From Public Schools First NC (PSFNC.org): From the recent Public School Forum of North Carolina's report on top ten issues in NC education: From Lindsay Mahaffey, Wake County Board of Education - District 8: If NC is the only state that puts more emphasis on proficiency than growth and counts proficiency for 80% for a … Continue reading NC’s Use of an Erroneous School Performance Grading System to Fuel “School Choice”

A heart-felt gratitude should be extended to the Public School Forum of North Carolina for their release of the Top 10 Educational Issues of 2018 report. For any public school advocate, it is a must-read. For any lawmaker in North Carolina, it is a must-read. For any taxpayer in North Carolina, it is a must-read. … Continue reading Public School Forum Of NC Releases The Top 10 Educational Issues of 2018 & Challenges The NCGA To Do More for Public Schools

I am the proud parent of  two children. One is a highly intelligent and academically driven young lady who looks like her mother. The other one is what some in the educational field might call “special.” He looks like his mother as well. Specifically, that child has Down Syndrome and is also on the autism … Continue reading It’s School Choice Week in NC – Why This Teacher Who Lives With A “Special -Needs” Child Will Not Apply For An Educational Savings Account in North Carolina

This invitation went to people throughout the state yesterday from the Office of the State Superintendent. It is for a dinner and a program. As a public educator and a taxpayer, I did not receive my own invitation. And it makes the point that "NO TAX DOLLARS WILL BE USED FOR THIS EVENT." While February … Continue reading Major Announcements for Our Public School System But Only For a Private Audience: Mark Johnson’s February 19th Gathering

Today the John Locke Foundation hosted a talk by Mike Long the new president of the Parents For Educational Freedom in North Carolina (PEFNC). It was a kickoff to School Choice Week here in NC and around the country. PEFNC under its first leader, Darrell Allison, helped to craft and lobby for vouchers and expansion … Continue reading “Racism” and “Segregation” Are Buzzwords Of Opponents of School Choice? According to PEFNC They Are.

“Today is Jan. 5, 2017. There will never be another Jan. 5, 2017 ever again. No matter how we use this day, if we make the most of it, if we waste it, it’s gone. Every day we don’t take bold actions for our students is a day we lose. Every day we don’t take … Continue reading Over Halfway Into Mark Johnson’s Term – An Empty List of Accomplishments

Mark Johnson literally sent out a statement about how he was going to "reduce" testing in a week where midterms and state exams (EOC's and NC Finals) were being administered. Teachers fill out a working conditions survey every other year for the state that has no questions about how teachers feel the state handles public … Continue reading 10 Intentionally Cruel Ironies About Public Education in NC

Mark Johnson is “mad as hell” and “he’s not gonna test it anymore!” At least that is what he says in his latest op-ed posted by EdNC.org entitled “I’m mad as hell, and I’m not gonna test it anymore!" Two years into an enabled term as the least qualified state superintendent in NC’s history and … Continue reading Mark Johnson’s “Mad as Hell!” – The State Superintendent’s Feigned Twisted Sister Moment

“At DPI, we want to transform our education system to one that uses 21st century best practices so students and educators have access to unique learning experiences personalized for their individual needs and aspirations.” – Mark Johnson from “North Carolina Public Schools Accelerating into 2018” in December of 2017 on EdNC.org. In 2018 we saw a … Continue reading About Mark Johnson’s Vision of “Personalized Instruction” in North Carolina and the Need to Invest in PEOPLE

It was welcome to hear that there is an effort to reduce testing in public schools. Mark Johnson released a statement today regarding testing. As reported in today's News & Observer: State Schools Superintendent Mark Johnson announced this week several changes that the state Department of Public Instruction will make for testing this school year that he … Continue reading Fewer Questions? Shorter Tests? No Proctors? And Some Serious Questions.