The General Assembly is scheduled to return to Raleigh next week with little expectation of passing a state budget. Instead, lawmakers are likely to focus on additional veto overrides while […]
2025 Impact Report
The Public School Forum of NC remains an indispensable champion of better public schools and the most trusted source in the state for research and analysis on vital education issues. […]
September 12 Policy Updates
While lawmakers expand costly private-school vouchers that lack oversight and accountability and exclude many students and families, North Carolina continues to rank near the bottom in public school funding, leaving […]
September 5 Policy Updates
This week in Washington, D.C., the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies released its Fiscal Year 2026 Appropriations bill, which, if passed, would […]
August 29 Policy Updates
The General Assembly has yet to pass a state budget, leaving school districts to navigate funding gaps and uncertainty as the new year begins. Families feel these pressures directly, even […]
Public School Forum of North Carolina Releases Report on Private School Accessibility Following the Expansion of Taxpayer-Funded Vouchers
RALEIGH, NC (August 20, 2025) – The Public School Forum of North Carolina has released a report exploring access, affordability and accountability in relation to the Opportunity Scholarship Program (OSP), […]
Public Dollars, Private Schools: Evaluating Access, Affordability, and Accountability in North Carolina’s Universal Voucher Program
As the education privatization movement has spread across the country, school voucher programs have become more common and more expansive in many states. These programs use taxpayer dollars to provide […]
August 15 Policy Updates
Last week, the State Board of Education approved the Department of Public Instruction’s (DPI) five-year strategic plan, titled “Achieving Educational Excellence.” Meanwhile, Governor Stein signed the state’s mini-budget into law, […]
Leveraging the Community Schools Framework to Advance NC DPI & SBE Strategic Plan: Achieving Educational Excellence
Community Schools —an evidence-based school improvement strategy— began scaling statewide in 2023 with a grant from the Department of Education and coordination by the NC Community Schools Coalition (NCCSC). By […]
Boys & Girls Club of the Plateau to Host Congressman Chuck Edwards for Site Visit Focused on Afterschool and Summer Learning
The Boys & Girls Club of the Plateau, the largest afterschool and summer learning program in Jackson County, North Carolina, is honored to host Congressman Chuck Edwards for a site […]
August 1 Policy Updates
The NCGA was back in session this week and followed an unusually busy agenda–from overriding eight vetoes to opting North Carolina into a vague and still-unfolding federal education voucher program. […]
Funding Restored for Afterschool & Summer Programs for 2025-2026 School Year, But Threats to the Field Remain
The North Carolina Center for Afterschool Programs (NC CAP), afterschool providers, and families across North Carolina are relieved that the funding for 2025-2026 21st Century Community Learning Center afterschool and […]
July 18 Policy Updates
The NCGA is still on vacation, and we await further action on the budget when they return. It’s been another active week on the federal level, however, with big updates […]
Public School Forum of North Carolina Approves New Board Members and Advisory Board Members
RALEIGH, NC (July 18, 2025) – At its June 2025 meeting, the Board of Directors of the Public School Forum of North Carolina approved several new Directors and At-Large Advisors […]
July 4 Policy Updates
The NCGA is on vacation, and state budget talks are still stalled. This week has been busy at the federal level, however, with an updated reconciliation bill passing Congress, and […]
Ann W. McColl to Serve as Interim President and Executive Director of the Public School Forum of North Carolina
With great enthusiasm the Public School Forum Board of Directors announces the appointment of Ann W. McColl as Interim President and Executive Director of the Forum effective July 1. Ann […]