Now that we have passed the Senate bill filing deadline and are quickly approaching the House deadline, over 100 K12 education bills have been filed this session in the NC […]
March 28 Policy Updates
Two policy areas we’re watching closely at the legislature: This week over 70 K12 education bills were filed in the NC General Assembly! This is not unusual since the Senate […]
2025-27 Governor’s Budget Proposal Analysis
The North Carolina budgeting process for the 2025-27 biennium officially kicked off this week with the release of Governor Josh Stein’s proposed budget, which outlines his priorities for education policy […]
SB 227 Eliminating “DEI” in Public Education
It’s been a busy week at the NC General Assembly, with lots of legislation introduced that could have significant impacts on our students, schools, and educators. One bill that’s getting […]
Exploring Weighted Student Funding in North Carolina
In 2023, Senators Lee, Galey, and Barnes sponsored a bill that would convert North Carolina’s funding formula to a weighted student funding (WSF) model. Nationally, 41 states use student-based funding […]
Opportunity Scholarships and the Schools that Receive Them
The NC Senate recently voted to give a total of $632 million for taxpayer-funded private school vouchers to families of all income levels in 2024-25. HB823/SB406 appropriates an additional $248 […]
Rebuilding the Educator Pipeline — Policies and Practices to Make it Happen in NC
Teachers are the most important school-related factor that Impacting students’ academic outcomes. To meet the needs and potential of all students, North Carolina (NC) must be able to recruit and […]
Teacher Recruitment and Retention Trends Across North Carolina and the Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic
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 […]
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 […]
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, […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]