Education Matters

Topic: Newsmakers & Newsbreakers State Budget Director Charlie Perusse talks about Gov. Roy Cooper’s first budget and its focus on education investments in the first half of the show, followed by a discussion with key reporters who cover the ins and outs of education in North Carolina. Guests: Charlie Perusse, State Budget Director, NC Office […]

Preparing the Next Generation of School Leaders This week we focus on principal preparation and development. Why is principal development important, what are we doing well, what else do we need to be doing and what are the gaps and challenges in North Carolina? Guests: Lisa Stewart, Principal, Grays Creek High School, Cumberland County Dr. […]

Topic: Our Vulnerable Students All young people deal with their own unique sets of pressure and stress in their lives that just come from growing up, but certainly two groups of students today are feeling it acutely –children of immigrants and LGBT youth. This week we talk with experts on how these students are coping […]

Topic: NC’s Private School Voucher Program The confirmation of Betsy DeVos as U.S. Secretary of Education has shined a spotlight on programs like NC’s Opportunity Scholarship Program that provides state funding for children to attend private, mostly religious K-12 schools. This week we explore NC’s private school voucher program. Guests: Jane Wettach, Clinical Professor of […]

Topic: The School Calendar Question You may think education is largely a local issue, but when it comes to the calendar, NC school districts have very little say in when their school year starts, ends or even how many teacher work days they can have. A diverse coalition of stakeholders is hoping to convince the […]

Topic: Teacher of the Year: A New Documentary Film Teacher of the Year is a new documentary film that reveals the complex reality of teaching in the 21st century and explores the forces that influence a teacher’s performance for the competing needs of audiences made up of students, parents, administrators, other teachers, politicians, and the public […]

Topic: Talking Education with Gov. Roy Cooper Newly elected Governor Roy Cooper sits down with Education Matters host Keith Poston for the full half hour in a one-on-one discussion about key education issues facing North Carolina. The interview was taped before a live audiences at the 3rd Annual Eggs & Issues Breakfast hosted by the […]

Topic: Digital Learning in North Carolina K-12 education is being transformed nationally and here in North Carolina as schools move quickly to take advantage of improved internet connectivity and new digital tools to enhance learning. We’ll talk about the state of digital learning in North Carolina from those helping lead it and those implementing it […]

Topic: State Board of Education vs. NC General Assembly HB 17 was passed in a surprise special session of the NC General Assembly in December. The bill, signed into law by former Gov. Pat McCrory, strips much of the power from the State Board of Education and gives it to the newly elected Superintendent of […]

Topic: 2017 Outlook – Voices from our Schools This week we hear from key voices from our public schools – school administrators and teachers. We discuss some of the key issues on the minds of both groups of educators and what they hope to see happen in 2017 in North Carolina. Guests: Katherine Joyce Executive […]

Topic – NC School Funding Plans We’ll examine the new report from the General Assembly’s Program Evaluation Division on how schools are funded today in North Carolina. Are big changes on the horizon? We talk to the study’s lead author, as well as the chairman of the House Committee on Education Appropriations and the top […]

How does race affects student outcomes in North Carolina? Does race correlate with educational opportunity in ways that diminish the likelihood of success for students of color? We explore this week with three experts. Guests Donovan Livingston PhD Candidate and Asst. Director for Tutoring Services UNC-Greensboro James E. Ford Program Director Public School Forum of […]

The Benefits of Early Childhood Education A new study out of Duke University has found the benefits of early childhood education are significant and last up through the fifth grade, contradicting earlier studies that suggested the benefits of pre-k may fade. We talk to the study’s author, as well as other experts about the state […]

North Carolina’s average pay for principals ranks 50th out of 51 states and the District of Columbia. The NC General Assembly is expected to focus more attention on principals including pay next session. We talk to the experts including the NC Principal of the Year. Guests: Melody Chalmers 2016 NC Principal of the Year, E.E. […]

Election 2016 – What is means for education policy in NC With all the votes cast, what will it mean for education policy in North Carolina. We explore with a panel of experts. Guests: Rick Glazier, Executive Director, NC Justice Center Dr. Terry Stoops, Director of Education Studies, John Locke Foundation Mark Jewell, President, NC […]

After the floods – How NC public schools are recovering from Hurricane Matthew. Three weeks after Hurricane Matthew devastated parts of Eastern NC with historic flooding, Robeson County students returned to class, the last school system to reopen. We visit Lumberton this week and talk with school leaders about the impact, response and what’s left […]

The Haves and Have Nots – School Finances Across NC North Carolina’s poorest counties continue to fall further behind our wealthier counties in terms of resources available to their local schools. What is the impact and what we can do to ensure all schools have the resources they need to serve every child? Guests: Dr. […]

Across our state, public schools are being asked to do more with less. Eight years after a crippling recession forced significant cuts in state spending, including in public education, many key funding areas still remain below pre-recession levels. We’ll explore with our guests, including two teachers who have felt it in their own pockets. Guests […]