It was not a top header on CNN.com. But it is worth looking at just for the sobering fact that when you search for NC (the state), it shows up multiple times. And when looking at the demographics of school shootings, you get graphs like these:                

Remember when Mark Johnson announced that reading teachers in k-3 would receive a brand new Apple iPad to use in classrooms this year? It was almost one year ago to the day. On the surface, it seemed like a positive notion. But… From Travis Fain at WRAL last August: Reading teachers across the state, from kindergarten … Continue reading If The iStation Contract Seems Shady, What About the Six Million Spent on iPads Last Year?

The last few weeks have certainly seen more discussions, questions, complaints, and arguments surrounding what is happening with the State Health Plan and State Treasurer Dale Folwell has been trying to do as far as getting hospitals to agree to a new reimbursement scheme. Currently the state plan through Blue Cross / Blue Shield covers … Continue reading Still Trying to Get Perspective on the State Health Plan Debacle? Me, Too.

Yesterday, Gov. Roy Cooper issued this veto. The text of the official veto declaration says it all. There are two virtual charters in North Carolina. Remember last September when State Superintendent Mark Johnson was again bemoaning the “status quo.” He said, “When you use status quo strategies, you get status quo results.” Did Johnson make that … Continue reading This Veto on Virtual Charters Speaks Loudly

One of the most overused electioneering blurbs used by many multi-termed lawmakers in North Carolina this past election cycle was that our state has given the highest percentage “average” pay raise to teachers in the last four years. It was echoed again by Rep. Jeffrey Elmore (a teacher) in a recent misguided EdNC.org op-ed entitled … Continue reading North Carolina Has a Severe Teacher Shortage – Raleigh Deliberately Created It

From a recent Public School Forum of North Carolina’s report on top ten issues in NC education. Source: Kris Nordstrom

By now, many of you have seen the released letter by DPI to Amplify concerning their appeal of the iStation contract. In it, Mark Johnson lays out the argument that the second RFP that had voted to go with Amplify was canceled because of a confidentiality breach. He offer this text message that was supposedly … Continue reading About That Mysterious “Exhibit C” – The Supposed Shakespearean Text Message That “Secured” The iStation Contract

Yesterday, Mark Johnson delivered his letter to Amplify concerning their protest of iStation's contract with DPI. In it, he simply reaffirmed his "decision" to stay with iStation because: "Istation is the best diagnostic tool for the state of North Carolina. Istation received the contract award through a fair and objective process conducted by an evaluation committee … Continue reading 4 GLARING Inconsistencies Concerning The State Superintendent’s Letter to Ampify About Their Protest to iStation’s Contract

Remember those Cease & Desist letters sent out to three public school advocates a little over a week ago by iStation through the legal office of a man who also is the finance chair of the NC GOP? Those people questioned the process by which iStation has procured a contract through NCDPI and presented hard evidence … Continue reading Dear iStation, Why Aren’t You Sending Out More Cease & Desist Letters?

Think of it as a reading comprehension test question. Below is the text from an article appearing in today's Winston-Salem Journal. Republican leadership in the state House delayed Wednesday — for an 11th consecutive session — a vote on overriding Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper’s state budget veto. As has been the pattern, neither the veto override … Continue reading An EOG Question For Rep. Tim Moore