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 […]
Final Word: Choosing Students Over Politics
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 […]
5 Actions We (NC) Can Take Now for our Kids, our Teachers, and our Schools
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 […]
North Carolina’s Schools are in Crisis, We Must Adequately Fund Them
“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 […]
Dr. Deanna Townsend-Smith Named Senior Director of the Dudley Flood Center for Educational Equity and Opportunity at the Public School Forum of NC
RALEIGH, N.C. (February 7, 2022) — Dr. Deanna Townsend-Smith, a long-time educator and advocate for educational equity, has been named Senior Director of the Dudley Flood Center for Educational Equity […]
Students at the Center: Historic Investments Ordered Today Will Pave the Way for All of North Carolina’s Children to Access a Sound Basic Education
RALEIGH, N.C. (November 10, 2021) — To ensure that our system of public schools offers an equal opportunity to every young North Carolinian, especially those in our highest-need communities, with […]
Bus Driver Sickout is a Symptom of a Much Greater Illness for Public Education
Many families in Wake County discovered this morning that their children did not have a bus driver to bring them to school today. These families are worried about their own […]
Jonathan Helms and Sheneika Simmons Selected to Join National Afterschool and Expanded Learning Initiative
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Sheronda Fleming, PhD Director, NC Center for Afterschool Programs sfleming@ncforum.org 919.781.6833 x135 RALEIGH, N.C. (October 6, 2021) — The Riley Institute at Furman University has selected Jonathan […]
Dudley Flood Center for Educational Equity and Opportunity/ Public School Forum Statement on Passage of HB 324
RALEIGH, N.C. (September 3, 2021) — This week, the NC General Assembly passed a final version of HB 324 and sent it on to the Governor. Since this bill was […]
Part 2: Budget Analysis 2021-23 — North Carolina’s children deserve a state budget that prioritizes their future
by Mary Ann Wolf, PhD We have made it well over a year now since the onset of COVID-19, when our lives — and our public schools — were turned […]
Demystifying the Pathways to Full Teacher Licensure: How Do I Become A Teacher in North Carolina?
As in other highly skilled careers, licensure requirements were put in place to ensure that candidates that enter the teaching profession are competent and effective. Unfortunately, licensure requirements can change […]
NC State Superintendent Candidates Participate in Conversation hosted by Public School Forum of NC
By Lindsay Wagner The two candidates running for North Carolina State Superintendent of Public Instruction, Dr. Jen Mangrum and Catherine Truitt, answered questions Tuesday afternoon in a virtual conversation hosted […]
Call for Nominations and Applications: President/Executive Director – Public School Forum of NC
The Public School Forum of North Carolina is conducting an active search for our next President/Executive Director. This Raleigh based role is designed to lead the organization as we execute […]
Public School Forum of North Carolina Announces Study Group XVII
Efforts Will Target the Unique Education Challenges Facing Rural North Carolina’s Students The Public School Forum of NC is excited to announce the launch of Study Group XVII, which will […]
Yes, “A” Still Stands for Affluent in NC School Performance Grades
By Lindsay Wagner North Carolina released its annual A-F School Performance Grades this week and they continue to reflect the clear relationship between poverty and students’ test scores. Of the […]
When School Desegregation Mattered in Charlotte
Dorothy Counts, center, tried to desegregate Harding High School in Charlotte on Sept. 4, 1957, but met hostility from white classmates and parents. Photo Credit: UNC library collection. By Keith […]
The Good, The Needs Improvement, and The Ugly in the State Budget
The Public School Forum has been closely analyzing this week’s release and imminent passage of the General Assembly’s 2018-19 budget proposal. We bring to you our take: The Good, The […]
Keith Poston of the Public School Forum discusses North Carolina’s Top Education issues
Keith Poston of the Public School Forum discusses North Carolina’s Top Education issues on NC Policy Watch’s ‘News and Views’ hosted by Rob Schofield. Click below to listen to the […]
School Finance Study Confirms Vast Funding Disparities Across North Carolina
By Keith Poston For more than 20 years the Public School Forum of North Carolina has produced an annual school finance study that examines education funding in North Carolina by […]
Concerns Voiced About General Assembly’s New Principal Pay Plan
Originally Published in the Public School Forum’s Friday Report on 8/11/17 — A new principal pay plan enacted this year by the General Assembly drew pointed comments and concerns at last […]
Keith Poston, director of the Public School Forum, discusses teacher pay, recruitment, and overall education funding as the new school year is set to begin
Keith Poston was interviewed on Policy Watch radio to discuss current topics in public education. Listen to full interview here >
Keith Poston: Invest in our teachers
Keith Poston wrote for Fayetteville Observer about the importance of investing in our teachers.
NC needs to stop the lollygagging and invest in teachers
There’s a scene in “Bull Durham” that features the Bulls manager throwing bats into the locker room shower and berating the team for the mortal sin of “lollygagging.” He wonders […]
The myth of limited resources to support NC education
One of the ongoing tensions underlying much of the current debate over public education in North Carolina is the amount of money available to support our schools. Last year, with […]