Education Matters

Judge Lee’s Consent Order of January 21, 2020, it directed the State Defendants (SBE/Gov/DOJ representing the State to submit a status report setting out the “Specific actions that the State Defendants must implement in 2020 to begin to address the issues identified by WestEd.”  Since then, in the midst of COVID-19, the State and the […]

As COVID-19 continues to present our state and nation with so many challenges with regard to children’s schooling, joining us on the show today is the chair of the North Carolina State Board of Education, Eric Davis, and the Chief Deputy Secretary of the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Susan Gale Perry, […]

At a time when COVID-19 still presents a significant public health threat, education leaders are working hard to develop plans to keep students physically safe through a variety of remote and in-person learning options for the upcoming school year. But we must remember that there is work to be done to ensure the social and […]

Through community efforts, partnerships, and new funding, many students without broadband access have been provided loaned devices, wifi-hot spots, and community hot spot access in order to complete school work and continue learning. Today we catch up with teachers in Edgecombe County to find out what at home learning and broadband access looks like and […]

Recently, in response to COVID-19, much needed additional state and federal funding has been allocated to North Carolina’s public schools. With the use of these funds, combined with state and local partnerships, more efforts are being made to connect students and teachers to broadband internet through allocating $1 million for wifi buses, $11 million for […]

On May second, the North Carolina general assembly approved a pandemic relief package nearing one point six billion dollars in two bills. After compromising, votes in the house and the senate were unanimous in passing the COVID-19 relief package. Here to discuss the impacts of what this funding can bring as well as the state […]

Governor Cooper announced last Friday that our school buildings will remain closed for the remainder of this academic year. and this week, our general assembly members returned to Raleigh to consider Coronavirus related legislation, including a number of policies that will impact our public schools. As we navigate this challenging time, our public schools will […]

Over and over we have been hearing from North Carolina teachers saying that they have not been able to reach some of their students during this stay at home order, one major reason being the lack of access to broadband. In areas across the state, broadband access is limited, particularly in rural regions, where some […]

Today on the show we are going to provide an update on educating during Covid-19 and discuss meeting the needs of exceptional children and English language learners during this challenging time. here to discuss are three education professionals coming from one side of the state to the other. Guests:  Dr. Scott Elliott, Superintendent of the […]

During covid-19, educator self care is more important now than it has ever been. This week on education matters we’re here to discuss staff wellness from teacher, district, and state wide  perspectives and how we are supporting those on the front lines of education.  Guests:  Chanda Battle- Program Coordinator, NC Resilience and Learning Project Kanika […]

While students are staying home, Social Emotional Learning is especially important now more than ever. Today we look at the mental health needs that many kids may be facing at home right now and ways to support social emotional learning from a distance. Guests:  Dr. Katie Rosanbalm  Senior Research Scientist, Duke Center for Child and […]

North Carolina’s public schools have now been closed for two weeks due to the Coronavirus outbreak, and this week governor Cooper announced that they will continue to be closed until at least May 15th. Given these unprecedented circumstances, we are continuing our series on the Coronavirus this week. Today we’ll hear from three of our […]

“Expanding Educational Opportunity in North Carolina” is the title of the just released report and action plan from the Public School Forum of North Carolina and the topic of this week’s show. Looking at the challenges effective teachers and leaders face every day, what would it really take to help them ensure every student in […]

In an era when our ability to collect data is better than ever, policymakers believe it’s critical that to improve our students’ academic success, we must leverage that data in new and innovative ways. So how do we get there? State education leaders believe we must develop a robust statewide longitudinal data system that connects […]

The Public School Forum’s annual Eggs and Issues event included a live taping of the Forum’s weekly television show, Education Matters. We were joined by four panelists who discussed this year’s Top Education Issue, which focused on the school funding case known as Leandro and the need for our state to take immediate and intentional […]

Education Matters takes a trip to Eggs and Issues and discusses the Leandro Decision with some amazing guests! Guests include: Ann McColl, Co-Founder and President of The Innovation Project Thomas B. Oxholm, Vice President of Finance and Administration, Wake Stone Corporation Dr. Anthony Jackson, Superintendent of Vance County Schools and 2020 Superintendent of the Year […]

Today we will dive into digital citizenship and what schools are doing to promote safe and responsible use of the internet with Assistant Superintendent of Edgecombe County, Abbey Futrell. But first, we close our series of interviewing those who have decided to run for state superintendent with Catherine Truitt, Chancellor of Western Governors University and […]

Anonymous reporting, safety apps, school resource officers. Do you know how your children are staying safe while in school? Today we continue our series looking at how to make our schools safer. Joining us to discuss this important topic is Robert Trumbo, the Director of the North Carolina Center for Safer Schools, and Dr. Will […]

This year, North Carolinians will elect a new State Superintendent of Public Instruction, as the current State Superintendent, Mark Johnson, has announced he will run for Lieutenant Governor. Today we continue our series of interviewing those who have decided to run for state superintendent, and we will talk with Representative Craig Horn, a Republican from […]

Research tells us our schools can be safer places when we cultivate healthy environments in which our students feel they are able to address bullying and the potential for violence before they result in serious consequences. Today we’ll hear from a nationally known expert on bullying prevention and school safety, Dr. Dorothy Espelage, a professor […]

From the controversy around reading assessment tools to the release of a court-ordered report on school funding, 2019 has been quite the busy year for education in North Carolina. Today we’ll hear from defendant and plaintiff representatives of the long-running school funding court case known as Leandro, who will give us their insights into the […]

Improving Teacher Diversity in North Carolina Research says students experience significant academic and emotional benefits from having teachers of color, yet in North Carolina the educator workforce comprises a disproportionately low percentage of teachers of color. At a summit hosted this week by the Office of Governor Roy Cooper and partnering organizations, educators and policymakers […]

 Addressing the Teacher Pay Stalemate Lawmakers recently adjourned their legislative session without reaching a compromise with Governor Cooper on teacher salaries, leaving educators to head into the holidays without pay raises for the 2019-20 school year. On today’s show, we’ll hear from two North Carolina teachers about how the lack of salary increases — along […]

Fair and Equitable Funding for All of North Carolina’s Schools Nearly a quarter century after a state Supreme Court ruling known as Leandro reaffirmed North Carolina’s constitutional duty to ensure all children — including those who are at-risk or from rural and underserved communities — have the opportunity to receive a sound basic education, our […]