Education
State Board of Education member suggests surrounding schools with security fences
The state should build fences around schools to protect students and educators from gun violence, State Board of Education member Amy White said Thursday. White noted during the state board’s monthly meeting that there haven’t been any mass shootings at state prisons because they are heavily protected by fencing. “We should provide that same sense […]
Search for new community college system leader proceeds as GOP lawmakers look to take control
Democrats blast legislative proposal as another higher ed power grab, but Republicans say they aim to address a leadership revolving door Next week the State Board of Community Colleges and N.C. Community Colleges Presidential Search Committee will hold two joint meetings. The meetings, April 11 and 12, will take place at 9:30 a.m. at […]
Charter School Advisory Board would be replaced by review panel under House budget provision
A provision in the House budget would replace the Charter School Advisory Board with a review panel to oversee North Carolina’s more than 200 charter schools. The new North Carolina Charter School Review Board (CSRB) as it is called in the House budget document would become the “initial authorizer” of charter schools. The State Board […]
Bill to allow low-performing virtual charters to continue gets favorable hearing
Senate Democrats on Tuesday opposed a bill that would allow the state’s two virtual charter schools to continue to operate despite a record of poor academic performance dating to 2015, the year both schools opened. The North Carolina Virtual Academy and the North Carolina Cyber Academy have earned “D” state performance grades each year of operation. […]
NC House set to give final approval to its budget proposal today
The state House gave preliminary approval to its $29.8 billion budget Wednesday afternoon with a 78-37 vote. The budget won support from nine Democrats. The House budget includes average teacher raises of about 10% over two years. Most state employees would receive 7.5% raises over two years. The budget is a “fiscally responsible, well thought-out […]
N.C. State University students to hold town hall on graduate stipends, student fees
N.C. State University students will hold a town hall Thursday to discuss raising graduate student stipends and eliminating fees they say are making it difficult for them to make ends meet. Last year Newsline closely examined the impact of low stipends and student fees on graduate students across the UNC System. Many reported going to […]
State Board of Education vice chairman wants ‘constructive solutions’ for gun violence plague
The time has come for “constructive solutions” to protect students and teachers from gun violence, Alan Duncan, the vice chairman of the State Board of Education said Wednesday. Duncan’s comments were made during the state board’s work session Wednesday. They come in the wake of the recent school shooting at The Covenant School in Nashville […]
“Real dialogue” at university commission listening session
In its fifth public listening session Tuesday, the Governor’s Commission on the Governance of Public Universities in North Carolina had a surprise guest: Marty Kotis, 8 year veteran of the UNC Board of Governors and current member of the UNC-Chapel Hill Board of Trustees. The sessions, which the commission has been holding since February, have […]
Bill requires lawmakers to approve state community college system president
Senate Republicans approved an amendment to a charter school bill Tuesday that would require presidents of the state’s community college system to be approved by the General Assembly. The amendment was added to House Bill 149 that would extend the state’s virtual charter school pilot program and allow charter schools to establish remote academies. Sen. […]
House budget proposal falls woefully short of what our students and educators deserve
North Carolina’s public schools face many challenges. In November, the Supreme Court ruled that the current level of school funding is so low that it violates the constitutional rights of the state’s 1.5 million public school students. Student performance on state tests is improving but remains below pre-pandemic levels and opportunity gaps have grown. The […]
Another bill becomes law without NC Gov. Cooper’s signature
A bill handing control of the state’s schools for blind and deaf students from the State Board of Education to boards of trustees has become law without Gov. Roy Cooper’s signature. Cooper vetoed a similar bill last year. This is the third bill this session that Cooper decided to neither veto nor sign after having […]
Senate Bill 483 would increase school workers’ minimum pay to $17 an hour
Classified school workers — teacher’s assistants, bus drivers, custodians and cafeteria workers — would be paid a minimum of $17 an hour under a bill filed Monday by a trio of Senate Democrats. The workers’ current minimum pay is at least $15 an hour. Senate Bill 483 would appropriate $144.7 million in recurring funds to pay […]