Research has continuously demonstrated that teachers are the most important school-related factor affecting student learning and achievement. However, in North Carolina and across the nation, districts and schools struggle to recruit and retain effective teachers, especially teachers of color. For more than a decade, declining enrollments in educator preparation programs and rises in teacher vacancies […]
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 […]
6 Recommendations to Bring Accountability and Transparency to North Carolina’s School Voucher Program
The Opportunity Scholarships program in its current or expanded form represents significant investment of taxpayer dollars to support private and parochial schools. Similar to public schools and public charter schools, private schools that receive public dollars must be held accountable to the taxpayers who fund them. Additionally, parents must have access to accurate and reliable […]
Pathways to Excellence for Teaching Professionals Focus Group Results
The State Board of Education, the Professional Educator Preparation and Standards Commission (PEPSC), and the NC Department of Public Instruction have been developing a draft new teacher licensure system, Pathways to Excellence for Teaching Professionals (Model). This draft model includes proposed changes that, if implemented, will have important implications for North Carolina’s effort to recruit and retain […]
North Carolina State Budget Analysis 2021-23
The North Carolina General Assembly released a 2021-23 state budget conference report on November 15, 2021. The budget agreement, which is nearly four months past its July 1 deadline, was passed by the General Assembly on November 18 and signed into law by Governor Roy Cooper. This brief outlines the extent to which the General […]
Supporting North Carolina’s Public Schools: From COVID Relief to COVID Recovery
Thanks to quick actions on the part of federal, state and local leaders, North Carolina’s public schools have been able to develop incredible innovations to meet the needs of children and families during COVID-19. As we begin to transition from COVID relief to COVID recovery, the Public School Forum of NC recommends several actions that […]
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 […]
Assessment and Accountability During COVID-19: Supporting Safety and Learning for North Carolina’s Schools and Students
As school communities continue to navigate the impacts of a global pandemic, new learning environments (remote or hybrid) have brought forth complex challenges when it comes to safely, reliably and equitably assessing student learning using statewide standardized testing. Additionally, standardized tests are used for accountability purposes, which can create scenarios where students and educators experience […]
Broadband Internet – The Foundation for a Sound Basic Education
Broadband internet, defined as a download speed of 25mbps or higher, is a foundational resource for work, school, and life in North Carolina — and even more so today, as families and educators engage in remote learning efforts in order to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. Physical broadband infrastructure problems are a challenge for rural […]
Pre-K Through 12 Education and COVID-19: Landscape Analysis of Impact Indicators
In what ways and to what extent has the COVID-19 pandemic impacted racial and socioeconomic inequities in educational opportunity and access in North Carolina? This report, commissioned by the Brady Education Foundation and prepared by researchers at the Public School Forum of North Carolina and the Samuel DuBois Cook Center on Social Equity at Duke […]
COVID-19’s Impact on Public School Budgets: Unstable Funding Requires Quick Action
The K-12 Public School Funding Crisis North Carolina’s public school leaders predict that they may be facing student enrollment declines of up to 20% for the 2020-21 school year due to COVID-19. Fewer students translates into potentially significant reductions to school budgets that are already substantially underfunded, and could result in teacher and staff layoffs […]
North Carolina’s Average Teacher Pay Myth: An Analysis by the Public School Forum of North Carolina
More than 80 percent of North Carolina’s school districts report average teacher salaries that are below the state average RALEIGH, NC (May 23, 2019) – A new report by the Public School Forum of NC finds that average teacher salaries in more than 80 percent of North Carolina’s school districts fall below the reported statewide […]
Accelerating the Pace: The Future of Education in the American South
In a new report, seven nonpartisan organizations in the South—including the Public School Forum of North Carolina—urge their states to take swifter action to improve K-12 education for every child with an emphasis on support for disadvantaged students. Accelerating the Pace: The Future of Education in the American South calls for states to move faster to […]