As I’ve said many times, teachers are the number-one school-related factor influencing student outcomes. Teachers have the immense responsibility of preparing our children to be educated and well-equipped community members. This is not a task that should be taken lightly, but unfortunately, teaching is often thankless work. However, our regional Teachers of the Year represent […]
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 […]
Moments of Hope from the 2023-24 North Carolina Teacher, Principal and Superintendent of the Year
For this week’s Final Word we are so pleased to hear from our Teacher of the Year, Principal of the Year and Superintendent of the Year about what gives them hope. Donna Bledsoe, Wells Fargo North Carolina Principal of the Year: What gives me hope is the work being done in North Carolina with early […]
Registration is Now Open for the 2023 Synergy Conference for Out-of-School Time Professionals
RALEIGH, NC (September 5, 2023)– The North Carolina Center for Afterschool Programs invites you to attend the 2023 Synergy Conference for Out-of-School Time professionals on November 13-14 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Synergy brings together afterschool providers, informal educators, community stakeholders, students, business leaders, politicians, and more from across the state to share insight on […]
Back-to-School 2023-24
Students across North Carolina are back in school. Over 1.4 million students in our public schools approached the school year ready to learn, and our educators met those students with enthusiasm and care to guide them to reach their potential. Unfortunately, many students and educators around the state were also met with a number of […]
6 Recommendations to Bring Accountability and Transparency to North Carolina’s School Voucher Program
RALEIGH, NC (August 31, 2023) – Republican lawmakers in the North Carolina General Assembly are seeking to expand and increase funding for one of the state’s private school voucher programs, the Opportunity Scholarships Program. In its current or expanded form the Opportunity Scholarships Program represents significant investment of taxpayer dollars to support private and parochial […]
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 […]
Tickets and Registration Now Available for Hybrid 2023 Color of Education Summit featuring Lisa Delpit & Jerry Craft
RALEIGH, NC (August 1, 2023) – Dr. Lisa Delpit will deliver the keynote address at this year’s 3 Color of Education Summit on October 7, 2023. Lisa D. Delpit is currently the principal of the consulting firm, Delpit Learning. Formerly, she was the Executive Director/Eminent Scholar for the Center for Urban Education & Innovation at […]
Public School Forum of North Carolina Approves New Board Members and Advisory Board Members
RALEIGH, NC (June 30, 2023) – At its June 2023 meeting, the Board of Directors of the Public School Forum of North Carolina approved several new Directors and At-Large Advisors for two-year terms that officially begin July 1, 2023. “We are excited to welcome and begin working with the new members of our Board of […]
Final Word: Financial Literacy for North Carolina’s Students
Starting with the class of 2024, students in NC must successfully complete an economics and personal finance course for graduation. This course includes budgeting, saving, investing, and managing debt. These foundational financial literacy skills can help students develop the ability to make informed financial decisions and maintain control of their future financial well-being. One area […]
Dudley Flood Center Continues Mapping the Movement with Event in Durham
On May 17th, 1954, the Supreme Court ruling Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka struck down the 1896 Plessy v. Ferguson ruling. This ruling made state-sanctioned segregation in schools unconstitutional. Today, despite the abolishment of laws prohibiting children of different races from learning together, in many cases student-body demographics show that schools remain wildly […]
Final Word: Hope for North Carolina’s Teacher Pipeline
Teachers are the number one school-related factor affecting student outcomes. Knowing this, it should go without saying that teachers are vital to our public education system. Unfortunately, like in many other places, North Carolina’s teacher pipeline has been struggling for years now. The perception that teaching is a noble but not properly respected profession has […]
NC Has Money — Just Not for Public Education
The State of North Carolina has money. In 2022, North Carolina had over $6 billion in unappropriated funds. This year, North Carolina is expected to have at least $3 billion more than budgeted in revenue. This is a significant surplus. And yet, the Senate’s budget released yesterday based solely on input from the Senate Republican […]
Final Word: Ask Yourself These Questions
There are few days that go by that I don’t have a moment of appreciation for the beauty around us in NC. The trees, the hiking trails, the flowers… It’s quite amazing. I seem to notice it even more lately, as Spring has taken its time. As I had another of these moments recently, I […]
North Carolina Center for Afterschool Programs Celebrates Afterschool Professionals Appreciation Week
RALEIGH, NC (April, 27 2022)– April 24-28, 2023 is After Schools Professionals Appreciation Week. Celebrated the last full week in April of every year, After Schools Professionals Appreciation Week is a time to recognize and appreciate those who work with youth during out-of-school hours. In the U.S. there are over 850,000 afterschool professionals and an […]
Inaugural North Carolina Bring Your Legislator to School Day Announced
RALEIGH, NC (April 20, 2023)- The Inaugural North Carolina Bring Your Legislator to School Day will take place on May 15, 2023. Members of the NC Teacher of the Year and Principal of the Year Network, the Public School Forum of North Carolina, and bi-partisan legislative sponsors kicked off the initiative by inviting the entire […]
Public School Forum of North Carolina Presents The 2023 Jay Robinson Education Leadership Gala Honoring Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation
RALEIGH, NC (April 19, 2023)- The Public School Forum of North Carolina will honor the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation at the 2023 Jay Robinson Education Leadership Award Gala on Thursday, May 4 at the Angus Barn Pavilion in Raleigh. This annual event which began in 2000 celebrates public education in our state and recognizes leaders/organizations […]
Public School Forum of NC Analysis of House Budget Proposal
The NC House released its budget proposal on Wednesday. We were pleased to see that the budget includes many of the items called for in our 2023-24 Top Education Issues, including important steps to reinstate masters pay and expand the Teaching Fellows program. However, the House Budget proposal does not go far enough in providing […]
$1B Out of Public Schools Will Hit Rural Communities Hardest
Last week legislation was introduced to provide $1 billion of your tax dollars to pay to send children, regardless of a family’s financial or educational need, to any private school of the parents’ choosing. House Bill 420, filed by state Reps. Donnie Loftis, David Willis, John Bradford and Allen Chesser, goes much further than the […]
Public School Forum of NC Statement on Governor Cooper’s Proposed 2023-25 Budget
(Raleigh, NC) March 15, 2023 — Governor Cooper’s 2023-25 biennium budget proposes significant and much-needed investments in public education to meet the needs of children and communities across the state – without increasing taxes. The budget addresses many of the evidence-based action items called for in the Public School Forum’s 2023-24 Top Education Issues. NC […]
Teachers Never Quit Because of Kids
Last November, three weeks before I resigned, some students in a class I was covering asked, “Why doesn’t anyone want to teach anymore, Ms. Jackson?” (they had no regular teacher and begrudgingly welcomed Substitute #4). One added, “Because of these bad kids?!” I assured them, “teachers never quit because of kids. You are why we […]
Dudley Flood Center for Educational Equity and Opportunity & Public School Forum of North Carolina Statement on Proposed House Bill 187
(Raleigh, NC) March 14, 2023 — North Carolina’s Constitution commands that “equal opportunities be provided for all students.” Every student deserves a safe and nurturing learning environment in which they can grow, flourish, and pursue their chosen educational path. The “sound basic education” guaranteed in the state’s Constitution is made possible when students engage in meaningful […]
Public School Forum Releases 2023 Local School Finance Study
RALEIGH, NC (March 10, 2023)- The Public School Forum of North Carolina’s 2023 Local School Finance Study is now available. Through the Local School Finance 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 […]
The Final Word: Culturally Responsive Curriculum
When students enter a classroom, they bring with them their entire selves. Their identities, strengths and weaknesses, their interests, and their culture often impact how students engage and what they take away from each lesson. North Carolina’s student population is incredibly diverse. Culturally responsive teaching aims to ensure that all students can see themselves in […]