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Parent group ‘cautiously optimistic’ about new plan to reduce student testing
Reform advocates worry that A-F testing program for schools remains a big problem Leaders of N.C. Families for School Testing Reform are “cautiously optimistic” about Superintendent Mark Johnson’s plan to reduce the amount of high stakes testing taking place in North Carolina Schools. Susan Book told Policy Watch on Wednesday that she likes the part […]
Former Teacher of the Year: Don’t blame teachers, students for reading failure
Lisa Godwin, the 2017 pick for state Teacher of the Year, said teachers and students aren’t to blame for the poor reading scores the State Board of Education discussed last week during its monthly business meeting. Godwin, an Onslow County educator who sits on the board as an adviser, said North Carolina leaders must do […]
State Board of Education okays Carver Heights “restart” without controversial private takeover
Without comment, the State Board of Education on Thursday approved a “restart application” that allows Carver Heights Elementary School to avoid a state takeover. Under the “restart” school reform model, the struggling Wayne County school will be given “charter-like” flexibility to operate, meaning it will be free of some of the rules and regulations that […]
Board of Ed member: Why learning to read matters and NC must do more
On the heels of a report showing too few third-graders demonstrating reading proficiency, State Board of Education member Wayne McDevitt shared a compelling story about a high school classmate who confessed he never learned to read. McDevitt’s story came Wednesday near the conclusion of a discussion about the state’s Read to Achieve initiative on which […]
Diversity improves as more students enrolled in charters
Enrollment has climbed to 109,389 students in North Carolina’s 184 charter schools, which is an 8 percent increase over the previous school year, according to the state’s annual report on charter schools. The State Board of Education will discuss the report on Wednesday during its first meeting of the new year. The enrollment increase is […]
Wayne County superintendent thinks ‘restart application’ will be a slam dunk
On paper, the options before the state Board of Education next week regarding the much-discussed Carver Heights Elementary School in Wayne County seem simple.If the board does not approve the school’s Restart Model application to grant the school charter-like flexibility, then Carver Heights will be taken over by the state and transferred to the controversial […]
Monday numbers: NC ends the year with the nation’s highest number of board certified teachers
This month, 557 teachers across the state earned their national certification from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. With nearly 22,000 teachers having earned the respected credential...
State Supreme Court: Sound education a state responsibility
Last week, the State Supreme Court held in a precedent-setting decision that county boards of commissioners have no responsibility under the state constitution to ensure children in North Carolina have an opportunity to receive a sound basic education as spelled out in Leandro v. State, a landmark ruling that found the state needs to do […]
State Board of Ed panel spreads cheer with Florence recovery aid, but seeks accountability
Christmas came a little early for several schools in Brunswick, Columbus and New Hanover counties by way of FAST NC grants designed to help school districts in 28 counties impacted by Hurricane Florence. A State Board of Education (SBE) panel on Thursday, just five days before Santa’s scheduled arrival, approved modest grants totaling nearly $31,000 […]