Op-Eds

As an experienced science teacher in North Carolina, finding innovative, authentic resources to engage my students has never been easy. After all, math and English are the tested subjects, and school funding and professional development often follow the areas the public sees—and judges—first. The new state budget has made my job even harder. On the […]

We often measure an education budget by how many new teachers it attracts. Perhaps it is time to ask a different question: How many accomplished veteran teachers does it inspire to stay? Experienced teachers are one of the state’s most valuable educational assets, and budgets should be evaluated not only by how many new teachers […]

North Carolina has had three constitutions. The first was written when our state joined a brand-new nation. The second emerged after the Civil War, when North Carolina finally prohibited slavery and secession. The third, and current, Constitution was adopted in 1971, not because the entire document needed reinventing, but because decades of amendments had cluttered […]

“It is in the shelter of each other that the people live.”  – Irish proverb I see nods of understanding as I read this proverb at the kickoff of the most recent WNC After 3PM Collaborative gathering in Brevard, NC. Remembering that we serve as shelter for one another is central to why we gather […]

As my colleague and I made our way north on I-95 to Washington, D.C. a couple of weeks ago, we attempted to outline our participant messaging and goals for the retreat we were leading: an annual trip for our NC Education Policy Fellows focused on federal policy and advocacy. We aimed to deepen policy knowledge, […]

Stories included were curated from North Carolina Educators. Names have been changed or removed to protect anonymity.  In the fall of 2024, Ms. Smith’s North Carolina public school hosted its 3rd annual Hispanic Heritage Celebration. Hundreds of students and their families joined together to celebrate culture and identity. Excited students practiced performances for months in […]

40 years ago the Public School Forum of North Carolina was founded out of a critical need to bring together educators, community members, business leaders and policymakers to support our local public schools. In the decades since, the Forum has served as a think-and-do tank, bringing together individuals and organizations to study education issues, develop […]

40 years ago the Public School Forum of North Carolina was founded out of a critical need to bring together educators, community members, business leaders and policymakers to support our local public schools. In the decades since, the Forum has served as a think-and-do tank, bringing together individuals and organizations to study education issues, develop […]

Growing up, there was a period when my family relied on food stamps to survive. At the time I admittedly felt some embarrassment about that fact, yet I found a way to use the foundation provided by that public assistance to achieve several important goals in life. Recently, I learned that my story is similar […]

Last month heralded the commencement season for colleges and universities across North Carolina. Within the class of 2025 are graduates who will be the state’s next generation of classroom teachers. These individuals have been trained to design organized and well-planned classrooms while delivering content instruction. These newly minted teachers will likely spend their summer working […]

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 plays an extremely important role in student success across public schools and post-secondary education. Since the Department of Education Act was signed and enacted over […]

“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 interview with WRAL. And she’s right: Teaching is becoming increasingly unattractive. According to a 2023 report on teacher recruitment and retention trends in North Carolina, […]

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 out early for a lack of heat.  No heat…for our KIDS???  Understandably exasperated, parents and community members pointed fingers in many directions: the school board, […]

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 law. In Colorado, 55 percent voted against a proposed constitutional amendment to “establish a right to school choice.” And in Kentucky, Amendment 2, which would […]

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 and representative is up for re-election this year. This is among the many other very important races, including judgeships, county commissioners, and local school board […]

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 and local level, will directly impact our daily lives. While the enthusiasm surrounding both presidential candidates is evident, we cannot forget the importance of down-ballot […]

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 House and Senate have each passed their own updated budget bills for the second year of the 2023-25 biennium. Leaders from both chambers of the […]

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, lawmakers are making choices about where to put our taxpayer dollars to yield the best outcomes for our children. Families across North Carolina want public […]

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 and 1933, the State of North Carolina has provided the preponderance of financial support for most of the public school employees in these school districts. […]

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 introduced in April, will remove funding for DEI offices and eliminate various diversity-related positions across the 17 UNC System schools. Chancellors will be required to […]

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 county I grew up in and this county remains one one of North Carolina’s poorest counties. Early in my life I understood the value of […]

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 school and community-based settings during out-of-school hours. These dedicated, skilled professionals do the hard work of creating safe and structured environments and relationships for students […]

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 year of the biennium budget (2024-25). This is certainly good news given the many needs across the state.  What Will the Surplus Mean for Education? […]

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 joking  about it has become acceptable.  And yet, this preventable tragedy was no joke. The most fundamental lesson is that there’s no such thing as […]