Below is a list of the standardized tests administered by the state of North Carolina in our public schools last school year. North Carolina End of Grade Exam Math – Grade 3 North Carolina End of Grade Exam English / Language Arts- Grade 3 North Carolina End of Grade Exam Science – Grade 3 North … Continue reading North Carolina – Now Eliminate State Tests For This Year

Calendar flexibility is an issue that received much more attention in this last school year, and for good reasons. It should get a lot more attention this year. Hurricanes and a pandemic can do that. By 2017, North Carolina was one of only one of 14 states that had state laws that governed school calendars. … Continue reading What Two Hurricanes And A Pandemic Tell Us – Our School Systems Need Calendar Flexibility

The state of North Carolina is under a state of emergency for a pandemic. The governor has called for the cancellation of events where 100 people or more will be gathered for a single purpose. All public school athletics have been suspended. All field trips cancelled. All performances that students are involved in have been … Continue reading Keep Them In A Classroom With No Class Size Caps, But Tell Them Not To What?

Below is a list of the five core issues brought into the public discourse for the "All Out For May 1st" Public Education Rally and March last year. Thousands of people showed up to advocate for these issues. Below is what Mark Johnson, the top public education official in the state, said in regard to … Continue reading How Coronavirus Highlights 4 Of The 5 Issues From Last Year’s “All Out For May 1st”

Schools will more than likely be shut down. Students and teachers who normally do not use a digital platform as the main avenue for class time will face a rather steep learning curve to accommodate online formats. Add to that the need for families and individuals to remain as safe and healthy as possible in … Continue reading If We Close Schools For Coronavirus, Then Eliminate Spring State Testing – Student Health Is The Most Important

Depending on which math and science track a student has in high school, it is conceivable that a student who matriculates in NC’s public schools will take around 40 state tests. That list does not include any local benchmark assessments, the PSAT, the ACT, the Pre-ACT, or any of the AP exams that may come … Continue reading The Cruel Irony Coronavirus Is Teaching Us About Testing

21 states currently have a minimum wage that matches the federally mandated minimum wage of $7.25/hour. North Carolina is one of them. 7 seven states currently outlaw collective bargaining for public employees. North Carolina is one of them. 13 states did not adopt Medicaid expansion. North Carolina is one of them. 18 states have vouchers. … Continue reading And You Want To Blame NC’s State Public School System?

When 500,000+ people in the state of North Carolina could have health insurance if North Carolina simply expanded Medicaid as so many other states already have, then you are dealing with a legislative body that is not interested in helping many stay healthy. And when we as a state are at a budget impasse while … Continue reading Dear NCGA, You’ve Made Financial Literacy A HS Requirement – So Practice What You Preach & Expand Medicaid

From June of 2016 concerning the Achievement School District, now the Innovative School District (ISD): With just days remaining in the N.C. General Assembly’s short session, leaders on the Senate Education Committee have given their approval to achievement school districts, a GOP-backed model of school reform that may clear for-profit charter takeovers of low-performing schools. Committee Chair Jerry Tillman, a … Continue reading Sen. Jerry Tillman, How’s That Innovative School District Working For You?

When Pat McCrory was governor, the GOP super majority changed budget protocol and made the state budget a biennial process. In an odd-numbered year, a budget is set forth to encompass the next two fiscal years. Amendments to the budget can be made in even-numbered years. Furthermore, if a budget is not passed, then the … Continue reading Please Remember That NC’s State Budget Is BIENNIAL – It Covers TWO Years