This week’s primary election largely highlighted just how consequential each vote can be and reflected a public demanding change. Meanwhile, the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) presented its State of the Teaching Profession and School Administration Report at this week’s State Board of Education meeting, showing relatively steady teacher attrition rates. North Carolina’s Primary Election […]
Creating and Nurturing Safe Spaces in our Schools
The NC Center for Resilience & Learning was founded on a simple but urgent truth: children cannot learn effectively when they do not feel safe, whether that be physically, emotionally or psychologically. Rooted in decades of neuroscience and educational research, the Center works alongside schools to implement trauma-informed practices that support both students and the […]
February 27 Policy Updates
Governor Stein proclaimed February 23-27, 2026, as “Public Schools Week,” coinciding with the Department of Public Instruction’s highlight of school supports–such as counseling, nutrition, transportation, and athletics–as part of the six-week Find Your Fit campaign. As we look ahead to the state’s primary elections, the Forum encourages voters to support candidates who are committed to […]
Public School Forum Releases 2026 Local School Finance Study
RALEIGH, NC (February 27, 2026) – The Public School Forum of North Carolina’s 2026 Local School Finance Study is now available. Through this study, The Forum has highlighted variations and trends in local spending for public education across our state’s 100 counties for over 30 years. The purpose of this annual study is to isolate […]
Honoring the Legacy of Jo Ann Norris
The Public School Forum of North Carolina mourns the passing of Jo Ann Norris, a founding member of the Forum’s leadership team, serving as associate executive director from from 1986 until 2011 and then assuming the role of executive director from 2011 until 2014. Her leadership, passion, and unwavering commitment to public education strengthened the […]
Hope on the Hill: What 80 North Carolina Educators Discovered in D.C.
As my colleague and I made our way north on I-95 to Washington, D.C. a couple of weeks ago, we attempted to outline our participant messaging and goals for the retreat we were leading: an annual trip for our NC Education Policy Fellows focused on federal policy and advocacy. We aimed to deepen policy knowledge, […]
Public School Forum Convenes North Carolina Business Community
RALEIGH, NC (February 24, 2026) – This week The Public School Forum of North Carolina held two regional convenings with the goal of galvanizing education advocates within the business community. Over 125 participants gathered in Blowing Rock and Greenville for Education is Everyone’s Business, the Forum’s latest initiative. For four decades, the Forum has brought […]
February 20 Policy Updates
This week, the North Carolina Department of Instruction (DPI) celebrates global learning as part of its Find Your Fit campaign, highlighting the many pathways available within North Carolina’s public schools. Global learning is reflected in DPI’s Key Elements of a Global Classroom, embedded in curriculum resources, and often most visible in magnet schools focused on […]
February 13 Policy Updates
More students than ever are earning industry credentials and connecting to career pathways, contributing to North Carolina’s top workforce development ranking. This progress reflects meaningful achievement while also highlighting the policy work still required to sustain and expand opportunity for all students. CTE Students Earn Record-Breaking Industry Credentials Career and Technical Education (CTE) students earned […]
February 6 Policy Updates
This week, the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (DPI) presented an annual report showing strong levels of safety in schools, and steady improvements in disciplinary outcomes and graduation rates across the state. DPI’s Annual Report on Discipline, Alternative Learning, and Dropout The State Board of Education reviewed DPI’s annual report at Wednesday’s meeting and […]
January 30 Policy Updates
Congress is again on the brink of a partial government shutdown, driven by disagreements over policy reforms for the Department of Homeland Security’s ICE operations. While education funding is not the source of the conflict, the consequences could still ripple across the U.S. Department of Education at a moment when federal and state voucher policies […]
January 23 Policy Updates
A new bipartisan federal funding proposal signals congressional support for stability in education programs, pushing back on major restructuring at the U.S. Department of Education while prioritizing predictability for schools and states. A Bicameral Bipartisan Minibus Bill This week, the U.S. House and Senate Appropriations Committees jointly released a bipartisan Fiscal Year 2026 spending bill […]
NC Legislators in Schools Week — An Opportunity for Relationships to Flourish
As in many other states, state-level elected officials in North Carolina play a crucial role in shaping policies that affect communities across the state — particularly when it comes to local public schools. Nurturing strong relationships between these officials and the communities they serve is essential to fostering collaboration, ensuring transparency and incorporating diverse perspectives […]
January 16 Policy Updates
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 policy uncertainty. With federal mental health funding increasingly volatile and the state still operating without a budget, school districts are doing what they can under […]
January 9 Policy Updates
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 […]
Remembering Mayor Tom Bradshaw
The Public School Forum of North Carolina mourns the passing of Mayor Tom Bradshaw, a longtime emeritus board member and a dedicated leader whose impact on our state and its public schools will be long remembered. Tom Bradshaw was a civic pioneer in Raleigh and beyond. At just 32, he became the youngest mayor in […]
Preparing Students for Life Means Expanding What’s Possible
When we talk about preparing students for life, it’s easy to focus on test scores, GPAs, and graduation rates. Those metrics matter, but they don’t tell the whole story. Another essential element in preparing students for life is presenting them with possibility. Students believing they have options, feeling empowered to choose a path that aligns […]
Remembering Governor Jim Hunt
“Education is the most important thing we do. It’s the foundation of everything else.” – Governor Jim Hunt The Public School Forum of North Carolina joins our state in mourning the loss and celebrating the life of Governor James B. Hunt Jr, who passed away on December 18, 2025. Known nationwide as “the Education Governor,” his […]
December 19 Policy Updates
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 […]
December 12 Policy Updates
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 […]
What is Your Choice?
Over the past month, North Carolina has been confronted with a wave of immigration enforcement actions that left families frightened, educators overwhelmed, and entire school communities destabilized. The headlines have been loud, but the impact on our students has been far quieter, unfolding in classrooms, in counseling offices and at kitchen tables across our state. […]
December 5 Policy Updates
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 […]
November 21 Policy Updates
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 […]
Public School Forum of North Carolina Statement on ICE and CBP Presence
The arrival of federal agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs Border Protection (CBP) in North Carolina on Saturday, November 15 has led to fear and chaos throughout our state this week. Following raids at churches, apartment complexes and several businesses, schools in Charlotte-Mecklenburg County saw alarmingly high rates of absenteeism. According to […]