Policy Corner

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 shows growing public dissatisfaction with the state of public education–concerns that respondents largely attribute to decisions made by state and local leaders. Teachers Calling for […]

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 schools. Even as state leaders take steps to revisit how success is measured, stable and equitable investment remains essential in the year ahead. Implications of […]

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 and a big drop in state revenue looming, the stakes for public schools have never been higher. Legislative Priorities Several state lawmakers showed up to […]

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 Wealthy The General Assembly still has not passed a comprehensive budget, and with no plans to return this year, educators remain without a raise, even […]

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 a plan to shift key Department of Education programs to other federal agencies, creating new uncertainty for schools and placing students once again in the […]

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 consequences, as seen in the federal government’s recent shutdown and its impact on children and families. When Policy Works In 2015, a statewide effort was […]

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 were court ordered for release this month using contingency funds, those reserves will zero-out–jeopardizing food access for 1.4 million North Carolinians until Congress passes a […]

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, the NC House unanimously passed a bill to address gaps in Medicaid funding, but the Senate adjourned without taking it up. Together, these developments place […]

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 fifth time in 10 years. The new map positions Republicans to win 11 of the state’s 14 congressional districts, raising renewed concerns about racial gerrymandering. […]

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 second consecutive year. While state education leaders point to multiple challenges in meeting special education standards, the issue is compounded nationally by significant staff reductions […]

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 foster a love of reading but risk public scrutiny, or clear their shelves to avoid controversy. Effective this school year, the new law requires every […]

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 to plan, while charter schools see growing support even as traditional public options like magnet schools face funding threats. Government Shutdown Public education is generally […]

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 state budget, while Congress is on track for a federal government shutdown on October 1. Still No State Budget, Shortfall in Medicaid Funding In 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 school districts continue to face deep uncertainty over funding. More Veto Overrides, Still No Budget The legislature has spent most of the summer out of […]

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 critical questions about the state’s budget priorities as a new school year begins. New Report on Private School VouchersThe Public School Forum of North Carolina […]