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College Board data: More North Carolina students taking Advanced Placement courses, passing exams
More of North Carolina high school students took Advanced Placement (AP) courses last school year and more of them performed at a higher level on AP exams than did so the previous year, according to recent College Board data. The College Board is the organization that administers the AP program and exams. Success on AP […]
Cary charter school illegally retaliated against math teacher, federal ALJ rules
The U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Hearings and Appeals has ruled that Cardinal Charter Academy in Cary engaged in illegal, retaliatory actions when it fired a math teacher who made “protected disclosures,” claiming the school did not provide students with the special education services their Individual Education Plans required. Terri Schmitz’s firing violated the […]
Democrats make a final, unsuccessful push against school voucher expansion
Democratic lawmakers on Thursday vigorously pushed back against a Republican-led effort to expand the state’s school voucher program that will make it accessible to North Carolina’s wealthiest families. It was the last chance Democrats had to change minds about the voucher expansion just ahead of successful House and Senate votes approving a $30 billion state […]
New budget proposal would delay implementation of Parents’ Bill of Rights law
School districts would get extra time to implement policies required by the so-called “Parents’ Bill of Rights” under the latest version of the state budget. Under a draft version of the budget unveiled Tuesday, districts would have until Jan. 1 to put policies in place required under the new law. Senate Bill 49 required the […]
State Board of Education’s power to withhold charter school funding restricted under state budget proposal
A provision in a state budget draft released Tuesday would limit the reasons on which the State Board of Education can rely to withhold funding from charter schools. Under the provision, the state board can withhold or reduce a charter school’s funding to make enrollment-based adjustments, if a school has violated the term of its […]
Budget draft shows Republican lawmakers standing firm on school voucher expansion
A draft of the state budget released Tuesday shows Republican lawmakers aren’t backing away from plans to expand the state’s school voucher program to allow access to North Carolina’s wealthiest families. Several media outlets obtained the draft budget ahead of a possible vote by lawmakers this week. The budget has been delayed for months while […]
Teacher has passion for democracy, historical markers and students
Outspoken social studies teacher and historian Rodney Pierce has successfully submitted five applications to the state for historical markers commemorating Black historical figures, events and organizations. Pierce has opposed efforts by the state’s Republican-led General Assembly and others to restrict what he and his colleagues teach students about the nation’s history of racism. Pierce, who […]
Gov. Roy Cooper releases federal dollars to aid NC Pre-K as GOP budget stalemate drags on
Gov. Roy Cooper announced Wednesday that he will release $8 million in federal money to help North Carolina’s preschools address needs as they begin a new school year. The schools may use the one-time awards to upgrade classroom materials, purchase toys, supplies, playground equipment, supplemental curriculum materials or to pay for facility maintenance needs, mental […]
Advocates, administrators: ‘Parents’ Bill of Rights’ is a burden for Chatham County Schools
Days before a legal deadline, Chatham County public school leaders are struggling to implement provisions contained in Senate Bill 49, a controversial bill that became state law in mid-August and that requires educators to alert parents if their child changes their name or pronoun at school. It also restricts instruction about gender identity and sexuality […]
Charter school applicants’ request for reconsideration rescheduled for October
The new Charter School Review Board has temporarily tabled the requests of two charter school applicants seeking reconsideration of unfavorable State Board of Education rulings. The Review Board will hold those hearings next month. One of the applicants seeking reconsideration of an earlier state board ruling is Heritage Collegiate Leadership Academy — Wake County. The […]
School leaders want delay in implementing Parents’ Bill of Rights requirements
The timing of the passage of the so-called “Parents’ Bill of Rights” has made life difficult for school leaders, State Superintendent Catherine Truitt said on Thursday. Leaders dealing with the start of a new school year and probable COVID surge want to see implementation of the law delayed until Jan. 1. Under Senate Bill 49 […]
James Ford resigns State Board of Education post to focus on equity work
James E. Ford, one of the state’s leading voices for diversity, inclusion and equity, has resigned his post as a member of the State Board of Education. Ford said he intends to devote more time to his nonprofit, the Charlotte-based Center for Racial Equity in Education (CREED), which focuses on race and education issues in […]