From 2002 until 2013, the first weekend in August was a tax-free weekend on school supplies and other items associated with the beginning of academic years for pre-schoolers all the way to college students. In 2013, it disappeared. Rather it was taken away. Today's News & Record ran a story on the lack of a … Continue reading Remember Tax-Free Weekend to Buy School Supplies? Me Too.

“The overall premise of this bill is to ensure that we have a proper teacher pipeline going into the schools.” – Rep. Jeffrey Elmore, R- Wilkes, in response to questions about SB599 on House floor in Raleigh on June 26. Senate Bill 599 is the bill (as Alex Granados from EdNC.org reports), that, “allows organizations … Continue reading The Stench of SB599 – The Teacher Shortage Created by Raleigh – Remembering Why We Marched in May and Will Vote in November (#6)

Yesterday, Bill Cobey submitted his resignation as the the chairman of the NC SBOE effective in September. Earlier he had said that he would not seek another term past next spring. A former Congressman and state chair for the Republican Party, Cobey has been in the middle of the struggle between the state board and … Continue reading A Thank You to Bill Cobey, Chairman of the NC State Board of Education

Public Schools First NC (PSFNC.org), an organization that supports advocacy of public education in North Carolina, regularly sends out very informative factoids through social media that give texture to the landscape of the politics associated with public education. After the last couple of disastrous budget proposals for public education by the North Carolina General Assembly, … Continue reading The NCGA’s Plan to Make School Performance Grades Fuel Voucher Expansion – Remembering Why We Marched in May and Will Vote in November (#5)

Mark Johnson’s comments at the August 1 NC State Board of Education meeting are just another example of how appearances and reality can often be polar opposites. From the News & Observer: State Schools Superintendent Mark Johnson says he’ll work to speed up approval of teacher licenses, reduce testing and hold charter schools accountable now … Continue reading Platitudes and Buzzwords -The State Superintendent’s Continuous Empty “Vision”

The argument that the GOP-led General Assembly has made repeatedly is that they are spending more on public education now than ever before. And they are correct. We do spend more total money now than before the recession hit. But that is a simplified and spun claim because North Carolina has had a tremendous population … Continue reading Remembering Why We Marched in May and Will Vote in November (#4) – The Need For More Per Pupil Expenditure (Fully Funding Schools)

The GOP-led NC legislature’s 2013 decision to end graduate degree pay bumps for new teachers entering the teaching profession was not only misguided, but another wave in the assault on public education here in the Old North State. I confess there exist numerous studies that have shown that advanced degrees do not correlate with higher … Continue reading Remembering Why We Marched in May and Will Vote in November (#3) – Removal of Graduate Degree Pay Increases

Remember when Rep. Larry Pittman called for more guns to be in our schools and for arming teachers? From an email he sent to all NCGA members on April 16th: “We need to allow teachers, other school personnel and other citizens, who are willing, to be screened and to receive tactical training and bring their … Continue reading So, Will Rep. Larry Pittman Want Schools to Have 3-D Printers Now?

If due-process rights are not restored for new teachers, then the idea of having a rally or a march 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, and ALEC-allying plan that systematically tries … Continue reading Remembering Why We Marched in May and Will Vote in November (#2) – Removal of Due-Process Rights and Career Status for Teachers

This week on ESPN.com, a story was released that highlighted LeBron James's recent foray into helping the local school system. AKRON, Ohio -- LeBron James drove down the streets he grew up on Monday afternoon and parked his vehicle outside the I Promise School that he helped build before roaming the halls for the first time. The … Continue reading What LeBron James Can Teach North Carolina About Fully Funding Schools