Final Word

In 2022 and 2023, North Carolina was CNBC’s top state for business. In 2024, we were #2. Virginia took the top spot with one of the cited reasons being the […]

In local public schools across North Carolina, something quietly transformative happens every day: millions of students receive breakfast and lunch at no cost to their families. These meals can be […]

In rural communities, like the many we have here in North Carolina, local public schools are often community hubs, serving as places of learning as well as connection and growth. […]

Fifty years ago, the first iteration of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act was signed into law, transforming the American education system by guaranteeing that students with disabilities have the […]

January marked the beginning of the 2025 long session for the North Carolina General Assembly. As this session begins, we are at a critical point for public education in our […]

Last month over 100 educators were celebrated at the annual Bright Ideas luncheon. The Bright Ideas program was started by the North Carolina Electric Cooperatives 30 years ago with each […]

Earlier this month Americans selected the next set of leaders who will make the decisions that shape the coming years for our communities, our state, and our country. In North […]

A little over a month after Tropical Storm Helene devastated much of Western North Carolina, the region’s resilient communities have begun to rebuild, but there’s still a long road ahead. […]

Local public schools are more than a collection of classrooms and hallways lined with lockers. Our public schools provide a space for connection, bringing people together through sports, arts, and […]

Election season offers us a great opportunity. The opportunity to weigh in on and decide a direction for our country, state, and local communities. If we hope to see our […]

This year, my youngest child, Andrew, graduated from high school. And, yes, I am feeling all of the pride and all of the empty nest fears that go with that. […]

Last month we celebrated Teacher Appreciation Week. Teachers were given messages, tokens of appreciation, honors and celebrations to express the sometimes unspoken gratitude those impacted by their work feel. For […]

As in many other states, state-level elected officials in North Carolina play a crucial role in shaping policies that affect communities at large, particularly when it comes to public education. […]

We are so pleased today to have our final word brought to you by our North Carolina Wells Fargo Principles of the Year from 2021, 2022 and 2023. Our Principals […]

It is once again an election year and the primaries are happening in North Carolina right now. While many people may view election season as just a time of exacerbated […]

My mom was a Kindergarten teacher, a reading teacher, and a director of Pre-K for a large school district. I not only had the benefit of growing up in a […]

The Public School Forum’s Roadmap of Need was first published in 2010 by the North Carolina Center for Afterschool Programs  to inform policymakers, funders and citizens of needed investments on […]

With the passing of the 2023-24 state budget, North Carolina became the tenth state to offer taxpayer-funded universal school vouchers to attend private schools. Despite the fact that the funds […]

Together we can achieve so much more. The Color of Education Summit brings together educators, policymakers, researchers, students, parents, community members, and other key stakeholders focused on achieving racial equity […]

Children are spending an average of 80% of their days outside of school, and the way that they spend this time has crucial implications, both for their achievement in the […]

As I’ve said many times, teachers are the number-one school-related factor influencing student outcomes. Teachers have the immense responsibility of preparing our children to be educated and well-equipped community members. […]

For this week’s Final Word we are so pleased to hear from our Teacher of the Year, Principal of the Year and Superintendent of the Year about what gives them […]

Students across North Carolina are back in school. Over 1.4 million students in our public schools approached the school year ready to learn, and our educators met those students with […]

Starting with the class of 2024, students in NC must successfully complete an economics and personal finance course for graduation. This course includes budgeting, saving, investing, and managing debt. These […]