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 […]
Honoring the Legacy of Justice Willis P. Whichard
The Public School Forum of North Carolina deeply mourns the passing of Justice Willis P. “Bill” Whichard, a longtime board member, statesman, and jurist whose service will have a lasting impact on our state for years to come. Justice Whichard’s career spanned all corners of public life: he served in both the North Carolina House […]
From Celebration to Crisis – The Impacts of Aggressive Immigration Enforcement for Our Children
Stories included were curated from North Carolina Educators. Names have been changed or removed to protect anonymity. In the fall of 2024, Ms. Smith’s North Carolina public school hosted its 3rd annual Hispanic Heritage Celebration. Hundreds of students and their families joined together to celebrate culture and identity. Excited students practiced performances for months in […]
November 14 Policy Updates
When policy works, the results can be transformative. North Carolina’s success expanding Advanced Placement access and achievement offers a model of effective, well-funded policy. Meanwhile, policy failure can have significant consequences, as seen in the federal government’s recent shutdown and its impact on children and families. When Policy Works In 2015, a statewide effort was […]
The Cost of Inaction is Students Left in Limbo
On the first episode of Education Matters this school year, we discussed legislative updates from the Summer. One of the biggest concerns then was how funding uncertainty brought on by the lack of a state budget and temporarily withheld federal funding would impact students. Since then, the General Assembly still has not passed a state […]
November 7 Policy Updates
The current federal shutdown has become the longest in U.S. history, critically impacting the nation’s most effective tool for fighting hunger: the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). While partial benefits were court ordered for release this month using contingency funds, those reserves will zero-out–jeopardizing food access for 1.4 million North Carolinians until Congress passes a […]
What NC Educators Would Like Local Public Schools to Look Like in 40 Years
40 years ago the Public School Forum of North Carolina was founded out of a critical need to bring together educators, community members, business leaders and policymakers to support our local public schools. In the decades since, the Forum has served as a think-and-do tank, bringing together individuals and organizations to study education issues, develop […]
Donor Spotlight: Cyndi Soter O’Neil on Supporting Children from the Start
With roots in North Carolina stretching back to early childhood, former teacher and education advocate Cyndi Soter O’Neil has dedicated her career to ensuring children and families have the support they need to thrive. As director of ChildTrust Foundation at IMC, she partners closely with organizations working to build stronger, more equitable systems for early […]
Afterschool Is Essential to North Carolina’s Education Goals
In their new strategic plan, the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction and State Board of Education call for North Carolina public schools to be the best in the nation by 2030. Given more than 80 percent of our students’ time is spent learning outside of school, we simply can’t be the best in the […]
October 31 Policy Updates
Next week, due to the ongoing federal government shutdown, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits are set to expire for 1.4 million North Carolinians, including more than 480,000 children. Meanwhile, the NC House unanimously passed a bill to address gaps in Medicaid funding, but the Senate adjourned without taking it up. Together, these developments place […]
North Carolina’s Local Public Schools Could be the Best in the Nation
Right now, North Carolina ranks 49th in the nation in public education funding efforts. The 30-year Leandro case remains ongoing, despite rulings that we are not meeting our constitutional duty to provide every child with a sound, basic education. At the same time, calls to defund the U.S. Department of Education and delayed funding disbursements […]
October 24 Policy Updates
Democracy, Representation, and Public Education This week, the NCGA reconvened for its scheduled October session. Instead of finalizing a long-overdue state budget, lawmakers approved a new congressional map for the fifth time in 10 years. The new map positions Republicans to win 11 of the state’s 14 congressional districts, raising renewed concerns about racial gerrymandering. […]