Op-Eds

The U. S. Department of Education is a necessity.  While the current federal administration may not agree, I’ve seen first-hand as a public school student how the Department of Education […]

“We’re seeing a lot more folks that are leaving the classroom mid-year…a lot of kind of comings and goings,” said Erin Horne, assistant dean at NC State, in a recent […]

Across Wake County this week, parents (myself included) scrambled to find transportation and care for children who were sent home from at least eight schools over two days that let […]

On November 5th, voters in three states rejected private school voucher measures on their ballots. A majority (58 percent) of voters in Nebraska chose to repeal a recently passed voucher […]

Regardless of the election results, North Carolina will have a new Governor, Lt. Governor, Attorney General, Treasurer, and State Superintendent of Public Instruction in January.  And, every single state senator […]

Early voting in North Carolina begins next month, giving voters the power to decide the outcomes of this year’s federal, state and local elections. These elections, particularly at the state […]

Budget Status According to the latest General Fund Revenue Forecast, North Carolina has an estimated $987 million revenue surplus for the 2024-25 fiscal year. At this time, the North Carolina […]

Decisions about education are some of the most important decisions families – and therefore state leaders – make. Just as parents consider the many school choices available in North Carolina, […]

Historical Context North Carolina’s traditional public schools are represented by 115 county and city school districts. For almost 100 years since the Great Depression and the Machinery Acts of 1931 […]

On May 23 the University of North Carolina System Board of Trustees voted to repeal its Diversity & Inclusion Policy in favor of “institutional neutrality.” This new policy, which was […]

In 1993 Robeson County residents had a median income of approximately $21,000. Respectively, in 2022, residents of Robeson County, NC had a median income of approximately $35,000. This is the […]

This week – April 22nd through 26th – marks Afterschool Professionals Appreciation Week, a time to recognize, appreciate, and advocate for those who work with children and youth in diverse […]

NC Has a Surplus The Office of State Budget Management recently announced that North Carolina likely will have a $1 billion surplus over the initial revenue expected for the second […]

SNL Weekend Update joked recently that the menu on the Titanic – the infamous, ill-fated luxury  ocean liner – included not only gourmet foods, but also ‘bottomless water’! Perhaps innocent […]

In our rapidly evolving world, marked by scientific breakthroughs and technological advancements, the role of science education extends beyond traditional academic curricula. It becomes a fundamental pillar for societal progress […]

The State of North Carolina has money. In 2022, North Carolina had over $6 billion in unappropriated funds. This year, North Carolina is expected to have at least $3 billion […]

The NC House released its budget proposal on Wednesday. We were pleased to see that the budget includes many of the items called for in our 2023-24 Top Education Issues, […]

Last week legislation was introduced to provide $1 billion of your tax dollars to pay to send children, regardless of a family’s financial or educational need, to any private school […]

Last November, three weeks before I resigned, some students in a class I was covering asked, “Why doesn’t anyone want to teach anymore, Ms. Jackson?” (they had no regular teacher […]

The polarization of the last few years is undeniable. Many people have chosen vehement support of their own side over any alternative without even exploring those alternatives, but that should […]

If you talked to a parent or educator in the past month, along with the enthusiasm for back to school, you probably heard about the shortages of teachers and staff […]

“We don’t have any teacher applicants for our vacancies,” said two superintendents from rural North Carolina public school districts. Think about that.  If they do not find qualified replacements or […]