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Gov. Roy Cooper’s budget would fund Leandro comprehensive remedial plan
Gov. Roy Cooper’s recommended budget for 2023-25 provides $677.8 million to pay for years two and three of a court-ordered school improvement plan stemming from the state’s long-running Leandro school funding lawsuit. Superior Court Judge David Lee, who oversaw the case until March 2022, ordered the state in 2021 to transfer $1.75 billion to pay […]
House committee advances bill to erase language in law describing minor offenses that lead to school suspensions
A bill stripping language from current law that provides examples of student conduct that’s not serious enough for suspension or expulsion received a favorable hearing Tuesday before the House Standing Committee on Education – K-12. House Bill 188 removes from state law the use of inappropriate or disrespectful language, noncompliance with a staff directive, dress […]
New Leandro judge sets hearing to determine what’s owed state’s school children
The judge overseeing the long running Leandro school funding lawsuit has given attorneys in the case until March 15 to file briefs on proposed funding amounts before deciding next steps in the case. Superior Court Judge James Ammons of Cumberland County was appointed to the nearly three-decades old case by Chief Justice Paul Newby in December. […]
Durham school board resolution pushes back against GOP education culture war agenda
The Durham County Board of Education on Thursday unanimously approved a resolution urging the General Assembly to vote ‘No’ on a controversial bill to restrict what educators can teacher about American history comes before lawmakers. Filed by Republicans last month, House Bill 187 would prevent educators from promoting Critical Race Theory (CRT) and what many […]
Senate Bill 202 would restore master pay for ‘certain educators’
A bill filed this week in the Senate would restore master’s pay for certain educators. Senate Bill 202, titled “An Act to Reinstate Education-Based Salary Supplements For Certain Teachers and Instructional Support Personnel. was filed by Sen. Danny Earl Britt, a Republican from Robeson County. North Carolina’s Republican-led General Assembly eliminated additional pay for advanced […]
N.C. Supreme Court blocks transfers of Leandro money in partisan vote
Last week ended on a sour note for the plaintiffs in the state’s long running Leandro school funding lawsuit and their supporters. On Friday, the N.C. Supreme Court’s Republican majority voted 5-2 to reinstate a lower court’s order blocking Superior Judge David Lee’s ruling in November in which he ordered the state to spend millions […]
State Board of Education approves pilot program for teacher pay and licensure proposal
A controversial pilot program to evaluate a plan to reform teacher licensure and pay was approved by the State Board of Education (SBE) this week. It will be sent to the General Assembly for its approval. The six-year pilot would begin with the 2023-24 school year if approved by lawmakers. Districts of “varying size and […]
State Board of Education rejects proposed Wake County charter school a second time
For the second time in as many months, the State Board of Education unanimously rejected a charter school application for Heritage Collegiate Leadership Academy (HCLA) in Wake County. Thursday’s rejection is likely the final time the state board will consider the application unless the applicant successfully challenges the decision in court. There was no debate […]
State Board of Ed unlikely to reverse decision to deny Wake County charter school application
Application spurs unusual split between State Board and charter school oversight panel A State Board of Education member is defending her vote to deny Heritage Collegiate Leadership Academy (HCLA) of Wake County a charter to open in 2024 despite the Charter School Advisory Board’s (CSAB) glowing recommendation.
Drug, weapon possession rose sharply in state’s public schools
Drug and weapon possession, excluding guns and powerful explosives, continued to top the list of reportable crimes in North Carolina’s Public Schools during the 2021-22 school year. The 5,250 reported incidents of students possessing controlled substances was a 14% increase compared to the pre-pandemic 2018-19 school year. Meanwhile, the 3,292 reports of students found in […]
North Carolina Republicans revive anti-Critical Race Theory bill
A bill filed by Republicans on Thursday would prevent educators from promoting Critical Race Theory to students (CRT). House Bill 187 is like a bill filed by Republicans in 2021 that Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper vetoed. CRT is an academic discipline that examines how racism has shaped the nation’s legal and social systems. Educators say […]
Durham high school students plead with state leaders for action to combat gun violence
“Thoughts and prayers” are no longer enough to protect children from gun violence, says Durham Hillside High School Principal William Logan. Gun violence proliferates, Logan said, because guns are too readily available, and lawmakers are unwilling to pass meaningful gun control laws.