Rep. Jeffrey Elmore talked in an op-ed this past July about how great teacher pay has become in North Carolina over the last few years. Besides never referring to the fact that furloughs and freezes were due to the Great Recession, Elmore clearly argues a fallacious talking point that seems to constantly need debunking. He said, … Continue reading The Average NC Teacher Salary is $53,975. Here’s Why That is Misleading.

WSOCTV.com (Channel 9) out of Charlotte recently updated an investigative report on broken air-conditioners on many CMS buses and published a response to the situation from a state lawmaker. A Channel 9 investigation into conditions on school buses is expanding after we first discovered Monday that 120 Charlotte-Mecklenburg School buses don't have working air conditioning. Several … Continue reading Another “Cold” Response From A Lawmaker Concerning The Needs of Schools – Yes, Rep. Craig Horn, This Concerns You

When receiving blanket emails and glossy flyers becomes the normal mode of communication from the state superintendent to teachers and parents, it becomes increasingly and painfully more apparent that what he chooses to "discuss" is an obvious attempt to not have to "confront" the real issues of public education in North Carolina. Remember that Mark … Continue reading The SPAM Of The State Superintendent

When an NC lawmaker makes a claim about how well they have treated public education, the whole story may not be told – only a glossy version. In this season of electioneering and rather important midterms, it is important to know that the biggest part of the iceberg is under the water level where most … Continue reading Debunking 13 Common Electioneering Claims Made by Current Politicians Concerning NC’s Public Schools

Today, NC Policy Watch highlighted a recent report by the Asheville Citizen Times that talked of a religious school in Buncombe County, Temple Baptist School, that receives over a third of the Opportunity Grant money funneled into Buncombe County. In the western part of the state, the “Citizen Times” reports that a conservative religious school … Continue reading The Book of Leviticus And The Use Of Opportunity Grants In Religious Schools

Simply put, it’s hard to build bridges in this state with those who are making the very divides that separate us. Before the Great Recession took hold of the country, North Carolina had what was considered the a public school system in the Southeast. That is no longer the case. While other states have helped … Continue reading This Teacher Does Not Want To “Build Bridges” Or “Have A Seat At The Table” With Berger & Moore; I Want To Vote Them Out

Below is a data graph that shows the percentage change in the number of people who complete a teacher prep program when comparing the years of 2008-2011 to the years of 2014 - 2017. It was posted by Ed Fuller, Assistant Professor at Penn State University and tweeted out by Kris Nordstrom. That's North Carolina … Continue reading In NC It’s Almost 40%: The Change In People Graduating Teacher Prep Programs

Malcolm turns 12 today. So a “Happy Birthday” to a kid who: teaches everyone how to live in the present, honestly tells you how he feels, reminds me that special needs actually applies to everyone, changes clothes three times a day because, well, because, perfected the art of the smile, calls me by my first … Continue reading Happy Birthday to Malcolm – Another Year of Awesome

In 2013, the state of North Carolina started using a value-added measurement scale to help gauge teacher effectiveness and school performance. Developed by SAS which is headquartered in the Triangle area of Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill, EVAAS collects student data and creates reports that are used to measure teacher and school effectiveness. EVAAS stands … Continue reading This Teacher Is Tired Of Educators And Schools Being Measured By The Secret Algorithms And Changing Variables Of SAS

In a week that saw some of our selfish NCGA members use a Day of Remembrance to ram through a veto override vote three months after it was issued in an extended session that has cost taxpayers millions to keep convening, it is probably not a good time to send an email like the one … Continue reading Another Ill-Timed Email From the State Superintendent