This week, the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (DPI) presented an annual report showing strong levels of safety in schools, and steady improvements in disciplinary outcomes and graduation rates […]
January 30 Policy Updates
Congress is again on the brink of a partial government shutdown, driven by disagreements over policy reforms for the Department of Homeland Security’s ICE operations. While education funding is not […]
January 23 Policy Updates
A new bipartisan federal funding proposal signals congressional support for stability in education programs, pushing back on major restructuring at the U.S. Department of Education while prioritizing predictability for schools […]
NC Legislators in Schools Week — An Opportunity for Relationships to Flourish
As in many other states, state-level elected officials in North Carolina play a crucial role in shaping policies that affect communities across the state — particularly when it comes to […]
January 16 Policy Updates
Youth depression, anxiety, and suicide have risen steadily over the past decade, yet North Carolina continues to struggle to meet students’ mental health needs amid staffing shortages, funding constraints, and […]
January 9 Policy Updates
This week, educators across North Carolina organized walkouts to call for higher teacher pay, caps on rising health care premiums, and fully-funded public schools. Their actions follow recent polling that […]
Remembering Mayor Tom Bradshaw
The Public School Forum of North Carolina mourns the passing of Mayor Tom Bradshaw, a longtime emeritus board member and a dedicated leader whose impact on our state and its […]
Remembering Governor Jim Hunt
“Education is the most important thing we do. It’s the foundation of everything else.” – Governor Jim Hunt The Public School Forum of North Carolina joins our state in mourning the […]
December 19 Policy Updates
As the year ends without a ruling on Leandro, a state budget, or clarity on the future of key federal funding streams, uncertainty continues to ripple across North Carolina’s public […]
December 12 Policy Updates
As lawmakers focus on political theater over passing a budget, new reports show North Carolina ranks last in the nation for school funding level and effort. With declining student outcomes […]
December 5 Policy Updates
With new tax cuts taking effect in January, North Carolina is poised to become the 17th most regressive tax system in the nation. Budget Gridlock and Tax Cuts for the […]
November 21 Policy Updates
This was a chilling week for North Carolinians. ICE and Border Patrol operations rattled communities, leaving students and families unsure if school would be safe. Meanwhile, the Trump Administration unveiled […]
Public School Forum of North Carolina Statement on ICE and CBP Presence
The arrival of federal agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs Border Protection (CBP) in North Carolina on Saturday, November 15 has led to fear and chaos throughout […]
Honoring the Legacy of Justice Willis P. Whichard
The Public School Forum of North Carolina deeply mourns the passing of Justice Willis P. “Bill” Whichard, a longtime board member, statesman, and jurist whose service will have a lasting […]
From Celebration to Crisis – The Impacts of Aggressive Immigration Enforcement for Our Children
Stories included were curated from North Carolina Educators. Names have been changed or removed to protect anonymity. In the fall of 2024, Ms. Smith’s North Carolina public school hosted its […]
November 14 Policy Updates
When policy works, the results can be transformative. North Carolina’s success expanding Advanced Placement access and achievement offers a model of effective, well-funded policy. Meanwhile, policy failure can have significant […]
November 7 Policy Updates
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 […]