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 and individual empowerment. This is especially pertinent in North Carolina, reflecting a broader national trend and standing at a critical juncture in the evolution of […]
2023 Conference Budget Analysis
BUDGET STATUS: At time of publishing, the 2023 North Carolina state budget has passed both chambers of the NCGA, and the Governor has stated that he will allow the budget to become law without his signature. See how your legislators voted here. Over 1.4 million students across North Carolina attend our public schools, and public […]
NC Has Money — Just Not for Public Education
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 more than budgeted in revenue. This is a significant surplus. And yet, the Senate’s budget released yesterday based solely on input from the Senate Republican […]
Public School Forum of NC Analysis of House Budget Proposal
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, including important steps to reinstate masters pay and expand the Teaching Fellows program. However, the House Budget proposal does not go far enough in providing […]
$1B Out of Public Schools Will Hit Rural Communities Hardest
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 of the parents’ choosing. House Bill 420, filed by state Reps. Donnie Loftis, David Willis, John Bradford and Allen Chesser, goes much further than the […]
Teachers Never Quit Because of Kids
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 and begrudgingly welcomed Substitute #4). One added, “Because of these bad kids?!” I assured them, “teachers never quit because of kids. You are why we […]
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 not and cannot be how we make our education policy decisions in North Carolina. Public schools are the cornerstone of our communities, our democracy, and […]
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 our schools are facing. As kids came back to school in August, vacancies in North Carolina schools included 3,619 K-12 teachers; 1,342 bus drivers; 850 […]
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 come up with alternative solutions, students will arrive on the first day of school Aug. 29 in classrooms without teachers. Public school districts across the […]
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 and Opportunity. “I am excited to begin the role as Senior Director for the Flood Center,” said Dr. Townsend-Smith. “Throughout my career, my mission has […]
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 a sound basic education, as is mandated in our state constitution and affirmed in the landmark state Supreme Court decision, Leandro v. the State of […]
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 kids and others who may not have a ride to school. Many are feeling frustrated about the bus driver sickout, as well as other staffing […]
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 Helms, Grant Development Director at the Boys & Girls Club of Cabarrus County, and Sheneika Simmons, Program Manager at the Public School Forum of North […]
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 first introduced in May, the Public School Forum has continuously lifted up concerns about the impacts this proposed law could have on North Carolina’s students, […]
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 upside down. During this time period, for which no words seem to adequately capture all of the challenges everyone has faced, we can say this: […]
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 from year to year and vary depending on the subject area in which a candidate plans to teach, making the pathway to obtaining full teaching […]
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 by the Public School Forum of NC. for alumni of the North Carolina Education Policy Fellowship Program (EPFP). The event was sponsored by LearnPlatform. Truitt, […]
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 our strategic plan. In addition to a demonstrated commitment to public education and a personal passion for the vision and mission of this nonpartisan organization, […]
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 examine the unique education challenges facing students across rural North Carolina. Continuing the Forum’s practice of bringing together thought leaders from myriad industries to distill […]
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 21.7% of North Carolina schools that received either a D or F in 2018-19, 95% of those schools were serving high poverty populations. That’s a […]
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 Poston An edited version of this article appeared this week in the Charlotte Observer and on the Capitol Broadcasting Opinion page. On October 8, 1984, […]
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 Needs Improvement, and The Ugly. THE GOOD Teacher pay. An overall average increase of 6.5% continues important new investments in teacher pay that are desperately […]
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 interview. https://www.ncpolicywatch.com/2018/02/12/keith-poston-public-school-forum-discusses-north-carolinas-top-education-issues/
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 isolating local spending from state and federal spending to examine the capacity and actual effort of counties to support public schools. Our 2018 edition confirms […]