Policy Corner

Youth depression, anxiety, and suicide have risen steadily over the past decade, yet North Carolina continues to struggle to meet students’ mental health needs amid staffing shortages, funding constraints, and […]

This week, educators across North Carolina organized walkouts to call for higher teacher pay, caps on rising health care premiums, and fully-funded public schools. Their actions follow recent polling that […]

As the year ends without a ruling on Leandro, a state budget, or clarity on the future of key federal funding streams, uncertainty continues to ripple across North Carolina’s public […]

As lawmakers focus on political theater over passing a budget, new reports show North Carolina ranks last in the nation for school funding level and effort. With declining student outcomes […]

With new tax cuts taking effect in January, North Carolina is poised to become the 17th most regressive tax system in the nation. Budget Gridlock and Tax Cuts for the […]

This was a chilling week for North Carolinians. ICE and Border Patrol operations rattled communities, leaving students and families unsure if school would be safe. Meanwhile, the Trump Administration unveiled […]

When policy works, the results can be transformative. North Carolina’s success expanding Advanced Placement access and achievement offers a model of effective, well-funded policy.  Meanwhile, policy failure can have significant […]

The current federal shutdown has become the longest in U.S. history, critically impacting the nation’s most effective tool for fighting hunger: the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). While partial benefits […]

Next week, due to the ongoing federal government shutdown, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits are set to expire for 1.4 million North Carolinians, including more than 480,000 children. Meanwhile, […]

Democracy, Representation, and Public Education This week, the NCGA reconvened for its scheduled October session. Instead of finalizing a long-overdue state budget, lawmakers approved a new congressional map for the […]

As North Carolina celebrates rising graduation rates, the state is also seeing an alarming increase in dropout rates among students with disabilities, landing a federal “needs assistance” rating for the […]

Since the General Assembly overrode the governor’s veto of HB 805 this summer passing it into law, teachers across North Carolina have faced a difficult choice: maintain classroom libraries that […]

Budget battles at both the federal and state levels are prolonging uncertainty for North Carolina school districts. The federal shutdown and the lack of a state budget limit districts’ ability […]

This week highlighted deep budget uncertainty at both the state and federal levels: the General Assembly approved limited disaster relief for storms Helene and Chantal but failed to advance a […]

The General Assembly is scheduled to return to Raleigh next week with little expectation of passing a state budget. Instead, lawmakers are likely to focus on additional veto overrides while […]

While lawmakers expand costly private-school vouchers that lack oversight and accountability and exclude many students and families, North Carolina continues to rank near the bottom in public school funding, leaving […]