News, Op-Eds & Press Releases
Teachers, state employees caught in the middle as state treasurer, hospitals battle over State Health Plan
By Lindsay Wagner When Wilkes County middle school librarian Susan Ringo recently had a stroke, she came through the medical crisis only to learn she had other undiagnosed congenital health issues that will require a lifetime of medical care at no small cost. She had...
read moreA compromise budget that fails to ensure a sound basic education for every child
Statement by Keith Poston on the 2019-21 compromise state budget plan
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NC Resilience and Learning Project Concludes Its Second Year: Lessons Learned
As the second year of the NC Resilience and Learning Project comes to a close, we are so fortunate to report the many successes we’ve nurtured as well as the improvements we’ve made, for both the project as well as the schools we were able to serve. To date, the NC...
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Virtual pre-K still on the table at General Assembly as early childhood experts raise red flags, caution against more screen time
By Lindsay Wagner Among the many education proposals that have surfaced during the 2019 legislative session, few have provoked as much heated debate as this idea: to enact a 3-year pilot program that would provide low-income and military families in ten districts...
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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...
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Mindset shift leads to big results at Greene County Intermediate School
A school-wide mindset shift was one of several key changes that Greene County Intermediate School’s (GCIS) assistant principal, Taylor Moore, said has made a big difference in his school’s journey toward becoming trauma-sensitive. “It has really been all about the...
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Ta-Nehisi Coates to headline “Color of Education 2019” Summit in North Carolina
Raleigh-Durham, NC (May 13, 2019) - The Public School Forum of North Carolina, Duke Policy Bridge at the Sanford School of Public Policy and the Samuel DuBois Cook Center on Social Equity at Duke University, announced today that award-winning author Ta-Nehisi Coates...
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Without Evidence That They Are Effective, NC Senate Moves to Expand Vouchers and Virtual Charter Schools
By Lindsay Wagner Relying on sound data when it comes to making decisions around spending North Carolina’s taxpayer dollars should be a no-brainer. However, in spite of the fact that we don’t know if our publicly funded school voucher program produces positive...
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House budget would shred the small amount of accountability that exists for the school voucher program
By Lindsay Wagner Since its inception, North Carolina’s school voucher program has suffered from a stunning lack of transparency and accountability that should safeguard the public’s investment in private schools. The voucher program already makes public dollars...
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New Report Highlights Where Young People Face the Greatest Obstacles to Success in North Carolina
GREENSBORO, NC (April 24, 2019) – A new report released today by the Public School Forum of North Carolina and its NC Center for Afterschool Programs (NC CAP) highlights large areas of North Carolina where young people are at risk of not succeeding. The report,...
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At Overton Elementary, connecting teachers and parents is the key ingredient to building a trauma-sensitive school
The teachers and staff at Salisbury’s Overton Elementary have been trying something new this school year. Instead of making calls to parents when there’s a problem, educators are calling with good news, in addition to making home visits that have the express purpose...
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Another Fayetteville Voucher School at Heart of Athletics Scandal
By Lindsay Wagner Fayetteville’s Village Christian Academy, a private school newly participating in the state’s taxpayer-funded Opportunity Scholarships Program, found itself embroiled in scandal this month when the North Carolina Independent Schools Athletic...
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James and Barbara Goodmon to Receive Public School Forum of North Carolina’s Annual Education Leadership Award
RALEIGH, NC (February 28, 2019) – James (Jim) and Barbara Goodmon were named today as the recipients of the 2019 Public School Forum of North Carolina Jay Robinson Education Leadership Award. The Forum established the award in 2000 to recognize leaders who have...
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Annual Local School Finance Study Confirms Vast Funding Disparities Across North Carolina
RALEIGH, NC (February 19, 2019) – A study released today by the Public School Forum of North Carolina once again illustrates a chronic and growing gap in public school funding between the highest and lowest-wealth counties in the state. The 2019 Local School Finance...
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Public School Forum Releases Top 10 Education Issues for 2019
This Year’s Top Issue: NC Must Renew its Commitment to Public Schools for the Public Good RALEIGH, NC (January 23, 2019) – The Public School Forum of North Carolina released its Top 10 Education Issues for 2019 today during its fifth annual Eggs &...
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Public School Forum of North Carolina Announces the NC Center for Afterschool Programs Launch of the POWER UP Program
RALEIGH, NC (January 3, 2019) – The Public School Forum’s NC Center for Afterschool Programs (NC CAP) will launch its POWER UP Program in 2019 with national support from the Mott Foundation and the National Afterschool Alliance. The purpose of the POWER UP Program is...
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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...
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Nikole Hannah-Jones kicks off Color of Education with hard truths about race and education
Award-winning New York Times Magazine reporter Nikole Hannah-Jones pulled no punches on Tuesday night before a crowd of more than 500 people at the kickoff event for the Color of Education initiative: “I don’t want you to leave here inspired, I want you to leave...
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MEDIA ADVISORY: Award-winning Journalist Nikole Hannah-Jones To Discuss Race & Education at Durham Event
“Color of Education: An Evening with Nikole Hannah-Jones” Tuesday, October 2, 2018 7:00 – 8:30 PM Penn Pavilion at Duke University 107 Union Drive, Durham, NC 27710 The Public School Forum of North Carolina, Duke Policy Bridge and the Samuel DuBois Cook Center on...
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Color of Education Partnership Forms Guiding Committee
Raleigh-Durham, NC (September 18, 2018) – Color of Education, a new initiative of the Public School Forum of North Carolina, Duke Policy Bridge and the Samuel DuBois Cook Center on Social Equity at Duke University, has formed a Guiding Committee to help...
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Resilience & Learning: The first year on an important journey
Training with two of the Project’s new Resilience Teams in Rowan-Salisbury Schools (Overton Elementary and Hurley Elementary) focused on trauma’s impact on learning and behavior and starting to give staff tools and resources to create change for safer and more...
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The Public School Forum’s NC Resilience and Learning Project Expands into Six New School Districts to Create Trauma-Sensitive School Environments
Raleigh, NC (August 22, 2018) – The Public School Forum of NC’s Resilience and Learning Project will expand into six new school districts and continue working in the two 2017 pilot school districts across North Carolina this fall to create safer and more supportive...
read moreLauren Fox Joins Public School Forum of North Carolina as Senior Director of Policy
Raleigh, NC (August 15, 2018) – Lauren Fox has joined the Public School Forum of North Carolina as Senior Director of Policy. Fox will lead the Forum’s overall education policy analysis and research efforts and promote the Forum’s role in evidence-based policy...
read moreGene Arnold, Former State Representative and Former Chairman of the Public School Forum of North Carolina, Receives Order of the Long Leaf Pine
RALEIGH, N.C. (August 14, 2018) – Gene Arnold, former member of the North Carolina House of Representatives and former chairman of the Public School Forum of North Carolina was presented today with the Order of the Long Leaf Pine, one of the most prestigious awards...
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Nikole Hannah-Jones to kick-off “Color of Education” in North Carolina
Raleigh-Durham, NC (August 2, 2018) - The Public School Forum of North Carolina, in partnership with Duke Policy Bridge and the Samuel DuBois Cook Center on Social Equity at Duke University, announced today the first in a series of annual summits and convenings...
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