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House dumps item in bill allowing Beaufort County Schools to use controversial history curriculum
The House has removed a provision to allow Beaufort County Schools to use a controversial social studies curriculum that questions the legitimacy of the 1964 Civil Rights Act that one lawmaker tried to slip into two unrelated bills. An amendment introduced by Rep. Hugh Blackwell, a Burke County Republican, to remove the provision from House […]
State Board of Education allows enrollment increase for low-performing virtual charter school
A low-performing virtual charter school’s request to increase its enrollment by nearly 20% was narrowly approved by the State Board of Education on Thursday. As a result the NC Virtual Academy will increase its enrollment from 2,592 to 3,100 next school year. The request was approved on a 5-4 vote without comment. Earlier in the […]
Bill creating new charter school oversight panel headed to the Senate
A bill creating a new Charter School Review Board with the authority to green light new schools was approved by the House on Wednesday and sent to the Senate ahead of the crossover deadline. Under House Bill 618, the new review panel would replace the Charter School Advisory Board and assume many of the charter […]
NC House panel advances controversial bill to dramatically expand school vouchers
The state’s House Committee on K-12 Education on Tuesday powered through a controversial expansion of North Carolina’s school voucher program that could forever change the state’s public education landscape. House Bill 823 was topic No. 1 ahead of Thursday’s crossover deadline. The Republican-backed legislation would open the state’s Opportunity Scholarship Program to all families regardless […]
House sends bill establishing new K-12 standards commission to Senate
A bill creating a new commission to recommend the standards taught in K-12 subjects was approved by the House on Thursday and sent to the Senate. An amendment to House Bill 756 giving the governor the authority to appoint six members to the Standards Advisory Commission was also approved by the House. An earlier version […]
Senate advances bill to to spend billions of public money on private school vouchers
North Carolina is moving to a “backpack” school funding model to allow parents to take state education dollars to the schools of their choice, even private ones, says Sen. Michael Lee, a New Hanover County Republican. Lee made the comment Wednesday during a discussion about Republican-backed Senate Bill 406, which would expand the state’s “Opportunity […]
Charter schools should join fight against state’s voucher program, say public education advocates
Charter school leaders should join traditional public schools advocates to oppose the Republican-led General Assembly’s move to expand the state’s school voucher program, says Christine Kushner, a former Wake County school board member. Kushner made her remarks during a recent panel discussion about the impact of charters on local school districts. The hour-long webinar was […]
House bill would make all school lunches free
All of the state’s K-12 students would become eligible for free school lunches if a House bill filed Monday becomes law. Under House Bill 844, titled the School Meals for All Act, students would receive free breakfast and lunch. The bill calls for $172 million in recurring funds beginning next school year. Students received free […]
House approves bill giving school leaders more discretion to expel, suspend students
A bill that strips language from current law providing examples of student conduct serious enough for suspension or expulsion has been approved by the House. The removal of specific examples of serious offenses would give principals and school boards more discretion to suspend or expel students for misconduct if House Bill 188 becomes law. The […]
Bill to allow controversial social studies curriculum in Beaufort County Schools surprised its leaders
A lawmaker’s attempt to authorize Beaufort County Schools’ use of a controversial social studies curriculum developed by conservative Hillsdale College in Michigan surprised the board of education and other school leaders, Superintendent Matthew Cheeseman said Thursday. Cheeseman said and the board learned about the proposal Wednesday after he received a call alerting him that […]
North Carolina students make ‘significant strides’ recovering from pandemic learning loss
North Carolina’s school children made “significant strides” during the 2021-22 school year in recovering from lost instructional time that occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a new N.C. Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI) report released Tuesday. On average, students showed signs of academic recovery in every subject, Jeni Corn, NCDPI’s director of research and […]
Moore County school board targets transgender kids in approving a local parents’ rights bill
“Sam” (not their real name) lives in a house divided. The Pinecrest High School student who is transgender and uses “they/them” pronouns has a mother who is “aware and supportive” and a father who is also “aware” but offers no emotional support. “It’s strained in my household because of the divided opinions on my identity,” […]