There is no question that we are facing an economic recession and high unemployment rates that are unrivaled in the past few decades. This is a reminder of how well we treated public schools in the recovery from the last Great Recession of 2008. North Carolina is one of seven states with the deepest cuts … Continue reading Remember How Well The NCGA Treated Public Schools After The Last Recession

Here is a copy of a bill filed today. Talk about privatizing public education and taking advantage of a pandemic and certain economic recession. Just read that first part again. AN ACT TO CHANGE THE ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR THE OPPORTUNITY SCHOLARSHIP GRANT FUND PROGRAM TO ALLOW ANY STUDENT ELIGIBLE TO ATTEND A NORTH CAROLINA PUBLIC … Continue reading Senator Ralph Hise Just Filed A “Vouchers For All” Bill During A Pandemic

"State Auditor Beth Wood says North Carolina’s Department of Public Instruction will have to repay $18 million in federal money intended for students with disabilities because of department errors." Those words begin Ann Doss Helms's report for WFAE yesterday on the audit of DPI that was released last week right before another contentious NC State … Continue reading 7 Reasons Mark Johnson Is Responsible For This “Fireable” Offense: About That Audit Of DPI

Below is a map provided by EdNC.org that plots the most recent school performance grades across North Carolina. Below is the latest available map from NC DIT of broadband internet availability. And consider where some of the larger cities in North Carolina are and their proximity to other "metro" areas. Now superimpose the school performance grades with … Continue reading Mapping Broadband Connectivity & School Performance Grades Amidst COVID-19

On EdNC.org today, Republican candidate for State Superintendent published an op-ed entitled "Cutting through the noise of education reform and COVID-19." As the current "chancellor for WGU NC, an online, nonprofit university with 3,800 students in North Carolina," it is not surprising that she take the opportunity to pen this perspective to talk about online … Continue reading About State Super Candidate Catherine Truitt’s Latest Op-ed Concerning Online Learning And Education Reform Post COVID-19

We have no new budget. Still. And we are in the midst of an unprecedented pandemic which has altered the landscape of education for a time. Last week, Mark Johnson mentioned that this week is National Teacher Appreciation Week and flippantly offered an idea to reward teachers: beer. From a recentNews & Observer concerning the recent … Continue reading It’s Teacher Appreciation Week – How About Restoring Respect For The Teaching Profession

...that's exactly why he is on it. Remember this is Mark Johnson we're talking about. This past week Johnson in an attempt to remain somewhat relevant in Raleigh launched a rather interesting task force that had no current teachers or reps from the most populous areas of NC where COVID-19 has been most prevalent.  Here … Continue reading This Guy Is On Mark Johnson’s Schools Reopening Task Force – He Shouldn’t Be Near It, But…

Today, Lt. Gov. Dan Forest released this tweet. It's May 1st. Six months away from an election. And as you know, Forest has been campaigning to be governor for years. But look at the text of the tweet: "If this same trend exists in NC, the Governor has no moral, ethical or rational justification for … Continue reading Dan Forest’s Latest COVID-19 Tweet: Another Reason Why He Should Never Be Governor

Dear Mark Johnson, You spent less than two calendar years in an actual classroom. You never finished your only "term" on a local school board. In fact, you began to run for another office in North Carolina while you were supposedly "running" DPI. You walked into office with more power as a state superintendent through … Continue reading Why Did You Ever Run For State Superintendent? An Open Letter To Mark Johnson