When starting to filter through the data-rich and incredibly detailed Leandro Report many of the very issues that public school advocates have been calling attention to for years were not only echoed, but were also explained in context of other issues that affect our public education system. These 12 data exhibits help to summarize some … Continue reading 12 Glaring Data Exhibits From The Leandro Report In NC

It was released today. Here is a copy: Sound Basic Education for All - An Action Plan for North Carolina. It's 301 pages. It has 65 data exhibits in the actual report. It has 52 data exhibits in the appendices. And it has 12 basic findings listed below. Finding #1: Funding in North Carolina has declined … Continue reading LEANDRO REPORT Is Out – 300+ Pages That Beg Answers From Our Reform-Minded Lawmakers

Two of them were delivered just this week. And all four of them were penned by State Board of Education members. 1. That Letter From Dale Folwell. Remember this from last April? “Did You Know? During 2017, the state spent $3.3 billion on medical and pharmacy benefits. At the same time, costs have increased 5 … Continue reading Four Letters That Display The Intentional Disconnect Leaders Have With Teachers & Public Education

When people like Lt. Gov. Dan Forest, Sen. Phil Berger, and even State Superintendent Mark Johnson want to tout how much this current NCGA leadership has done for teacher pay in North Carolina just remember: New teachers will always be on this salary schedule. And they will never be on either of these.   Imagine … Continue reading Just Remember, This NCGA Made Sure That New Teachers Would Never…

By now many teachers across the state have received a campaign letter from Lt. Dan Forest concerning his "record" on public education. It is a "response" to Gov. Cooper's recent letter about education spending and teacher pay. So why did Forest send this letter? He's hoping that teachers will forget what this current NCGA that … Continue reading The Glaring Falsehoods In Lt. Gov. Dan Forest’s Recent Letter To Teachers

Did you know that North Carolina has more Nationally Board Certified Teachers than any state in the country? Simply go to this site and compare – http://www.nbpts.org/in-your-state/. This morning score reports for those who were seeking first time certification are being released. If you succeeded, I congratulate you. It’s not easy to become certified. Less than … Continue reading National Board Certification Score Release Day – An Argument to Invest More in Teachers

Lesson #1 - Democracy This calendar year the North Carolina General Assembly concluded its extended long session without passing a budget. Why? Because the GOP stalwarts in the Senate never had the guts to call a vote to override Gov. Cooper's veto of the budget proposed months ago. That cowardice has everything to do with … Continue reading Four Horrible Social Studies Lessons That Our State Government Is Teaching Our Students

Contradiction versus paradox. They are not that different, but in actuality they are. Merriam Webster defines a “contradiction” as, : the act of saying something that is opposite or very different in meaning to something else : a difference or disagreement between two things which means that both cannot be true Here are some examples: “Do what … Continue reading The Walking Contradiction That Is NC Education Policy & The Walking Paradox That Is The Great Teacher

If due-process rights are not restored for new teachers, then the idea of having a rally or a march like that one on May 16th to advocate for students and schools ten to fifteen years from now would likely never happen. They are that important! Their removal was a beginning step in a patient, scripted, … Continue reading Due-Process Rights and Career Status for Teachers Are That Important

Below are screenshots from the recently released PISA scores and rankings. And there are THREE BASIC CONCLUSIONS THAT CAN BE DRAWN: PISA SCORES ARE NOT REALLY A GOOD INDICATION OF THE STRENGTH OF AMERICAN SCHOOLS. PISA SCORES SHOW THAT "REFORMS" HAVE NOT WORKED. PISA SCORES SHOW THAT POVERTY AND SOCIOECONOMIC FACTORS HIGHLY AFFECT EDUCATIONAL OUTCOMES. … Continue reading Poverty Affects Schools, No Measurable Differences in 15 Years, And Reforms Have Not Worked: What The PISA Scores Show Us